Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman admitted to taking a unique souvenir from the Orion capsule following Friday's splashdown in the Pacific Ocean: the crew's zero-gravity indicator, a plush moon nicknamed 'Rise.'
The small plush ball, designed by 8-year-old Lucas Ye of California as part of a NASA contest, accompanied the four-person crew throughout their lunar mission and became an unofficial team member. The toy also carried the names of approximately 5 million people who submitted their names to be included on the mission.
In a post on social media, Wiseman explained that he was technically supposed to leave Rise inside the capsule but chose differently. '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.
The commander later posted an update reassuring followers that Rise remained safe, noting the plushie was currently tethered to his water bottle.
What the Right Is Saying
Fiscal conservatives and some Republican lawmakers have used the moment to highlight their ongoing concerns about NASA's budget allocation. Senator Rand Paul and other members of the fiscal conservative caucus have repeatedly called for greater scrutiny of NASA expenditures, arguing that while the mission is inspirational, every dollar spent must be justified to taxpayers.
Some conservative commentators have noted that while the story is heartwarming, it underscores the need for continued oversight of NASA's multi-billion-dollar Artemis program. The program has faced criticism from some Republicans who question whether the costs are justified given other federal spending priorities.
House Freedom Caucus members have pointed to the Artemis II mission as an example of why they continue to push for performance-based funding reviews at federal agencies, arguing that even small items like the zero-gravity indicator should be accounted for in mission budgets.
What the Left Is Saying
Space exploration advocates and supporters of NASA's Artemis program have praised the moment as a touching demonstration of the human side of space missions. Progressive commentators and pro-science voices on social media highlighted how Wiseman's decision to bring Rise back personally symbolized the connection between the crew and the millions of people whose names traveled with them to lunar orbit.
Democratic lawmakers who support increased NASA funding have pointed to moments like this as examples of why public investment in space exploration matters. Representative Donald Payne Jr. and other members of the Congressional Space Caucus have emphasized that missions like Artemis II inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
The design contest that selected Rise, which required the winning entry to meet specific weight, size, and material safety standards for spaceflight, has been cited as an example of successful public engagement in NASA's work.
What the Numbers Show
The Artemis II mission represents the first human lunar flight since Apollo 17 in 1972. The four crew members—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—traveled approximately 1.4 million miles from Earth, the farthest any human has ever traveled from their home planet.
The Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, completing a 10-day mission. NASA's budget for the Artemis program totals approximately $93 billion through fiscal year 2025, with additional funding requested for future lunar landing missions.
The names of approximately 5 million people were carried aboard the mission as part of NASA's public engagement initiative. The plushie Rise was fabricated at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, using the same facilities that produce thermal blankets for spacecraft.
The Artemis program aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2027, with the Artemis II mission serving as a crucial precursor to the planned lunar landing mission.
The Bottom Line
The story of Commander Wiseman taking the zero-gravity indicator Rise has captured public attention as a human element of space exploration. The plushie, designed by a child and carrying millions of names, symbolizes the connection between the Artemis II crew and the public they represent.
NASA's Artemis program continues to move forward with plans for subsequent missions aimed at establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon. The success of Artemis II sets the stage for Artemis III, which will attempt the first lunar landing in more than five decades.