posted 02-13-2026 09:50 AM               

SpaceX Crew-12 tethers to Earth with crocheted 'Planet Gaia' zero-g indicator

As NASA astronaut Jessica Meir and her three crewmates entered low Earth orbit on Friday (Feb. 13), they became temporary satellites around the planet, each bringing their individual motivations to their shared eight month mission on the International Space Station.

Lifting off on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft "Freedom" at 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 GMT), a Falcon 9 rocket set the four fliers on a path to deliver them to the space station on Saturday...

posted 10-07-2026 09:12 AM               

Our microgravity indicator consists of four satellites orbiting a crocheted Earth, all hand-made elements by Jack's daughter and my childhood best friend. 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.

I chose a panda holding a mushroom, two adorable symbols of environmental importance and cultural fascination. Pandas are modern icons of species preservation and international diplomacy, and a pivotal character in my childhood. Mushrooms, or fungi, are the great decomposers, with all life on earth depending on them to keep our soils healthy and food webs functioning.

Jack chose a moon that his daughter hand-crocheted. Each color woven into the design represents a member of their family or a cherished shared activity. By bringing this piece with him, he keeps their bond close, allowing Jack to re-live happy memories while looking forward to the ones they'll create when he returns.

Sophie chose a banana. Bananas are the world's most common fruit, ordinary fruit shared by billions of people across every continent. Yet on orbit fresh fruit is rare. She wanted with us a playful reminder of kitchens and home — a familiar piece of Earth drifting weightless with us.

Andrey chose this thing, because it reminds me of an old space soviet movie. He would invite everyone to try to guess what this is.

And we present to you, Planet Gaia and her moons, floating here in Crew-12's Dragon!