The term “what goes up must come down” suggests that things that rise must eventually return to the earth due to gravity. Toymaker Celestial Buddies knows this all too well as one of their plush is currently in outer space but hitching a ride home, thanks to NASA!
When NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley return on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule to complete the company’s Demo-2 mission, they’ll bring an extra passenger on board: Celestial Buddies Little Earth plush pal.
The round toy with an outline of planet Earth’s green land and blue seas had been added as a last-minute installment during SpaceX’s Demo-1 mission last year to serve as a “super high tech zero-g indicator,” according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk when he alerted his followers via Twitter hours before the uncrewed launch of the Crew Dragon capsule.
As Florida Today, part of USA Today news network, reported, “Throughout the course of SpaceX’s Demo-1 mission, “Earthy,” or “Little Earth” as the toy eventually became coined spent its time with the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.”
“With daily updates of the plush planet’s time in space provided by NASA astronaut Anne McClain — who served on Expedition 58 and 59 — eyes everywhere watched as “Earthy” learned how to measure space growth, have candlelight dinners with other plush figures and even worked out with the astronauts.”
Celestial Buddies’ adventures in space began last year. On the evening of March 1, 2019, SpaceX President Elon Musk surprised the world by tweeting that he was sending a “super hi-tech zero gravity indicator” on board the Crew Dragon Spacecraft bound for the International Space Station the following morning.
In the wee hours of March 2, television viewers were treated to the sight of a blue and green plush toy Earth floating in the cabin, soon to be welcomed to the Space Station by American Astronaut Anne McClain. She in turn was succeeded by Christina Koch, who spent a record 328 days on board with Little Earth, the cuddly planetary plush from Celestial Buddies that defied both gravity and zero gravity in going where no plush had ever gone before.
Now kids quarantined in spaces perhaps as tight as the Space Station can find comfort and knowledge with these playful pals that introduce youngsters to the Moon and beyond.