**An 8-Year-Old’s Stuffed Toy Is Flying to the Moon**

A key item on NASA’s upcoming Artemis II moon mission was designed by a child. The crew’s official “zero-gravity indicator” is a small stuffed toy named Rise, created by an 8-year-old girl. These indicators are tradition. They float inside the spacecraft once it reaches microgravity, providing the crew with a clear visual sign that they are in orbit. The Artemis II crew connected with the young designer, Cillian, over a shared love of space and dinosaurs. Her simple concept—a smiling, embroidered Earth wearing a dinosaur costume—won their hearts. NASA began developing the custom toy more than a year before the mission’s launch. The project required strict safety reviews to meet flight standards. Rise has already become popular online. The toy represents a rare human touch in a highly technical program, symbolizing inspiration for a new generation.