NASA's Artemis II mission gets a zero-G indicator named 'Rise'

The stuffed figure was designed by an 8-year-old and will carry the names of over 3 million people to the Moon.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:40pm

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NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight around the Moon since the Apollo era, will include a special zero-gravity indicator named 'Rise' that was designed by 8-year-old Lucas Ye from Mountain View, California. The stuffed figure was chosen from a worldwide contest and will serve as a symbolic representation of the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph captured during the Apollo 8 mission.

Why it matters

The inclusion of 'Rise' as the Artemis II zero-G indicator continues the tradition of sending small, lightweight objects into space to signal the moment of weightlessness. More significantly, the design and name of 'Rise' connect the Artemis II mission to the historic 'Earthrise' image, which is widely regarded as one of the most influential photographs ever taken and helped catalyze the modern environmental movement.

The details

Mission Specialist Christina Koch announced that the crew personally selected 'Rise' as their zero-G indicator from a worldwide contest open to students of all ages. The winning design came from 8-year-old Lucas Ye, a second-grader from Mountain View, California. In addition to serving as the zero-G indicator, 'Rise' also contains a micro SD card with the names of over 3.1 million people who entered the 'Fly Your Name' program.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in 2024.
  • The 'Earthrise' photograph was captured by astronaut Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968.

The players

Lucas Ye

An 8-year-old second-grader from Mountain View, California, who designed the 'Rise' zero-G indicator for the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

A NASA Mission Specialist who announced the selection of 'Rise' on behalf of the Artemis II crew.

Bill Anders

The astronaut who captured the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.

Artemis II

NASA's upcoming crewed mission around the Moon, the first since the Apollo era.

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What they’re saying

“The crew personally participated in selecting our buddy, our stowaway to fly with us.”

— Christina Koch, NASA Mission Specialist

“It is a mission that sort of mirrors our own. So welcome aboard, Rise.”

— Christina Koch, NASA Mission Specialist

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in 2024, marking the first crewed flight around the Moon since the Apollo era.

The takeaway

The inclusion of 'Rise' as the Artemis II zero-G indicator not only continues a spaceflight tradition but also serves as a symbolic representation of the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph, reminding the crew and the world of the fragility and beauty of our home planet.