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Copy, Moon Joy

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

On sale through the NASA exchange.

Robert Pearlman – | 29
a plush moon with pink and yellow craters, two eyes and a smile, wearing a blue and green cap
You can now bring home Rise, the beloved Artemis II zero-gravity indicator, as an approved NASA collectible. Credit: NASA Exchange
You can now bring home Rise, the beloved Artemis II zero-gravity indicator, as an approved NASA collectible. Credit: NASA Exchange
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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.

The original “Rise” seen floating aboard the Orion capsule Integrity during NASA’s Artemis II mission.
Credit: NASA
The original “Rise” seen floating aboard the Orion capsule Integrity during NASA’s Artemis II mission. Credit: NASA

“This little guy really resonated with us because the theme is the earthrise photo taken on Apollo 8, which is inspirational to all of us and is a mission that sort of mirrors our own,” said Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist. “We’ve incorporated [earthrise] into our mission patch and also into our ethos and values as a crew.”

Zero-g not included

The collectible plush reproduces Rise’s blue-and-green cap, as well as the rocket ship design and star field on its bill. The latter is intended to form the constellation Orion, a nod to the Orion spacecraft on which the Artemis II astronauts tested on their 10-day flight to the Moon and back.

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.

Rise in demand

a montage of several images of apparel and accessories bearing the same artwork of an anthropomorphized moon.
In addition to the plushie, the NASA Exchange is also offering patches, magnets, keychains, stickers, and apparel featuring Rise.
Credit: NASA Exchange/collectSPACE.com
In addition to the plushie, the NASA Exchange is also offering patches, magnets, keychains, stickers, and apparel featuring Rise. Credit: NASA Exchange/collectSPACE.com

Even without those details, the official Rise plushie is expected to be in demand, given the number of unauthorized (and perhaps fraudulent) offers that popped up online since Rise took flight on April 1. NASA holds copyright to the doll’s design but may permit its reproduction by hobbyists and toy companies if compliant with its merchandise guidelines.

The official exchange store version of Rise retails for $25. The employee-run shop is also offering other Rise products, including an embroidered patch, a lapel pin, a key chain, decals, and a magnet, as well as a selection of apparel depicting Rise and a quote from one of the calls between the Artemis II crew and mission control, “Copy, Moon Joy.”

According to the store’s website, all Rise products are expected to take up to eight weeks to deliver due to production schedules.

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Robert Pearlman
Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE, a daily news publication and online community focused on where space exploration intersects with pop culture. He is also a contributing writer for Space.com and co-author of "Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space” published by Smithsonian Books in 2018. He is on the leadership board for For All Moonkind and is a member of the American Astronautical Society's history committee.
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