How Astronautical Engineers Powered the Artemis II Mission Forward

On April 1, 2026, the Space Launch System (SLS) lifted an Orion capsule carrying four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This Artemis II mission was the first human-crewed attempt to reach the Moon’s orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Ten days later, the crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean—having traveled farther from Earth than any human in history. This incredible feat of scientific exploration was made possible by the highly talented professionals behind the scenes—from engineers to technicians to Mission Control and more.

The Engineering Behind the Trajectory

Getting to the Moon and back is not an easy feat—as evidenced by the many years between missions. After the Artemis II launch, the SLS separated from the spacecraft and the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage carried the Orion capsule into high Earth orbit. After nearly a full day of systems checks, Orion made a figure-eight around the far side of the Moon and used its gravity as a slingshot to return to Earth. That path was purposely engineered to be self-correcting: if propulsion failed, the capsule could still return safely via free-fall. The crew’s farthest distance from Earth was more than 252,000 miles, breaking the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

Lunar missions require near-perfect alignment between Earth, the Moon, and a spacecraft’s flight path. Because these bodies are constantly in motion, the window for a critical burn can be extraordinarily narrow. Perfecting this timing is the result of decades of design, simulation, and testing by thousands of engineers.

The Workforce That Made Artemis II Possible

When the SLS fired its engines, it did so because of the incredible work of more than 14,000 Lockheed Martin and NASA engineers who designed and built the Orion spacecraft. For verification alone, the mission had to complete over 50,000 requirements and checks before launch.

NASA engineers were responsible for designing, developing, integrating and testing, life-support systems, navigation, propulsion, and communication technologies, as well as conducting extensive simulations and launching the Artemis I uncrewed test flight. They also analyzed data, identified potential risks, and refined systems to meet strict safety standards, ensuring the spacecraft and rocket were ready for human spaceflight around the Moon.

Additionally, the Artemis II astronauts—Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), and Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist, representing Canadian Space Agency)—were not just passengers but active participants in validating spacecraft systems designed by NASA and Lockheed Martin engineers. The crew worked closely with engineering teams to test and evaluate the Orion spacecraft during training and in-flight, providing critical first-hand perspectives and feedback on controls, displays, life-support performance, and overall usability. Astronauts helped to identify design improvements by simulating real mission scenarios, assessing how systems respond under manual control, and verifying that automated systems function correctly under crew oversight. Their observations and performance data allow engineers to refine safety protocols, optimize system interfaces, and ensure that the spacecraft operates reliably in the deep-space environment—ultimately bridging the gap between technical design and real-world human operation.

Paul Benfield, Artemis II project manager at Lockheed Martin, described the mission as a “transition point for the next generation of spacecraft,” marking the beginning of a new era of cosmic exploration and collaboration. 

Troubleshooting Artemis II in Real-Time

Both in-flight astronauts and on-ground engineers need to be prepared for anything to happen during spaceflight. With the Artemis II mission, the spacecraft had a series of small issues that luckily, the talented team was able to quickly address. For example, the spacecraft’s Universal Waste Management System encountered a series of malfunctions mid-flight that they were able to work through and remedy. Astronaut Christina Koch earned the unofficial title of "space plumber" for her work in troubleshooting the system while on board.

Later, Commander Reid Wiseman placed another status call to Mission Control, stating that two instances of Microsoft Outlook were running on the system and neither were working. NASA IT staff remotely accessed the device and resolved the issue, which stemmed from a configuration problem caused by the lack of a direct network connection. While seemingly mundane, these are the exact types of problems that emphasize the importance of highly specialized and adaptable professionals in the field.

Capitol Tech Weighs in on Artemis II

Capitol Technology University’s Director of Astronautical Engineering (AE) and former NASA Project and Program Manager, Professor Jeff Volosin, was invited as a guest subject matter expert during two live broadcasts of C-SPAN's Artemis II launch and splashdown coverage. Along with host Pedro Eschevarria and Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony, Apollo Curator at the National Air and Space Museum, he discussed the mission's historical roots, the technology behind spacecraft builds and launches, and what lies ahead for the industry, reflecting on the depth of expertise that Capitol Tech brings to astronautical engineering education.

Capitol Tech AE students are contributing directly to the space field through hands-on rocket building, data research, and payload projects. The university’s AI-driven Gamma-Ray payload team was recently selected for a highly competitive payload spot on NASA's RockSat 2026 sounding rocket mission, scheduled for launch on June 25, 2026. The Capitol Tech payload combines spectrometers for radiation detection with onboard AI capable of interpreting and prioritizing science data in real time. The goal is to demonstrate the value of an "AI scientist in flight,” an idea that points directly toward the autonomous systems future deep-space missions will require.

According to the Senior Research Engineer at NASA Ames, George Gorospe, "space has lots of difficult problems, and we need lots of hands to get there." Capitol Tech's Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering is designed to produce exactly the professionals needed to build the technology of tomorrow that will carry humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Explore what a degree from Capitol Tech can do for you! To learn more, contact our Admissions team or request more information.

Written by Jordan Ford
Edited by Erica Decker and Jeff Volosin