Georgia Companies Played Key Role in Artemis II Moon Mission

Seventeen Georgia businesses contributed critical components and research to enable NASA's historic Artemis II launch.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:19am

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NASA's Artemis II mission, which launched astronauts around the moon for the first time in over 50 years, was made possible with the help of 17 Georgia companies and several local researchers. Companies like GM Dicron in Griffin engineered custom metalwork to hold the Artemis rocket together, while Georgia Tech Professor John Christian previously worked with NASA to develop navigation algorithms used in the first Artemis launch.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a major milestone in establishing the moon as an extension of humanity's economy and presence beyond Earth. Georgia's contributions, from specialized manufacturing to cutting-edge research, demonstrate the state's integral role in advancing the nation's space exploration capabilities.

The details

Seventeen Georgia businesses contributed critical components and expertise to the Artemis II mission. GM Dicron, a company in Griffin, engineered custom metalwork to help hold the Artemis rocket together. Georgia Tech Professor John Christian, who previously worked at NASA, helped develop the navigation algorithms used in the first Artemis launch. Other Georgia companies provided a range of support, from rocket parts to research.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on Wednesday evening, April 2, 2026.
  • GM Dicron made parts for the mission two years ago, in 2024.

The players

John Christian

A professor at Georgia Tech who previously worked at NASA, helping develop the navigation algorithms used during the first Artemis launch.

Vern Heyer

The owner of GM Dicron, a Griffin-based company that engineered custom metalwork to help hold the Artemis rocket together.

Brian Jack

A U.S. Representative who visited three Georgia companies in his district shortly before the Artemis II launch.

NASA

The U.S. government agency that oversees the Artemis program and launched the Artemis II mission.

Artemis II

NASA's historic mission that sent astronauts around the moon for the first time in over 50 years.

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What they’re saying

“This is one of the reasons I got into spaceflight to begin with.”

— John Christian, Georgia Tech Professor

“Making it really an extension of humanity, an extension of our economy, an extension of everything that we do to not just be Earth, but to really include the moon for the first time.”

— John Christian, Georgia Tech Professor

“There's one rocket launching today, but it was a team of thousands that made that possible.”

— Vern Heyer, Owner of GM Dicron

“We actually put that little assembly together, so there are pieces of the SLS, that we made the parts that hold it together. Some of these parts we made two years ago.”

— Vern Heyer, Owner of GM Dicron

“It's incredibly inspiring. For any Georgian watching, just take pride in knowing that 17 companies in our state help support this mission this afternoon and make history as we return astronauts to the moon.”

— Brian Jack, U.S. Representative

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is a critical step towards establishing a sustained human presence on the moon, paving the way for future Artemis missions that will land astronauts on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

Georgia's aerospace industry played a pivotal role in enabling the historic Artemis II mission, showcasing the state's technological capabilities and commitment to advancing space exploration. This collaboration between local companies, researchers, and NASA highlights the important contributions that can come from regional hubs of innovation.