Rockford, Illinois is playing a crucial role in the ambitious goal of returning America to the moon and eventually propelling astronauts to Mars as part of the Artemis space missions. Ingersoll Machine Tools, located at 707 Fulton Ave, is not only involved in building massive machines, but also manufacturing parts for the Artemis space program.

As the CEO of Ingersoll Machine Tools, Jeffrey Ahrstrom recognizes the importance of the technology present in Rockford. He emphasizes that Rockford companies are not only involved in traditional components for aerospace and defense, but also in space exploration. Additionally, these companies are manufacturing parts for advanced electronics and ship manufacturing, making Rockford a technology and manufacturing hub.

Ingersoll Machine Tools specifically contributes to the Artemis missions by building the structure, known as the aluminum skeleton, for the Orion spaceship. Orion is designed to accommodate four astronauts for up to three weeks during space exploration, moon travel, and the return to Earth. Out of the six major structural components of the Orion spacecraft, Ingersoll manufactures five. The structure is machined from an impressive 18,000-pound block of aluminum, which is then shipped to NASA as a 600-pound structure ready for seats and electronic components to be installed. Besides the structure, Ingersoll also manufactures the bottom of the pressure vessel bulkhead, where the heat shield is bolted.

In March, Ingersoll Machine Tools was honored as the manufacturer of the “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois” by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. This recognition was for creating the Rosenberg Moon Habitat, a lightweight 3D-printed structure made from thermoplastic carbon fiber reinforced material.

Collins Aerospace, another company based in Rockford, is involved in the Artemis missions by building the thrust vector system that steers the space launch system needed to leave Earth’s atmosphere. These collaborative efforts highlight the significant contributions of Rockford-based companies to space exploration.

More than 200 engineers, skilled machinists, and others are employed at Ingersoll Machine Tools, and a significant portion of their work is dedicated to space program production. CEO Jeffrey Ahrstrom estimates that up to 15% of the company’s business is related to space travel.

The Artemis missions aim to accomplish the first man-moon landing since NASA’s Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. The Artemis I mission, an unmanned launch, took place in November and was considered a tremendous success. Orion traveled beyond the moon, reaching a distance of 270,000 miles from Earth, and sent back captivating images. The future includes a manned Artemis II flight, scheduled for next year, which will send four astronauts around the moon as NASA prepares for a permanent presence on the lunar surface. The Artemis III mission intends to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon.

Building a sustainable space economy is also a significant objective of the Artemis missions. Blaine Brown of Lockheed Martin explains that the presence of ice deposits in craters on the moon’s far side, left by millions of years of comet collisions, opens up possibilities for sustaining life and growing food. Furthermore, Brown speculates that the exploration of the moon will unveil unknown discoveries and resources that could create a new space economy. One such resource could be hydrogen-3, also known as tritium, which could be utilized to generate fusion reactions and a vast amount of energy. Brown envisions a future where the moon becomes an industry revolution, similar to the gold rush of 1849, with companies from all over the world eager to tap into its potential.

Rockford’s contributions to the Artemis space missions demonstrate the city’s importance as a technology and manufacturing hub. With ongoing progress and efforts, these missions will not only bring humans back to the moon but also pave the way for future endeavors, including a potential journey to Mars.

The post Rockford’s Role in Advancing Space Exploration appeared first on TS2 SPACE.