Rise was the mission’s zero gravity indicator and held more than 5.6 million names of people who signed up for the “Fly Your Name” program.

WASHINGTON — One crewmate on the Artemis II mission was unlike the others, but is making the trek back to Houston with the full crew.

Commander Reid Wiseman, the last astronaut out of the Integrity capsule, decided no man (or plush) would be left behind and brought the mission’s zero gravity indicator “Rise” along with him as they make their way back to solid ground. 

“I was supposed to leave Rise in Integrity…. but that was not something I was going to do. I stuffed that little guy in a dry bag we had in our survival kit and hooked the bag onto my pressure suit,” he wrote on social media. 

Rise was seen hanging from Wiseman’s belt or in his hands while on the flight deck of the USS John P. Murtha after splashdown. 

As for what comes next for Rise? It doesn’t appear Wiseman intends to let him go anytime soon.

“It’s hard not to love this little guy,” he wrote alongside a photo of the plush. “I can’t let Rise out of my sight…currently tethered to my water bottle.”

PS- it’s hard not to love this little guy. I cant let Rise out of my sight…currently tethered to my water bottle. pic.twitter.com/U8UZYUVQiy

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) April 11, 2026

Rise was also seen still at Wiseman’s side when he reunited with his family.


What was the stuffed toy on the Artemis II mission?

Did you notice a stuffed moon floating around the cabin alongside astronauts Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch and Wiseman for the length of the Artemis II mission? 

The stuffed plushie was made by 8-year-old Lucas Ye, a second-grader from Mountain View, California, and held more than 5.6 million names of people who entered the “Fly Your Name” program, according to NASA. 

The round body resembles the Moon and the baseball cap atop its head represents Earth. 

Its name and design is a direct reference to the iconic “Earthrise” photograph captured by astronaut Bill Anders during NASA’s Apollo 8 mission in December 1968 — the first crewed journey around the Moon.

That image, showing a brilliant blue Earth hovering above the lunar horizon against the blackness of space, is widely regarded as one of the most consequential photographs ever taken.

The crew personally participated in selecting the mission’s zero-G indicator and mascot. 

Hi! I’m Rise!

About a week ago, I launched aboard the Artemis II mission with four of my besties. Since then, I have been serving a very important purpose aboard the Orion spacecraft… I float. (And I look cute.)

Today, I am taking over the Artemis social media accounts! -Rise pic.twitter.com/hdTMeq82PC

— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) April 8, 2026