Dayton Native Celebrates Artemis II Mission Success

Dr. Rickey Shyne and his team at the John Glenn Research Center played a key role in the historic spaceflight.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:54pm

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A Dayton native named Dr. Rickey Shyne, who is the head of research and engineering at the John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, is celebrating the successful Artemis II mission to the moon. Shyne and his team of over a thousand engineers have worked for two decades to help make this mission possible, calling it a 'generational moment' they will never forget.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA's plans to return humans to the lunar surface, with future Artemis missions expected to launch in the coming years. Shyne and his team in Cleveland played a critical role in enabling key technologies like laser communication that made the mission's live broadcasts and imagery possible.

The details

During the 10-day Artemis II mission, Shyne's team at the John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland worked closely with researchers around the world, including in Australia, to support the spacecraft over 200,000 miles away. A major breakthrough was the use of laser communication, which was tried for the first time in the field and will be foundational for future long-range spacecraft communications.

  • Artemis II successfully launched and returned to Earth in April 2026.
  • Artemis III is expected to launch next year and will test the new Lunar Lander's docking capabilities.
  • Artemis IV is slated for 2028 and will be the first official journey to the moon in over half a century.

The players

Dr. Rickey Shyne

The head of research and engineering at the John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, who has led a team of over a thousand engineers working on the Artemis program for two decades.

John Glenn Research Center

A NASA research facility located in Cleveland, Ohio that played a critical role in supporting the Artemis II mission through advanced communication technologies and engineering expertise.

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What they’re saying

“It's been the honor of my lifetime to participate in this. I don't think growing up, I would've ever thought this is what I would've been doing. All the sacrifices that all of us have made over the years—it's truly been amazing, and it's been an absolute blessing.”

— Dr. Rickey Shyne, Head of Research and Engineering, John Glenn Research Center

What’s next

Artemis III is expected to launch next year and will test the new Lunar Lander's docking capabilities, while Artemis IV is slated for 2028 and will be the first official journey to the moon in over half a century.

The takeaway

The successful Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in NASA's plans to return humans to the lunar surface, with the critical contributions of Dayton native Dr. Rickey Shyne and his team at the John Glenn Research Center playing a pivotal role in enabling key technologies that made this historic spaceflight possible.