Jessica Meir, an American astronaut, is set to take a sentimental item—a stuffed rabbit belonging to her three-year-old daughter—on her upcoming mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Wednesday, the Crew-12 mission will carry astronauts who are known for taking personal items with them into space as a form of connection to home. Meir shared details in a press conference over the weekend, stating that her daughter owns two of these stuffed rabbits, one of which will stay with her while the other accompanies the astronaut on this voyage.

The Crew-12 mission, launching on a Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, is part of the ongoing efforts to maintain and study the ISS, which orbits Earth at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers. Astronauts often bring personal memorabilia to the station to maintain morale and provide a sense of normalcy during long missions away from home. Meir's choice to bring a stuffed animal is not just a charming gesture; it represents the personal sacrifices and emotional resilience required in space exploration, particularly for parents who leave their young children behind.

With a background in marine biology and physiology, Jessica Meir has extensive experience in space missions, having served as a flight engineer on a previous ISS journey from 2019 to 2020. Her upcoming mission with Crew-12 will add to her remarkable contribution to space science, and the inclusion of her daughter's toy exemplifies the human touch that astronauts maintain despite the vastness of space. This mission is not only a significant event for NASA but also serves to inspire future generations about the possibilities and personal narratives within the field of space exploration.