Artemis II Crew Reaches Launch Site, Unveils Moon Mascot
Filmogaz.com — The four astronauts assigned to NASA’s Artemis II arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, March 27, 2026. NASA is targeting Wednesday, April 1, for launch within a two-hour window that opens at 6:24 p.m. EDT. They reached the launch site at the Kennedy Space Center to begin final preparations.
Moon mascot and zero gravity indicator
During remarks at Kennedy’s Launch and Landing Facility, commander Reid Wiseman announced the crew’s zero gravity indicator. The design, called Rise, was created by Lucas Ye of Mountain View, California. The crew unveiled the chosen moon mascot during public remarks.
The motif draws inspiration from the Apollo 8 Earthrise photograph. A zero gravity indicator is a small plush item that signals weightlessness visually.
Finalists and contest details
The design was selected from more than 2,600 submissions from over 50 countries. Submissions included entries from K-12 students. The crew reduced a list of 25 finalists to these five top designs.
- Big Steps of Little Octopus — Anzhelika Iudakova, Finland
- Corey the Explorer — Daniela Colina, Peru
- Creation Mythos — Johanna Beck, McPherson, Kansas
- Lepus the Moon Rabbit — Oakville Trafalgar School, Canada
- Rise — Lucas Ye, Mountain View, California
Flight preparations and crew activities
Work continues on the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and ground systems. The four-member crew will review the launch-day timeline and mission activities. They will also complete medical checkouts and spend time with family.
The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
An updated countdown and pre-launch details are available on Filmogaz.com.
