Local Woman Gains Fans as 'Space Grandma'

Cleo Stanberry's grandchildren work on the Artemis II mission, earning her a new nickname.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:06pm

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the Artemis II mission and its connection to the local community.The 'Space Grandma' of Bartlesville, Oklahoma inspires local pride and excitement for the Artemis II mission's return to the Moon.Bartlesville Today

Cleo Stanberry, a resident of Dewey and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, has gained a new nickname - 'Space Grandma'. This is due to the fact that her grandsons, Barry and Bryan Bohnsack, both work at Lockheed-Martin and had a hand in building the Artemis II spaceship that recently launched.

Why it matters

Stanberry's story highlights the intergenerational connections within the space industry, as well as the growing public fascination with the Artemis program and its human faces. As NASA works to return astronauts to the Moon, stories like Stanberry's help generate excitement and inspire the next generation of space explorers.

The details

Cleo Stanberry, a longtime resident of the Dewey and Bartlesville area, has become known locally as 'Space Grandma' due to the work of her grandsons at Lockheed-Martin. Barry and Bryan Bohnsack both had roles in the construction of the Artemis II spacecraft, which is set to be the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon since the Apollo program.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in late 2024.

The players

Cleo Stanberry

A resident of Dewey and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, who has gained local fame as the 'Space Grandma' due to her grandsons' work on the Artemis II mission.

Barry Bohnsack

Cleo Stanberry's grandson, who works at Lockheed-Martin and had a role in building the Artemis II spacecraft.

Bryan Bohnsack

Cleo Stanberry's other grandson, who also works at Lockheed-Martin and contributed to the construction of the Artemis II mission.

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What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in late 2024, marking the first crewed lunar orbit since the Apollo program.

The takeaway

Cleo Stanberry's story as the 'Space Grandma' highlights the intergenerational connections within the space industry and the growing public excitement around the Artemis program's goal of returning astronauts to the Moon.