Montanans Contribute to Historic Artemis II Moon Mission

Engineers and an astronaut with Montana ties are part of the landmark mission to orbit the Moon.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:34pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of green, blue, and brown, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and natural beauty behind the Artemis II moon mission.The Artemis II mission's connections to Montana showcase the state's contributions to the renewed push for lunar exploration.Livingston Today

The Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar orbit mission in over 50 years, features a crew that includes two Montana-born engineers and an astronaut who lived in Livingston, Montana. Jeremiah Hall and Daniel Baca, both graduates of Montana universities, are working on the mission for NASA, while astronaut Christina Koch, who was living in Livingston when selected for the Astronaut Corps, is one of the four crew members.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a major milestone in the renewed push to explore the Moon, and the involvement of Montanans highlights the state's contributions to the space program. It also inspires pride in the local community and demonstrates the high-caliber talent that Montana is producing in STEM fields.

The details

Jeremiah Hall, a graduate of Whitefish High School and Montana State University, and Daniel Baca, a Flathead Valley High School alumnus who attended the University of Colorado Boulder, are both working on the Artemis II mission as engineers for NASA. Astronaut Christina Koch, who lived in Livingston, Montana when selected for the Astronaut Corps in 2013, is one of the four crew members on the mission.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on Wednesday, April 5, 2026.
  • The mission is expected to be completed by April 10, 2026.

The players

Jeremiah Hall

A Montana native who graduated from Whitefish High School and Montana State University before earning a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. He is working on the Artemis II mission as an engineer for NASA.

Daniel Baca

A Flathead Valley High School alumnus who earned bachelor's degrees in mathematics, computer science, and astrophysics before studying aerospace engineering in graduate school at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he also met his wife, who also works on the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

An astronaut on the Artemis II mission who was living in Livingston, Montana when she was selected to join the Astronaut Corps in 2013. She has maintained connections to Montana, including speaking to students at Park High School in Livingston while aboard the International Space Station in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“It's not every day you meet a Montanan who's going to space!”

— Steve Daines, U.S. Senator

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is expected to be completed by April 10, 2026, marking a historic milestone in the return to lunar exploration.

The takeaway

The involvement of Montanans in the Artemis II mission highlights the state's contributions to the space program and the high-caliber talent it is producing in STEM fields. This mission not only inspires local pride but also demonstrates the far-reaching impact that Montanans can have on the world stage.