Check your gravity with NASA's Artemis II zero-g indicator

Rise, the fan-created, flown-to-the-moon plush toy that served as the Artemis II crew’s zero-g indicator and mascot, is now available as a NASA-approved collectible. Its sales will benefit the agency’s employee morale activities. “Perfect for display, gifting or inspiring the next generation of explorers, the Official Rise Plush is a fun addition to any space enthusiast’s collection,” reads the doll’s description on the NASA Exchange website. Designed by Lucas Ye, a 9-year-old Californian who won NASA and Freelancer.com’s “Moon Mascot” online challenge, Rise is a tribute to “earthrise”—the iconic scene first seen in person by the Apollo 8 crew in 1968 and recently witnessed by the Artemis II crew. Rise wears a cap that resembles the Earth rising over the Moon. There are some differences between the flown Rise and its official replica, though. The contest rules restricted entries to use only fabrics found in NASA’s thermal blanket lab, and the flown zero-g indicator was handmade by NASA members. The real Rise has a less manufactured look and a rougher construction. The exchange store photo and description also do not reveal if the version being sold has a zippered pocket at the bottom. The feature was added by NASA to store an SD card with the names of the 5,647,889 people who signed up to fly on the mission.