Humanity has finally returned to the Moon, and Northeast Ohio played a major role in making it happen.
The Artemis II mission marked the first time anyone has been back to the Moon since Gene Cernan last walked on it in December 1972. Similar to the Apollo 8 mission, Artemis II orbited the moon as a demonstration of the Orion capsule capabilities, an integral first step to eventually landing back on the surface.
The Glenn Research Center and its nearby locations served a vital role in the buildup to this point. The Orion spacecraft was tested in the Space Environments Chamber at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in nearby Sandusky, while Glenn researchers back in Cleveland have been developing the power and propulsion systems that will not only get humans back on the Moon, but eventually to Mars.
During the Artemis II mission, NASA Glenn even got a shoutout from commander Reid Wiseman:
“Hey, Jackie, we see the same thing onboard, and we just wanted to give a huge shoutout to that ESA Airbus team, to our friends in the Netherlands, in Germany and at the Glenn Research Center. This vehicle powered us, and it propelled us from the Earth to the moon and back with extreme precision and we are excited to be part of your team.”
Beyond Artemis II: Powering Us to the Moon and Beyond
The Space Environments Complex (SEC) in Sandusky played an especially important role in the development of the Orion spacecraft. Home to the largest and most powerful space simulation facilities in the world, NASA scientists were able to put the capsule through the ringer to ensure its functionality on a real mission. The SEC lays claim to the largest space simulation vacuum chamber, the most powerful spacecraft acoustic test chamber, and the world's highest capacity and most powerful spacecraft shaker system, all of which helped to ensure the safety and stability of the Orion capsule.
Glenn researchers, engineers, scientists, and staff - numbering more than 3,000 in total - are working on a wide range of projects that are essential to this new era of space exploration. This includes solar power generation, power supply capabilities, spacecraft system maintenance, fire safety experiments, power and propulsion work, lunar rover testing, and more.
As astronauts move towards long-term exploration on the Moon and, eventually, beyond, Cleveland's Glenn Research Center is sure to remain an integral player in getting us there.
Image credit: NASA/ Bridget Caswell