Artemis II: Washington's Role in Historic Moon Mission

NASA's upcoming nine-day lunar flight will feature key technology from companies in the Evergreen State.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:50am

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of green, blue, and brown, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and technologies behind the Artemis II mission to the moon.Washington state's aerospace industry plays a pivotal role in powering NASA's historic Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a nine-day journey around the moon.Redmond Today

This week, NASA is preparing to launch the Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts on a nine-day trip around the moon and back. Several Washington-based companies, including L3Harris and Karman Space & Defense, have played crucial roles in developing the technology that will power this historic spaceflight.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks a significant step forward in NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a permanent presence on the moon. Washington state's aerospace industry has contributed vital components and expertise to ensure the safety and success of this mission, further solidifying the state's role as a hub for space exploration.

The details

The Artemis II spacecraft will carry Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, astronaut Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a nine-day journey around the moon. Washington-based companies have provided key technologies for the mission, including thrusters from L3Harris that were used on the Voyager missions and the parachute deployment mechanism from Karman Space & Defense.

  • Artemis II is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, March 31, 2026 around 3:24 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
  • The mission will last approximately nine days, with the astronauts returning to Earth after circling the moon.

The players

L3Harris

An aerospace and defense technology company based in Redmond, Washington that has provided thrusters for the Artemis II mission, including ones that were used on the Voyager spacecraft.

Karman Space & Defense

A Washington-based company that has built several key components for the Artemis II mission, including the mechanism that launches the parachute to bring the astronauts back to Earth safely.

Senator Maria Cantwell

A Democratic senator from Washington who has highlighted the contributions of 41 companies in her state to the Artemis II mission.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II mission.

Christina Koch

An astronaut on the Artemis II mission.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut on the Artemis II mission.

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What they’re saying

“Our mission here is to get this technology correct so we can return, land, and build a moon base.”

— Senator Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senator

“[Voyager] has a Redmond thruster on it that still works. If you're going to put humans on that vehicle and you're going to put them up for an extended period of time in space, Redmond, Washington, and L3Harris is the thruster you want on that vehicle for reliability and safety.”

— John Schnier, Vice President of Operations, L3Harris

“It couldn't be more exciting to be a part of this department. There's a particular point of pride here for this organization knowing they were able to make a contribution.”

— Jon Rambeau, CEO, Karman Space & Defense

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, March 31, 2026 around 3:24 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The four astronauts will spend approximately nine days circling the moon before returning to Earth.

The takeaway

Washington state's aerospace industry has played a vital role in the development of key technologies that will power NASA's historic Artemis II mission, further cementing the state's status as a hub for space exploration and innovation. This mission marks a significant step forward in humanity's return to the lunar surface and the establishment of a permanent presence on the moon.