Nebraskan Contributes to Artemis II Mission at NASA

UNL graduate reflects on fulfilling work on Orion spacecraft for historic moon flight.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:39am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly textured, sweeping abstract painting in earthy tones of orange, brown, and blue, featuring precise geometric shapes and spirals that conceptually represent the complex technical systems and natural forces involved in the Artemis II mission to the moon.An abstract artistic rendering of the intricate systems and forces powering NASA's historic Artemis II mission to the moon.Lincoln Today

Following the successful launch of NASA's Artemis II mission, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate who worked on the Orion spacecraft shared their sense of pride and accomplishment in contributing to the historic moon flight.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's plans to return humans to the lunar surface, with the Orion spacecraft playing a critical role. The involvement of a Nebraskan engineer highlights the state's growing presence in the space industry.

The details

The Orion spacecraft, which will carry astronauts to the moon and back, was a key focus of the Nebraskan engineer's work at NASA. They were able to apply their expertise from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to help ensure the successful development and launch of the Artemis II mission.

  • NASA's Artemis II mission launched on Wednesday, October 11, 2026.
  • The Nebraskan engineer has been working on the Orion spacecraft at NASA for several years.

The players

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A public research university located in Lincoln, Nebraska, known for its strong engineering and aerospace programs.

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Orion spacecraft

The primary spacecraft for the Artemis program, designed to carry astronauts to the moon and back.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is expected to orbit the moon for several days before safely returning the astronauts to Earth.

The takeaway

The successful launch of Artemis II, with the involvement of a Nebraskan engineer, demonstrates the state's growing influence in the space industry and the fulfillment that comes from contributing to groundbreaking NASA missions.