Carpentersville Company Designs Controls for Artemis II Spacecraft

Otto Engineering's custom-built switches will help guide NASA's historic moon mission.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:35pm

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For the first time in over 50 years, astronauts are set to return to the moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, and equipment designed and manufactured by Carpentersville-based Otto Engineering will play a critical role. Otto created 18 unique switch designs for the Orion's control and navigation systems, which the four-person crew will use to shift between manual and automated piloting, ignite rocket engines, and steer the craft.

Why it matters

Otto Engineering's involvement in the Artemis II mission represents a significant milestone for the suburban Chicago manufacturer, which has decades of experience designing controls for aerospace applications dating back to the Apollo and space shuttle programs. The company's contributions to this historic moon mission underscore its technical capabilities and the vital role that local suppliers play in enabling ambitious space exploration efforts.

The details

Otto Engineering was awarded the Orion contract about 10 years ago and has since worked closely with NASA to develop the custom switch designs. The components were manufactured by teams led by Edward Trowbridge, Otto's senior manager of manufacturing operations, and will be used by all four astronauts aboard the Integrity spacecraft, with pilot Victor Glover Jr. relying on some of the switches specifically designed for flying the craft.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch on Wednesday evening from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
  • Otto Engineering has been involved in the project for about 10 years, from the initial concept phase through prototype development and final manufacturing.

The players

Otto Engineering

A Carpentersville, Illinois-based company that has designed and manufactured control and navigation components for aerospace applications, including the Apollo spacecraft and space shuttle program, for over 65 years.

Edward Trowbridge

The senior manager of manufacturing operations at Otto Engineering, who led the teams responsible for manufacturing the custom switch designs for the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover Jr.

The pilot of the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, who will use some of the Otto-designed controls specifically for flying the craft.

Dan Stanek

The president of Otto Engineering, who expressed the company's pride in contributing to this historic moon mission.

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What they’re saying

“It is incredibly rewarding to be trusted by NASA … to supply mission and life critical controls for such a historic program. Knowing that our work will play a role in the success and safety of the crew certainly creates a strong sense of pride and connection to the mission.”

— Edward Trowbridge, Senior Manager of Manufacturing Operations, Otto Engineering

“Over OTTO's 65-year history, we've contributed to some of America's most defining moments. We're proud to contribute to a mission that will carry humans beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in more than 50 years.”

— Dan Stanek, President, Otto Engineering

What’s next

The Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts on a journey around the moon, is scheduled to launch on Wednesday evening from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. If successful, it will pave the way for future Artemis missions, including the goal of landing astronauts on the moon and potentially sending them to Mars.

The takeaway

Otto Engineering's critical contributions to the Artemis II mission underscore the vital role that local manufacturers and suppliers play in enabling ambitious space exploration efforts. The company's decades of experience in aerospace design and manufacturing, combined with its custom-built components for the Orion spacecraft, demonstrate the technical capabilities of suburban Chicago businesses and their importance to the nation's space program.