Suburban Chicago Company Plays Key Role in Historic Artemis II Mission

Otto Engineering's spacecraft controls are on board NASA's first crewed Artemis flight in over 50 years.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:43am

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A bold, abstract painting in soft earth tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise mechanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex systems and engineering behind the Artemis II spacecraft.The intricate spacecraft controls from a suburban Chicago manufacturer are now guiding NASA's Artemis II mission to the Moon.Chicago Today

A family-owned manufacturing company in Carpentersville, Illinois, Otto Engineering, is playing a crucial role in NASA's Artemis II mission, the agency's first crewed flight in decades. The company has provided the toggle switches and controls that the four-person crew will use to operate the Orion spacecraft during the 10-day journey around the Moon.

Why it matters

Otto Engineering's involvement in the Artemis II mission highlights the important contributions of local businesses and manufacturers to major national space exploration efforts. The company's decades of expertise in precision engineering and custom controls have enabled them to meet NASA's exacting standards for the critical systems on board the Orion spacecraft.

The details

After winning a bid nearly a decade ago, Otto Engineering spent years developing prototypes, working with NASA astronauts, and extensively testing the spacecraft controls they would provide for the Artemis II mission. The company's senior manager of manufacturing operations, Ed Trowbridge, says the toggle switches and panels they produced are now controlling the shuttle's life support systems and piloting as the crew travels to the Moon.

  • Otto Engineering entered the conversation with NASA about the Artemis program nearly a decade ago.
  • The company won the bid to provide spacecraft controls two years later.
  • Following years of development and testing, the Otto-made controls are now on board the Artemis II spacecraft for its historic mission.

The players

Otto Engineering

A family-owned manufacturing company located in Carpentersville, Illinois, that specializes in precision engineering and custom controls. Otto Engineering was selected by NASA to provide critical spacecraft controls for the Artemis II mission.

Tom Roeser

The chairman of Otto Engineering, who is continuing his family's legacy at the company. Roeser says Otto's involvement in the Artemis program is a source of immense pride.

Ed Trowbridge

The senior manager of manufacturing operations at Otto Engineering, who oversaw the development and testing of the spacecraft controls the company produced for NASA's Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“First, I didn't think so much about Otto, I thought about America.”

— Tom Roeser, Chairman, Otto Engineering

“As they questioned, 'Can you make this kind of product?', only a fool would have said, 'yes,' because nobody makes the kind of product to go to Mars. But in confidence, I could say, yes, we can meet your application.”

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

“It's pride, absolutely it's pride — in the company, in America, that once again we are at the forefront of exploration.”

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

What’s next

Executives at Otto Engineering say they'll be tasked with adjusting and modifying the spacecraft controls they produced for NASA's next Artemis mission.

The takeaway

Otto Engineering's involvement in the Artemis II mission demonstrates how local manufacturers can play a crucial role in supporting major national space exploration efforts. The company's decades of expertise in precision engineering have enabled them to meet NASA's rigorous standards and contribute to a historic moment in space exploration.