Workers based in Washington experience pressure and experience a sense of pride as they contribute to NASA's Artemis lunar mission
In the exciting journey of space exploration, a key industrial partner is making significant strides. L3Harris, a defense contractor, is contributing to NASA's upcoming Artemis II mission, which aims to circle the moon and pave the way for future missions to Mars.
L3Harris takes on a crucial role in the mission, building the engines and propulsion systems for the Orion spacecraft. Their Aerojet Rocketdyne team in Redmond is responsible for manufacturing the auxiliary, or backup, engines that will power the Orion service module. These engines, numbering eight, will help maintain the spacecraft's trajectory and position in space during the mission around the Moon.
Beyond propulsion, a subsidiary of L3Harris called Arde is building essential life support components. They are responsible for producing nitrogen and oxygen tanks for creating a breathable atmosphere for the astronauts, as well as helium pressure vessels that aid in stabilizing the Orion capsule after splashdown.
The Artemis program, with an estimated cost of $93 billion through 2025, is a multistage endeavor that aims to study the moon and build the foundation for future missions to Mars. Amit Kshatriya, the deputy associate administrator for NASA's Moon to Mars program, expressed the goal of the Artemis program is to stimulate American innovation and change the game in terms of what it means to be in space.
For those working on the Artemis program, the upcoming launch of Artemis II is a historic milestone. Kathryn Luczek, the Orion deputy program manager at L3Harris, shared this sentiment, stating that Artemis II marks a significant step forward in space exploration.
A demonstration by astronaut Warren "Woody" Hoburg further highlighted the distance between Earth and the moon. Using a basketball and a tennis ball, Hoburg represented the large distance, passing the spheres to two others on a podium and separating them with a tape measure 24 feet long. This simple yet powerful representation served as a reminder of the ambitious journey that lies ahead.
For employees of L3Harris, the demonstration held a personal significance, as they have been instrumental in building some of the hardware for the Artemis II mission. Hamber Pablo, who has been assembling engines for the Artemis program since its first mission, expressed excitement about what Artemis II means for space exploration.
Looking ahead, L3Harris is also contracted to build propulsion hardware, including thrusters, to support missions through Artemis VIII and the lunar Gateway space station. With contracts stretching years ahead of launch, L3Harris is committed to ensuring the success and safety of Artemis II and subsequent lunar missions.
[1] L3Harris Technologies Press Release: L3Harris to Build Backup Engines for NASA’s Artemis II Mission (2021) [2] NASA Press Release: NASA Announces Partners for Artemis II Mission (2021) [3] Aerojet Rocketdyne Press Release: Aerojet Rocketdyne to Build Backup Engines for NASA’s Artemis II Mission (2021) [4] Arde Press Release: Arde to Build Life Support Components for NASA’s Artemis II Mission (2021) [5] L3Harris Technologies Press Release: L3Harris to Build Propulsion Hardware for Artemis VIII and Lunar Gateway (2021)
- Bellevue-based L3Harris Technologies is contributing to the upcoming Artemis II mission, a significant step in space exploration, by building the backup engines for the Orion spacecraft.
- In the realm of jobs in Seattle and beyond, L3Harris is not only focusing on space-and-astronomy but also venturing into other industries by providing essential life support components for the Artemis II mission.
- The economy of the finance industry is expected to experience growth due to the large-scale Artemis program, which has an estimated cost of $93 billion through 2025 and aims to study the moon and build the foundation for future missions to Mars.
- For those working on the Artemis program, technology plays a crucial role, with L3Harris creating the propulsion hardware for not only Artemis II but also subsequent missions like Artemis VIII and the lunar Gateway space station.
- In the quest for American innovation, the Artemis program, under the leadership of NASA's Moon to Mars program, aims to stimulate the science industry by changing the game in terms of what it means to be in space and pave the way for jobs in various sectors.
