Artemis 2 astronauts reveal adorable zero-g indicator 'Rise' | Space photo of the day for March 31, 2026

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four people in blue flight suits and sunglasses smile for a portrait on an aircraft runway under a sunny sky — The Artemis 2 astronauts pose for a photograph alongside their zero gravity indicator on March 27, 2026 after arriving at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. | Credit: NASA/John Kraus

The four astronaut's of NASA's Artemis 2 mission arrived in style ahead of their historic moon mission.

What is it?

NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman, and the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen landed their T-38 jets at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on Friday (March 27).

The crew of four landed at KSC shortly before unveiling their zero gravity indicator, "Rise." Zero gravity indicators are small stuffed items that accompany crews into space to serve as a visual signal that they've left Earth's gravity as they begin to float around their spacecraft.

Rise consists of a smiling moon, wearing a cap decorated to resemble Earth, featuring a brim covered in stars.

Rise was designed by second-grader Lucas Ye of Mountain View, California, and was inspired by the iconic Earthrise moment from the Apollo 8 mission, according to a statement from NASA. The agency opened a call for submissions for the Artemis 2 mission's zero-g indicator last year and received over 2,600 submissions from over 50 countries.

Why is it amazing?

two people in blue flight suits and sunglasses smile on an airplane tarmac. one of them is carrying a small stuffed moon with a smiley face — NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover arrive at Kennedy Space Center on March 27, 2026, carrying "Rise," the zero-gravity indicator they will be taking with them on their journey to the moon. | Credit: NASA/Brandon Hancock

Artemis 2 will be the first crewed mission to lunar space in over 50 years, since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The flight will test the Orion spacecraft and see the crew carry out experiments that will help NASA prepare for further Artemis program missions.

The overall goal of the Artemis program is to establish a sustained human presence on the lunar surface, including building permanent moon bases.

NASA is currently 'go' to launch Artemis 2 as early as Wednesday, April 1, at 6:24 p.m. EDT (2224 GMT).

Follow along with the latest updates on our Artemis 2 mission live blog.