Collins Aerospace, a leading aerospace supplier based in Rockford, played a crucial role in the success of NASA’s Artemis I mission. This mission, which took place in November, involved sending an unmanned craft into orbit around the moon and back. It served as a prelude to future phases of the Artemis mission, including landing the first woman and person of color on the moon, establishing a lunar base, and eventually sending humans to Mars.

During a visit to Collins Aerospace, Marcia Lindstrom of NASA expressed gratitude to the team for their contribution to the “staggering success” of Artemis I. She emphasized that this was just the beginning and encouraged the team to continue their work with the same enthusiasm and rigor.

Collins Aerospace supplies the thrust vector control system for the core stage rocket of the Space Launch System. This system is responsible for steering the engines and is designed, tested, and built in Rockford. The company employs approximately 2,000 people in Rockford, making it one of the region’s largest employers. Around 100 of these employees are dedicated to space systems.

In addition to the thrust vector control system, Collins Aerospace also designs and builds the core auxiliary power unit for the Orion spacecraft. This component plays a crucial role in transporting astronauts from the massive rockets to the moon and safely returning them to Earth. As part of Artemis I, an unmanned Orion craft traveled 270,000 miles beyond the moon, farther than any craft previously designed for human flight.

Collins Aerospace has multiple locations that contribute to the Artemis mission. These locations supply power generation, power distribution, emergency power, fire detection, and fire suppression systems for the Orion spacecraft, among other systems. This comprehensive support ensures the safety and functionality of the spacecraft during its missions.

The celebration tour to commemorate the success of the Artemis I mission included a visit to Ingersoll Machine Tools, where officials recognized the company’s role in producing the skeleton of the Orion spacecraft crew capsule. This capsule is a vital component of the spacecraft and plays a critical role in protecting the crew during their journey.

Collins Aerospace’s involvement in NASA’s Artemis I mission highlights the company’s expertise and contribution to the advancement of space exploration. With their continued dedication and innovation, they will play a crucial role in future Artemis missions, ultimately paving the way for human exploration of Mars.

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