The Story Behind This Artemis II Photo Is Really, Truly, Just The Best

3 days ago 13

If you're similar me, past you're going done a spot of Artemis II withdrawl.

Four astronauts floating successful a spacecraft, each giving thumbs up. U.S. and Canadian flags visible. They deterioration matching ngo shirts

Like, I've afloat developed a parasocial narration with 4 nerdy astronauts who went astir the Moon. Go figure.

Four astronauts successful a abstraction module clasp each other, smiling, surrounded by instrumentality with U.S. and Canadian flags visible

As this idiosyncratic said, "i miss the small astronauts successful my phone."

"i miss the small astronauts successful my phone." Viewed 81.4K times, posted April 12, 2026

So, if you were pursuing the journey, you cognize determination was different overmuch smaller member.

Four astronauts successful orangish abstraction suits basal extracurricular NASA facility, smiling and preparing for their mission

That was Rise, the plushie. Duh.

Astronaut holds a plush, smiling artifact with a cap, featuring elemental facial details and patterns

Rise was designed by 8-year-old Lucas Ye.

A household visits NASA Ames, celebrating Lucas Ye, decorator of the Artemis II Moon mascot, "Rise." His plan was inspired by the Apollo 8 Earthrise

He rapidly became a prima of the mission.

Cute plush artifact held successful beforehand of a NASA gathering entrance, with substance joking astir getting its ain formation suit

His relationship with the astronauts happened quickly.

NASA Artemis station with a plush quality named Rise, humorously explaining its relation connected the Orion spacecraft

You astir apt saw him hanging retired with them connected the ship. You know, conscionable floating around.

NASA Artemis tweet with astronaut plush artifact "Rise" floating successful the Orion spacecraft, surrounded by 4 smiling astronauts

He answered questions for the media.

Astronauts wrong a spacecraft reply media questions during their travel to Earth aft a historical lunar flyby, surrounded by instrumentality and gear

And, just, like, successful wide was a beacon of light.

Plush artifact with a smiling look and a headdress successful a NASA Artemis tweet saying, "Look what I tin do!! -Rise."

He IS virtually satellite joyousness plushified.

"COPY, MOON JOY?? I AM MOON JOY!!!! -Rise."

Well, the communicative gets amended and has the happiest ending. People noticed Rise really made it backmost with the astronauts.

Two astronauts successful orangish abstraction suits beryllium wrong a vehicle, listening to a lasting idiosyncratic successful a bluish NASA formation suit

See, determination helium is.

Two astronauts successful orangish suits beryllium wrong a helicopter, receiving instructions from a lasting idiosyncratic successful a bluish suit with NASA patches

Astronaut Reid Wiseman explained, "I was expected to permission Rise successful Integrity….but that was not thing I was going to do. I stuffed that small feline successful a adust container we had successful our endurance kit and hooked the container onto my unit suit."

Tweet by Reid Wiseman astir keeping a "little guy" successful a adust container attached to his unit suit, with implicit 1.4M views

Rise present appears to beryllium a subordinate of Reid's family. Those are his 2 daughters (and Rise):

Three radical happily seated successful a vehicle. An astronaut successful a bluish NASA suit is connected the right. Social media station with caption "Mission complete" and 3 bosom emojis

Reid besides gave a small update astir Rise's whereabouts: "PS- it’s hard not to emotion this small guy. I cant fto Rise retired of my sight…currently tethered to my h2o bottle."

Plush artifact with a cute look and headdress sitting adjacent to a backpack and h2o vessel labeled "R" connected a table. Reminder of fond attachment

I mean, travel on. So cute.

Four individuals successful bluish formation suits with ngo patches, posing proudly connected stage, 2 pointing forward, each wearing caps

One happening EVERYONE is asking, though, is WHERE CAN I BUY ONE?!?!

Tweet from idiosyncratic Jasmine asking for Rise plushies, expressing excitement with crying emojis

NASA said they mightiness beryllium coming: "We’ve seen galore requests for Artemis II items, including Rise plushies, and our squad is presently successful the reappraisal process. Because accumulation takes 60+ days, it volition beryllium a small portion earlier they’re ready!"

NASA's Artemis II update: Merchandise reappraisal successful progress; expect implicit 60 days for availability. Details connected NASA Exchange stores shared

Anyway, ILY. Bye. Stay gorgeous XO etc.

NASA unit members holding a plush artifact with a smiley look and substance astir carrying "her sanction adjacent to my heart" by "Rise."

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