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Zero gravity indicators, also known as zero-g indicators or free-fall indicators, are small objects used on spacecraft to visually demonstrate when the vehicle has reached microgravity. These items are often symbolic and serve as a fun or educational connection between space missions and the public, especially younger audiences. Over the years, zero-g indicators have become a tradition in crewed space missions.[1].
SpaceX missions
edit| Mission | Launch Date | Zero-G Indicator | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demo-1 (uncrewed) | March 2, 2019 | Celestial Buddies Earth Plush | Nicknamed "Little Earth" or "Earthy"[2] |
| Demo-2 | May 30, 2020 | Tremor | A sequined dinosaur plush[3] |
| Crew-1 | November 15, 2020 | Baby Yoda (Grogu) | Plush from "The Mandalorian"[4] |
| Crew-2 | April 23, 2021 | GuinGuin | A plush penguin[4] |
| Crew-3 | November 10, 2021 | Pfau | A plush turtle[4] |
| Crew-4 | April 27, 2022 | Zippy | Another plush turtle[4] |
| Crew-5 | October 5, 2022 | Albert Einstein Plush Doll | Representing Einstein's contributions to science[2] |
| Crew-6 | March 2, 2023 | Suhail | A plush astronaut character[5] |
| Crew-7 | August 26, 2023 | Sasha | A plush three-toed sloth[6] |
| Crew-8 | March 3, 2024 | Family Dog | A small plush English Springer Spaniel[7] |
Other missions
editAxiom Space missions
edit- Ax-1 (Launch date: April 8, 2022): Plush dog representing the Children's Art in Space Contest
- Ax-2 (Launch date: May 21, 2023) and Ax-3 (Launch date: January 18, 2024): "GiGi", a Build-A-Bear doll dressed in an Axiom spacesuit[8]
Other notable missions
edit- Inspiration4 (Launch date: September 15, 2021): Golden Retriever Plush and a Blue and Pink Sequined Dinosaur[9]
- Artemis 1 (Launch date: November 16, 2022): Snoopy Plush[10]
- Polaris Dawn (Launch date: September 10, 2024): "Asteroid", a plush Shiba dog toy inspired by Elon Musk's pet dog[11]
Historical precedents
edit- Vostok 1 (Launch date: April 12, 1961): A small doll used by Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space[12]
- Various Soviet and Russian space missions have continued the tradition, using stuffed toys as zero-g indicators[12]
Purpose and significance
editZero-g indicators are more than just toys; they are symbolic tools that captivate the imagination of the public, particularly younger audiences. These items are chosen not only to demonstrate microgravity but also to raise awareness about space exploration and promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. By selecting familiar and beloved characters or culturally significant symbols, space agencies foster public engagement and excitement about space travel and the future of humanity beyond Earth[1][4].
In recent years, zero-g indicators have also been used to support charitable causes, as seen with the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn missions' indicators raising funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This trend demonstrates how these small objects can serve a dual purpose: educating about spaceflight while also contributing to important causes on Earth[13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b "A Well-traveled Beagle". NASA. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ a b "Astronauts fly Albert Einstein doll to demo physicist's 'happiest thought'". CollectSpace. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Astronauts fly Albert Einstein doll to demo physicist's 'happiest thought'". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ a b c d e "Toys in Space: Zero-G Indicators and More". CCSSC. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "UAE astronaut mascot 'Suhail' flies again as SpaceX Crew-6 zero-g indicator". CollectSpace. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Meet Sasha, the sloth zero-g indicator for SpaceX's Crew-7 mission". Space Explored. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Crew-8 Arrives at Space Station". NASA. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "GiGi the Build-A-Bear zero-g indicator to fly on Ax-3 mission". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Inspiration4's zero-g indicator is a cute plush puppy for a good cause". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "NASA on X: "Past @SpaceX @Commercial_Crew missions have ..."". Twitter. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Elon Musk's pet dog inspires young girl's design for Polaris Dawn zero-g indicator". CollectSpace. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ a b "Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos holds up zero-G indicator". NASA. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Inspiration4's zero-g indicator is a cute plush puppy for a good cause". Space.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Elon Musk's pet dog inspires young girl's design for Polaris Dawn zero-g indicator". CollectSpace. Retrieved 2024-09-10.