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🚀 Rise: Moon Mascot - A Touching Story 🥹

April 29, 2026 | Author

Tech

🎧 Audio Summaries
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🧠Quick Intel


  • Lucas Ye’s “Rise” plush toy, designed as a zero-g indicator for the Artemis II crew, originated from a NASA and Freelancer.com contest.
  • The “Rise” plush replicates the “earthrise” seen by Apollo 8 in 1968 and witnessed by the Artemis II crew, with a constellation design intended to represent Orion.
  • Christina Koch, an Artemis II mission specialist, highlighted the inspirational “earthrise” theme aligning with the mission’s ethos.
  • The flown “Rise” indicator, handmade by NASA members, utilized NASA’s thermal blanket lab fabrics and has a rougher construction compared to the manufactured plush.
  • The official “Rise” plushie retails for $25 and includes a zippered pocket capable of holding an SD card with the names of 5,647,889 people who signed up for the mission.
  • Production of all “Rise” products is expected to take up to eight weeks due to current production schedules.
  • NASA holds copyright to the “Rise” design but may permit reproduction by hobbyists and toy companies adhering to merchandise guidelines.

    • 📝Summary


    On sale through the NASA exchange is the Rise plush toy, a fan-created mascot that served as the Artemis II crew’s zero-g indicator. Designed by a nine-year-old Californian, Lucas Ye, who won NASA and Freelancer.com’s “Moon Mascot” challenge, Rise is a tribute to the “earthrise” observed by the Apollo 8 crew in 1968 and recently witnessed by the Artemis II crew. The collectible plush reproduces Rise’s design, including a blue-and-green cap and rocket ship, and was handmade by NASA members using thermal blanket lab fabrics. Christina Koch, an Artemis II mission specialist, noted the “earthrise” theme’s inspirational value. The exchange store version, retailing at $25, also includes a zippered pocket to hold an SD card with the names of nearly six million people who signed up for the mission, alongside other Rise merchandise. Production is expected to take up to eight weeks, reflecting the demand for this unique, flown-to-the-moon collectible.

    💡Insights

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    THE RISE COLLECTIBLE: A CELEBRATION OF APOLLO 8
    The Rise plush toy, initially created as a zero-g indicator and mascot for the Artemis II crew, is now officially available for purchase through the NASA Exchange. This collectible represents a significant effort to boost employee morale and inspire the next generation of space explorers. Designed by 9-year-old Lucas Ye, the Rise plush is a direct tribute to the iconic “earthrise” photograph taken by the Apollo 8 crew in 1968 – a moment that profoundly impacted the Artemis II team. Christina Koch, a mission specialist, emphasized the importance of this connection, stating, “This little guy really resonated with us because the theme is the earthrise phototaken on Apollo 8, which is inspirational to all of us and is a mission that sort of mirrors our own.” The plush’s design meticulously replicates the Earth rising over the Moon, a key element of the Artemis II mission’s visual identity, and is integrated into the crew’s mission patch and values.

    TECHNICAL DETAILS AND UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
    The official Rise plush is a meticulously crafted collectible, reflecting the specific requirements and constraints of its original creation. The contest rules stipulated the use of only fabrics sourced from NASA’s thermal blanket lab, resulting in a unique, somewhat “rougher” construction compared to the flown version. The plush features a blue-and-green cap mirroring the Earthrise, a rocket ship design, and a star field intended to represent the Orion constellation, referencing the Orion spacecraft used during the Artemis II astronauts’ 10-day lunar mission. Notably, the official replica does not include the zippered pocket present in the flown Rise, which was utilized to store an SD card containing the names of the 5,647,889 individuals who signed up to participate in the mission. Despite these differences, the demand for the official Rise plush is expected to be high, driven by a surge of unauthorized offers that emerged following the toy’s initial flight on April 1st.

    PRODUCT RANGE AND PRODUCTION TIMELINES
    Beyond the core Rise plush, the NASA Exchange store offers a comprehensive range of merchandise celebrating the Artemis II mission. These include an embroidered patch, a lapel pin, a key chain, decals, and a magnet – all featuring the Rise design. Furthermore, apparel displaying Rise and a memorable quote from the crew’s communications with mission control (“Copy, Moon Joy”) is also available. Production timelines for all Rise products are currently estimated at eight weeks due to manufacturing schedules. The official Rise plush retails for $25, and NASA retains copyright to the design while permitting reproduction by hobbyists and toy companies adhering to official merchandise guidelines.

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