The plush that flew around the Moon is now a Celestial Buddy. Celestial Buddies Rise Buddy is a 5-inch moon plush based on Rise, the zero gravity indicator that floated aboard NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight around the Moon in more than 50 years.
With its soft moon body, friendly face, and signature blue-and-green Earth cap, Rise Buddy captures the spirit of the little mascot that rode with four astronauts to a record-breaking 252,756 miles from Earth. It's a cuddly piece of space history for your shelf, desk, or nightstand.
The Artemis II zero gravity indicator
A zero gravity indicator, or zero-g indicator, is a small plush that rides along with astronauts. When it starts to float, the crew knows they've reached weightlessness. Snoopy flew as the indicator on the uncrewed Artemis I in 2022, and Rise took the job for Artemis II.
Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, carrying Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen aboard the Orion spacecraft Integrity. On April 6, the crew swung around the far side of the Moon and broke the human distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970, then splashed down in the Pacific off San Diego on April 10. Rise floated alongside them, carrying an SD card with the names of more than 5.6 million people from around the world.
Designed by a second grader, inspired by Earthrise
Rise was designed by Lucas Ye, a second grader from Mountain View, California, whose entry was chosen from more than 2,600 submissions from over 50 countries in NASA's Moon Mascot challenge. His design pays tribute to Earthrise, the famous 1968 photo of Earth rising over the lunar horizon taken by the Apollo 8 crew.
Rise's cap shows Earth rising over the Moon, and the stars on its bill form the constellation Orion, a nod to the spacecraft that carried the crew. Christina Koch said the design resonated with the crew because their mission mirrors Apollo 8's.
From Little Earth to Rise
Rise Buddy is the second zero gravity indicator to join the Celestial Buddies family. The first, Little Earth Buddy, spent 519 days aboard the International Space Station. The astronauts loved Little Earth so much that they extended its mission. Now Rise Buddy carries that legacy from low Earth orbit all the way to the Moon.
Why you'll love this cute moon plush
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Based on the real Artemis II zero gravity indicator that flew around the Moon in April 2026
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Earthrise-inspired cap in blue and green, with an Orion constellation star field on the bill
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4" x 4" x 5" size that's perfect for hugging, display, or a desk buddy
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Super-soft, huggable plush in the classic Celestial Buddies style
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A collectible piece of space history that pairs with Little Earth Buddy and the full Celestial Buddies lineup
The perfect space gift
Rise Buddy is a meaningful gift for future astronauts, NASA fans, teachers, and anyone who stayed up to watch Artemis II. Because Rise was designed by a kid, it's an especially inspiring gift for young dreamers, and a great way to start conversations about the Moon, Earthrise, and the next chapter of human spaceflight.
