Gottlieb Planetarium educator talks historic Artemis II mission

Educator Emma Loesing discusses the mission's highlights and impact on future space travel

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:07pm

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An abstract, highly structured painting in soft, earthy tones of blue, green, and orange, depicting the Artemis II mission's journey around the moon through sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conveying the grandeur and structural order of the historic spaceflight.The Artemis II mission's historic journey around the moon has captivated the public and inspired a new era of space exploration.Kansas City Today

The Artemis II mission around the moon captivated the country for the last ten days, with the astronauts now safely back on Earth. In Kansas City, educators at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station have been closely following the mission. Educator Emma Loesing stopped by the KMBC9 Studio on Saturday morning to talk about the historic Artemis II mission, discussing her favorite moments, the records it broke, the unique pictures captured, and how this could impact the future of space travel.

Why it matters

The successful Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in the renewed push for crewed space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. The mission's accomplishments and the data it collected will help inform and enable future lunar landings and potential long-term lunar habitation, paving the way for even more ambitious deep space missions.

The details

Artemis II went farther into space than any crewed mission ever has, with the four-person crew spending nearly 10 days in space before safely splashing down on Friday evening. The mission featured several historic firsts, including the first African American, first woman, and first Canadian to reach the deep space network. Educators at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium in Kansas City were able to closely follow the mission by tuning into NASA's live coverage and sharing insights with visitors.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026.
  • The crew spent nearly 10 days in space before splashing down on April 11, 2026.

The players

Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium

A planetarium located at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri that has been closely following the Artemis II mission.

Emma Loesing

An educator at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium who appeared on KMBC9 Studio to discuss the Artemis II mission.

Artemis II Crew

The four-person crew of the Artemis II mission, which included the first African American, first woman, and first Canadian to reach the deep space network.

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What they’re saying

“We've been having that available in the dome, available in Science City, and having our educators speak on what they were telling us from NASA.”

— Emma Loesing, Educator, Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium

“It helps us see them as people. They are people who just have a passion for space and science, and their life has led them here, and anyone's life could lead them there.”

— Emma Loesing, Educator, Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium

What’s next

The data and imagery collected during the Artemis II mission will help NASA plan future lunar landings and potential long-term lunar habitation, paving the way for even more ambitious deep space missions to places like Mars.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission has captivated the public and inspired a new generation of space enthusiasts. By humanizing the astronauts and showcasing their diverse backgrounds, the mission has demonstrated that the dream of space exploration is within reach for people from all walks of life.