German-Designed Mascot May Join NASA's Artemis 2 Lunar Mission

NASA's upcoming Artemis 2 mission, which aims to send astronauts close to the Moon for the first time in over fifty years, could feature a mascot designed in Germany. The selection process for the mission's 'zero-gravity indicator'--a tradition in space missions where a small object is used to visibly signal the onset of weightlessness--has reached its final phase, with a design crafted in Berlin among the top contenders.

The Artemis 2 mission, scheduled for the first half of 2026, will mark a significant milestone in human space exploration, as four astronauts are set to orbit the Moon in a mission lasting approximately ten days. The crew, composed of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, will be the first humans to travel this close to the lunar surface since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

NASA initiated a global competition to select a new zero-gravity indicator for this historic mission. Out of more than 2,600 submissions worldwide, 25 designs have advanced to the final round. Among them is an entry created by a 34-year-old science communicator living in Berlin. Her design features a miniature astronaut perched on the shoulder of a giant figure named Orion--a nod both to NASA's Orion spacecraft and to the mythological companion of Artemis, the deity after whom the mission is named.

Zero-gravity indicators are objects placed inside spacecraft to demonstrate the transition to microgravity after launch. Once the forces of Earth's gravity are overcome, these objects begin to float, providing a clear sign to crew and ground operators that weightlessness has been achieved. The tradition dates back to early spaceflight; the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, reportedly carried a small doll for this purpose in 1961. Since then, a variety of items, including stuffed animals and other symbolic objects, have fulfilled this role on missions from different space agencies.

The Artemis 2 contest received entries from a diverse group of participants, including both adults and children, hailing from countries such as the United States, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Japan, Peru, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The Berlin-based designer decided to participate after learning about the competition online, inspired by a long-standing fascination with space. Her submission, which made it to the final round after considerable creative effort, draws on mythological themes and the mission's technological aspects.

The winning mascot will ultimately be selected by the Artemis 2 astronaut crew. Once chosen, the mascot will travel aboard the Orion spacecraft, floating in the cabin to visually indicate the moment the crew reaches zero gravity. This symbolic gesture serves as both a nod to spaceflight tradition and a means of engaging the public with the mission's progress.

NASA continues to emphasize international collaboration and public engagement in its Artemis program, inviting contributions from around the world. The inclusion of a mascot designed in Germany would highlight the global nature of contemporary space exploration and the shared excitement surrounding humanity's return to the Moon.