Montanans Play Key Roles in Artemis II Moon Mission

Engineers and an astronaut from the Treasure State contribute to NASA's historic return to the lunar surface.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:34am

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The Artemis II mission, which launched on Wednesday, features a four-person crew including NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who was living in Livingston, Montana when she was selected for the Astronaut Corps. Additionally, two Montana engineers, Jeremiah Hall and Daniel Baca, are working on the Artemis II mission for NASA.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewed flight around the Moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The participation of Montanans in this historic endeavor highlights the state's contributions to the space industry and the talent pool it can provide for NASA and other aerospace companies.

The details

Jeremiah Hall, a graduate of Whitefish High School and Montana State University, is working on the Artemis II mission as an aerospace engineer. Daniel Baca, a native of Flathead Valley and a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, is also contributing his expertise to the mission. Meanwhile, Christina Koch, who maintained connections to Montana even while serving aboard the International Space Station, is one of the four astronauts selected for the Artemis II crew.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on Wednesday, April 6, 2026.
  • The mission is expected to be completed by April 10, 2026.

The players

Jeremiah Hall

A mechanical engineer from Whitefish, Montana, who graduated from Montana State University and is working on the Artemis II mission for NASA.

Daniel Baca

A native of Flathead Valley, Montana, who earned degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder and is contributing his aerospace engineering expertise to the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

A NASA astronaut from Livingston, Montana, who was selected for the Artemis II crew and previously spoke to students at Park High School in Livingston while aboard the International Space Station.

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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 the first crewed flight around the Moon since the Apollo program ended over 50 years ago.

The takeaway

The participation of Montanans in the Artemis II mission highlights the state's contributions to the space industry and its ability to produce talented engineers and astronauts who are helping to drive NASA's historic return to the lunar surface.