Philadelphia Students' Names Aboard Artemis II Lunar Mission

Third graders from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy have their names stored on the Orion spacecraft as it travels around the moon.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:05pm

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of green, blue, and brown, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the structural order and scientific forces behind the Artemis II mission to the moon.The historic Artemis II mission, which will carry the names of Philadelphia students on a lunar flyby, represents a new era of deep space exploration.Philadelphia Today

A group of third-grade students from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia have a special connection to the Artemis II mission - their names are stored on an SD card aboard the Orion spacecraft as it carries astronauts on a historic lunar flyby. The opportunity came after the students wrote thank-you cards to veterans, which touched a retired NASA engineer who then helped get the students involved in a NASA outreach program.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewed flight to circle the moon in over 50 years, making the Philadelphia students part of a historic return to deep space exploration. The experience also teaches valuable lessons about the power of kindness and thoughtfulness.

The details

Twenty-three students from Laura McManus and Marisol Booth's third-grade classes at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy had their names stored on an SD card aboard the Orion spacecraft. The opportunity came after the students wrote thank-you cards to veterans, which reached retired NASA engineer Rick Yasky, who then became the students' pen pal and helped them register for a NASA outreach program tied to the Artemis II mission.

  • In November 2025, the third-grade students wrote thank-you cards to veterans.
  • In December 2025, Yasky surprised the students with the news that their names would be going around the moon.
  • The Artemis II mission is expected to wrap up later this week.

The players

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

A private school serving pre-K through 12th grade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rick Yasky

A retired NASA engineer, former Navy pilot, and current NASA contractor who became a pen pal to the third-grade students after receiving their thank-you cards.

Nora Walsh

A 9-year-old third-grade student at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

Mira Mayo

An 8-year-old third-grade student at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

Laura McManus

A third-grade teacher at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

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What they’re saying

“[I was] very, very moved. I don't know them. They don't know me. And yet they took the time to reach out and write to me. That's why I want to give something back to them.”

— Rick Yasky, Retired NASA engineer

“Our names are going around the moon. Our names are on Artemis II. It's crazy.”

— Nora Walsh, Third-grade student

“I'm proud of myself because, well, my name's going to be in outer space.”

— Mira Mayo, Third-grade student

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is expected to wrap up later this week, and the students said they'll be watching closely and cheering on the journey they're now part of.

The takeaway

This story highlights the power of simple acts of kindness, as the students' thank-you cards to veterans led to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a historic space mission. It also demonstrates the value of thoughtfulness and community engagement in education.