Moon Mascot: NASA Artemis II ZGI Challenge
Design a ZGI to travel to the Moon on Artemis II
Will you design the zero gravity indicator (ZGI) that accompanies the Artemis II mission around
the Moon? If your design is one of the most compelling and resonates with the global
community and the Artemis II astronauts, your design might fly into space aboard the Orion
spacecraft and you could win US$1225.
Zero gravity indicators are small items carried aboard spacecraft that provide a visual indicator
for when a spacecraft has reached the weightlessness of microgravity. A plush Snoopy doll was
the ZGI for the Artemis I mission. For that uncrewed mission, Snoopy floated around, tethered
inside the vehicle to indicate when the Orion spacecraft had reached space.
For this Challenge, we’re asking creatives from all over the world to design a new ZGI to be
fabricated by NASA’s Thermal Blanket Lab and launched into space aboard the Artemis II
mission.
This Challenge is open to the following categories:
● Adults: Individuals, Teams, and Entities
13 prizes of US$1,225 each
● K-5 and 6-8 Classrooms
Supplemental materials for K-8 classrooms are available in the Files tab.
2 K-5 Classroom winners of US$1,225
2 6-8 Classroom winners of US$1,225
● K-8 Individuals
Supplemental materials for K-8 individuals are available in the Files tab.
2 K-5 Individual winners of a Artemis prize pack
2 6-8 Individual winners of a Artemis prize pack
● 9-12 Grades Classrooms and Individuals
Can use the Challenge page and look at all of the Resources guides.
2 9-12 Classrooms winners of US$1225
2 9-12 individual winners of an Artemis prize pack
NASA will ultimately choose one design to fabricate and fly aboard the Orion spacecraft.
Background
Artemis II
With Artemis, NASA will explore more of the Moon than ever before, learn how to live and
work farther away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of Mars.
Artemis II is targeted to launch in early 2026 and will be the first test flight of the Space Launch
System rocket and the Orion spacecraft with humans aboard. Lasting about 10 days, the
mission will launch four astronauts from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to fly around
the Moon before safely returning to Earth. The mission is a crucial step toward the Artemis III
Moon landing mission in 2027.
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency
astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will be joined by another important crewmember in space: the ZGI
aboard the Artemis II mission!
Watch Artemis II to the Moon: Launch to Splashdown to learn more about this mission.
ZGI for Artemis II
The ZGI for the Artemis II mission will be an original stuffed toy (“plushie”) that will join the
Artemis II crew inside of the Orion spacecraft for their journey around the Moon.
Manufacturing Considerations for the ZGI
The Artemis II crew and the ZGI will travel around the Moon in the Orion spacecraft. The
spacecraft will provide the astronauts with food, water, and oxygen and protect them from
hazards like space radiation.
Size and weight are limited inside the spacecraft. Everything that will be launched inside Orion
must be weighed and measured prior to launch to ensure it fits. Each object going in to the
crew module is assigned a size and weight limit.
On Artemis II, the ZGI has been assigned a limit of 6 inches (15.24 cm) in any dimension,
meaning it must fit within a 6” x 6” x 6” (15.25 cm3) box. The weight limit is 0.75 lb. (0.34 kg).
While you won’t have to calculate the final weight or size of your design, you will need to make
sure that you plan your design so that the final manufactured ZGI will be able to meet the
requirements.
When the Thermal Blanket Lab technicians build the flight design for the mission, they will be
limited in what materials they can use. Use this list of materials to inform your design. Refer to
the Fabric Description document for more information.
● Flame and temperature resistant sewing thread
● Faux fur
● Polyester Fiberfill
● Fabrics such as polyester, cotton, and vinyl
● Materials such as beta cloth, Kevlar, and VDA Film
NASA is looking for a Zero Gravity Indicator (ZGI) design that results in a ZGI that meets the
following criteria:
The ZGI must:
● Be original
● Be relevant to a global audience, representing humanity
● Be meaningful to the Artemis II mission and astronauts
● Fit in a 6” x 6” x 6” (15.25 cm x 15.25 cm x 15.25 cm) box
Meaning, no dimension of the ZGI may exceed 6” (15.25 cm)
● Not exceed 0.75 lbs. (0.34 kg)
● be able to be fabricated with these materials and ONLY these materials:
o Nomex thread
o Faux fur fabric
o Polyester fabric, cotton fabric, Beta Cloth, Kevlar, or Vinyl
o Kapton/VDA film
o Poly-fil for stuffing
Schedule
Challenge Launch March 7, 2025
Submissions Due May 27th, 2025 by 5pm ET
Finalists Announced On or before July 31, 2025
Submission Requirements
Submission forms and designs must be uploaded to the Challenge page prior to the deadline of
May 27th, 2025 at 5pm ET. All submissions must be complete and written in English in order to
be considered for judging.
Your submission must include:
● front, side, and rear images of your ZGI design including all dimensions of your ZGI
● proposed colors and materials to be used for fabricating the ZGI
● answers to all required questions
The submission must not:
● use AI to create either the visual or written submission
● represent just one country through logos, iconography, flags, etc.
● include the NASA insignia, other NASA logos, or the name “NASA”
Eligibility Requirements
Complete Eligibility Rules are available in the Official Rules section.
● Team Leads must be at least 18 years old. The Team Lead must be eligible to receive
payment under the laws of the United States.
● Solutions must originate from either the U.S. or a non-designated country (see
definition of designated country at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-
25#FAR_25_003).
● May compete as an Individual, Team, or Entity however, the prize will be awarded in
whole to the Team Lead. The Team Lead is responsible for distributing the prize money
among team members.
● Individuals, Teams, or Entities may only submit one entry. If more than one entry is
submitted, only the most recent entry will be considered.
Prizes
Category Number of Prizes Individual Prize Amounts
Finalists 13 US$1225
K-5 Classroom 2 US$1225
6-8 Classroom 2 US$1225
9-12 Classroom 2 US$1225
K-12 Individuals 6 Artemis Prize Pack
Total 25 US$23,275
The 25 finalists’ designs will be presented to the Artemis II crew to select the final ZGI.
How to Enter
1. Create a Freelancer Account
In order to submit your solution, the Team Lead will need a Freelancer account. Sign up
for a Freelancer account at Freelancer.com.
2. Register for the Challenge
Once you have a Freelancer account, you must register for the Challenge by completing
the Challenge Registration Form. The Challenge Registration Form provides us with your
contact information. This information will be used to determine whether you are eligible
to compete in the Challenge (Eligibility Requirements).
3. Submit your Entry on the Challenge Page
a. Images
Upload your images to your entry as a .pdf, .jpg, or, .png. Save your file with the
name YourName_YourCountry_Image.xxx where xxx is the type of file. For
example, Harry Smith from Australia would save his .pdf file as
HarrySmith_Australia_Image.pdf. You may utilize the template provided (in the
Files tab) or create your own.
Include:
i. Front, back, and side views
ii. All dimensions of the ZGI
iii. Materials to be used for each part of the design
iv. Colors for each part of the design
v. Your Name and Country
b. Submission Form
Upload your Submission Form (template provided in the Files tab) to your entry
as a .pdf. Save your .pdf with the name YourName_YourCountry_Image.pdf. For
example, Harry Smith from Australia would save his file as
HarrySmith_Australia_Submission.pdf
Note: All Submission Forms must be in English.
i. Your Name
ii. Your Freelancer Name
iii. Submission Title
iv. Description of the ZGI. Note: each answer will be limited to 100 words.
Include:
1. A description of the design.
2. An explanation of why you created the design and why it meets
the design requirements.
3. A description of any motion your ZGI may perform during
spaceflight.
4. An explanation of how your design is meaningful to the Artemis II
mission, the Artemis campaign, and/or its significance to
exploration and discovery.
Judging Rubric
Criteria Points available
Visuals
● Compelling
● Attractive, easily recognizable
● Creative/Unique
40
● Speaks to a global audience
● Quality of the visual submission
● Submission is complete with dimensions, colors, and clear
visuals
Representation of Artemis II mission, or the Artemis Campaign and/or
40
its significance to exploration and discovery. Why the ZGI is
meaningful to the mission.
Written Submission
● Description of ZGI
● Explanation of ZGI 20
● How ZGI will perform
● Quality of submission
Resources
Artemis II Mission Overview
Snoopy ZGI at Work During the Artemis I Mission
Snoopy ZGI Flew Aboard Artemis I
Artemis II Mission Map
Designing Snoopy for Artemis I
Interview with a Thermal Blanket Technician
Official Rules
NASA and Challenge Partners reserve the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the challenge,
or any part of it, for any reason.
Eligibility Requirements
For all Solvers, general eligibility requirements include:
● By participating in a Freelancer.com contest, each Solver (whether an individual, group
of individuals, or entity) must agree to and abide by the following: Freelancer Eligibility
Policies, Freelancer User Agreement, and the Freelancer Copyright Infringement Policy.
● Each Solver must complete and comply with the Freelancer "Know Your Customer”
(KYC) process.
● Prior to receiving awards, Solvers must complete the Freelancer.com handover process.
● Solver may not be an employee of NASA or a competition partner employee.
● Solver may not be a Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment.
● Government contractors working on the same or similar projects are ineligible to
participate in the Challenge.
● Any individuals (including an individual's parent, spouse, or child) or private entities
involved with any aspect of the design, production, execution, distribution, or
evaluation of the Challenge are not eligible to enter as an individual or member of a
team.
● Federal employees acting in their personal capacities should consult with their
respective agency’s ethics officials to determine whether their participation in this
Challenge is permissible. If you work for a government contractor and this solution was
made either under a Government Contract, Grant, or Cooperative Agreement, or while
performing work for the employer, you should seek legal advice from your employer’s
ethics agency on your conditions of employment which may affect your ability to submit
a solution to this Challenge and/or to accept award.
● Funds from U.S. or foreign government organizations should not be used to directly
fund the development of a solution to this Challenge. Solutions that were previously
developed with Government/Federal funds, or where Government/Federal funds,
including but not limited to, employee time, materials, and reviews, were utilized to
prepare the submission or solutions are prohibited.
● Solvers currently receiving Federal funding through a grant or cooperative agreement
unrelated to the scope of this challenge are eligible to compete but may not utilize that
Federal funding for competing in this challenge.
● Solvers may not be working with the Federal government as a CRADA collaborator if the
statement of work of the CRADA includes the subject matter of the challenge or if the
CRADA provides the Solver with a competitive advantage.
● A Solver who does not meet the eligibility requirements to claim a cash prize may not
participate in the Challenge.
Submission Requirements
Solutions must originate from either the U.S. or a designated country (see definition of
designated country at https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-25#FAR_25_003), OR have been
substantially transformed in the US or designated country prior to submission deadline
pursuant to FAR 25.403(c).
The solution shall not include proprietary components or anything that requires licensing.
Team Lead
All communication from the Challenge Team will be directed to the Team Lead. Only the Team
Lead will be authorized to interact with the Challenge Team, as facilitated by Freelancer, and be
responsible for meeting all entry, evaluation, and administrative requirements of the Challenge.
Team Leads must be at least 18 years old. The Team Lead must be eligible to receive payment
under the laws of the United States; U.S. federal sanctions prohibit participation from certain
countries. (see: https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-programs-and-country-information).
Eligibility for Underage Participants
Participants under the age of 18 (“Underage Participants”) are permitted to participate in this
challenge. However, in order to be eligible to receive an award, Underage Participants must
appoint a designated point of contact (“Team Lead”) who is at least 18 years of age. The Team
Lead may be a parent, legal guardian, school teacher, or another responsible adult. The Team
Lead shall be solely responsible for communicating with the challenge organizers, submitting
the entry on behalf of the Underage Participant, ensuring compliance with all eligibility
requirements, and accepting and receiving any awards granted.
Payment
Payment of prize will be conducted via Freelancer.com platform. For any prize award, the
winner will receive the full amount awarded. There are no Freelancer seller fees for participants
of this challenge.
If participating as a Team, all payments will be made to the Team Lead who is solely responsible
for the distribution of funds among team members.
Warranties
Each Solver represents and warrants that the Solver is the sole author and copyright owner of
the submission; and/or that the submission is an original work of the Solver; and/or that the
Solver has acquired sufficient rights to use and to authorize others, including the Federal
government, to use the submission, as specified throughout the Official Rules, that the
submission does not infringe upon any copyright or upon any other third party rights of which
the Solver is aware.
The Solver shall indemnify the Government and its officers, agents, and employees acting for
the Government against any liability, including costs and expenses, incurred as the result of the
violation of trade secrets, copyrights, or right of privacy or publicity, arising out of the creation,
delivery, publication, or use of any data furnished under this contract; or any libelous or other
unlawful matter contained in such data.
The Solver represents and warrants that all information submitted is true and complete to the
best of the Solver’s knowledge, that the Solver has the right and authority to submit the entry
on the Solver’s own behalf or on behalf of the persons and entities that the Solver specifies
within the entry, and that the entry:
● is the Solver’s own original work, or is submitted by permission with full and proper
credit given within the entry;
● does not knowingly violate or infringe upon the patent rights, industrial design rights,
copyrights, trademarks, rights in technical data, rights of privacy, publicity or other
intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity;
● does not trigger any reporting or royalty or other obligation to any third party;
● has not been created with the assistance of artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT or
Gemini or contain AI-generated content.
No Confidential Information
Each Solver agrees and warrants that no part of its submission includes any trade secret
information, ideas or products, including but not limited to information, ideas or products
within the scope of the Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1905. All submissions to this prize
challenge are deemed non-proprietary. Since the Federal Government will not accept or hold
any submitted materials “in confidence” it is agreed that, with respect to the Solver’s entry, no
confidential or fiduciary relationship or obligation of secrecy is established between the Federal
government and the Solver, the Solver’s team, or the company or institution the Solver
represents when submitting an entry, or any other person or entity associated with any part of
the Solver’s entry
Intellectual Property
Winning solutions, solutions that receive a cash prize, must grant the Government unlimited
rights to use, disclose, reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public,
perform publicly and display publicly on the web or elsewhere, in any manner and for any
purpose, and to have or permit others to do so. In addition, all copyrights in winning solutions
shall be assigned to the Government in accordance with FAR 52.227-17 Rights in Data--Special
Works; each Solver waives all moral rights, including, without limitation, the right to attribution
or to prevent modifications of the work.
General Conditions
NASA and Challenge Partners reserve the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the challenge,
or any part of it for any reason.
You agree to the terms set forth herein and to all decisions of NASA and Challenge Partners,
which are final and binding in all respects.
Scores from the judging panel will not be shared with the Solvers.
