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Space
Space
Science
Robert Z. Pearlman

'Aurora' the baby falcon plush toy takes flight again as SpaceX Crew-9 zero-g indicator

"Aurora," a baby falcon push toy, is seen floating in front of the crew consoles aboard SpaceX's Dragon "Freedom" serving as Crew-9's zero-g indicator on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

A tradition borrowed from the Russian space program has now physically crossed over to an American spacecraft for the first time.

The "zero-g [gravity] indicator" that launched aboard SpaceX's Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station on Saturday (Sept. 28), previously flew on two Russian Soyuz capsules, including one that survived an emergency in-flight abort.

"I've got a little Falcon here," said NASA astronaut and Crew-9 commander Nick Hague, as he revealed the small plush baby falcon in the crew cabin of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft "Freedom."

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