NASA Unveils 'Rise' as Zero-G Indicator for Artemis II Mission

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NASA has revealed that 'Rise,' a plush moon mascot designed by Lucas Ye of Mountain View, California, will serve as the zero-gravity indicator on the agency's upcoming Artemis II test flight. The Artemis II crew selected Rise from a pool of 25 finalists, narrowing it down to the top five designs that were inspired by the iconic 'Earthrise' moment from the Apollo 8 mission.

Why it matters

The zero-gravity indicator is an important part of the Artemis II mission, as it will provide a visual cue to the crew when they reach the microgravity environment of space. This helps the astronauts understand when they have transitioned from the intense gravity of launch to the weightlessness of orbit.

The details

Rise, the winning design, was inspired by the 'Earthrise' moment from the Apollo 8 mission. The plush moon mascot features a smiling face and is wearing a hat that resembles the Earth, with two spacecraft zooming through the star-filled space around it. NASA received thousands of submissions from over 50 countries for the zero-gravity indicator design, and the Artemis II crew narrowed the list down to five top finalists before selecting Rise as the winner.

• NASA's Artemis II crew revealed Rise as the zero-gravity indicator on Friday, March 28, 2026.
• The Artemis II test flight, which will carry Rise to space, is scheduled for later in 2026.

What’s next

The Artemis II test flight, which will carry the 'Rise' zero-gravity indicator to space, is scheduled for later in 2026.