Meet the 8-Year-Old Who Designed Official Moon Mascot
Why It Matters
By featuring a child’s design on a high‑profile mission, NASA amplifies STEM outreach and humanizes its lunar program, potentially boosting future talent pipelines.
Key Takeaways
- •8‑year‑old Lucas Ye wins NASA mascot design competition
- •Design, Ryleigh, symbolizes Earthrise and past/future moon missions
- •Over 2,600 global entries were submitted for the contest
- •NASA invited Lucas and family to attend Artemis 2 launch
- •Mascot will indicate zero‑gravity status for Artemis 2 crew
Summary
NASA selected an 8‑year‑old’s design as the official zero‑gravity indicator for the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, naming the plush mascot “Ryleigh.” The mascot will be carried aboard the Orion spacecraft to visually confirm when the crew reaches weightlessness on their lunar flyby.
The competition drew more than 2,600 submissions from around the world, but Lucas Ye’s concept stood out for its homage to the iconic 1968 Earthrise photograph. The cap represents Earth, while the visor symbolizes both past Apollo missions and future Artemis flights. Lucas spent roughly a month crafting the plush toy.
Lucas told GMA that he feels “very lucky” and that a small idea can become “a big thing.” NASA invited him and his family to watch the historic Artemis 2 launch, and he expressed excitement for Artemis 3 and the broader mission.
The selection underscores NASA’s commitment to youth outreach, turning a child’s passion into a public symbol that can inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists, while also providing a tangible visual cue for mission control and the public.
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