2 hrs ago
Handmade Crew-12 Symbols Kept Home Close in Orbit
Crew-12 astronauts brought a special handmade decoration with them to space.
It showed a crocheted Earth with four small symbols orbiting it.
Each astronaut picked a symbol that meant something to them.
Jessica Meir chose a panda holding a mushroom.
Jack Hathaway brought a moon made by his daughter, and its colors stood for family or shared activities.
Sophie Adenot chose a banana because it reminded her of home.
Andrey Fedyaev chose something that reminded him of an old Soviet space movie, but Meir did not reveal what it was.
Together, the objects represented family, memories, home, and the planet everyone shares.
Crew-12 carried a handmade microgravity indicator aboard the International Space Station for more than seven months.
The indicator showed a crocheted Earth orbited by four personal symbols selected by crew members.
Jessica Meir chose a panda holding a mushroom, citing their personal and environmental significance.
Jack Hathaway chose a crocheted moon made by his daughter, with colors representing family members or shared activities.
Sophie Adenot chose a banana as a playful reminder of home; Andrey Fedyaev chose a symbol recalling an old Soviet space movie.
- Who
- Crew-12 astronauts, including Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev.
- What
- They carried a handmade microgravity indicator featuring a crocheted Earth and four personal symbols.
- Where
- Aboard the International Space Station; Crew-12 later splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off Los Angeles.
- When
- During their more than seven months aboard the International Space Station; the mission splashed down on October 8.
- Why
- The symbols represented the crew members' connections to family, memories, home, and Earth.
Key facts
- Mission
- NASA's SpaceX Crew-12
- Time aboard station
- More than seven months
- Microgravity indicator
- Four satellites orbiting a crocheted Earth
- Jessica Meir's symbol
- A panda holding a mushroom
- Jack Hathaway's symbol
- A moon hand-crocheted by his daughter
- Sophie Adenot's symbol
- A banana
- Splashdown
- October 8, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles
Quotes
Jessica Meir
NASA astronaut who described the Crew-12 microgravity indicator.
“Each crew member selected a personal symbol or “satellite.” A tether links each satellite to the Earth, representing our connection to our families, friends, and our one shared home. We'll see this indicator drop as we re-enter Earth's gravity tomorrow.”
NDTV
“By bringing this piece with him, he keeps their bond close, allowing Jack to relive happy memories while looking forward to the ones they'll create when he returns.”
NDTV
Sources
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