Just months after the Artemis II crew made history, surpassing the record for human spaceflight’s farthest distance from Earth, members of the Artemis II crew and NASA leadership are visiting suppliers who helped make the journey possible. They recently traveled to L3Harris’ Canoga Park site, home of the storied RS-25 engines, to express their gratitude to employees who have dedicated their careers to building the technology that helps launch astronauts into orbit safely.
The four members of the Artemis II crew – Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – were welcomed to the site with thunderous cheers from nearly 1,000 L3Harris employees who gathered to celebrate their achievements and the hard work of NASA and its industry.
In his opening remarks, L3Harris Missile Solutions President Ken Bedingfield told the Canoga Park team he was humbled to represent them, noting we are here “to honor and recognize the incredible work each of you did in ensuring the successful Artemis II mission.”
He referenced Christina Koch’s previous remarks on the importance of a crew – one “that is stroking together every minute with the same purpose” and that “holds [one other] accountable.” Bedingfield noted that the Canoga Park team “is our crew.”
“It’s incredibly motivating to welcome these astronauts who just made history to our site,” said Scott Alexander, President, Propulsion Systems, Missile Solutions, L3Harris. “Whenever the end user of our technology, whether a warfighter or an astronaut, meets with our teams in person, it underscores the impact and critical importance of the work our teams do every day.”
During the visit, NASA leaders presented an Artemis II flag flown in space to Bedingfield and Mike Lauer, General Manager and Program Manager, RS-25 SLS, who accepted it on behalf of the company. The recognition honored L3Harris for “significant contributions, exemplary performance and dedication to NASA in the successful launch of the Artemis II mission.”
L3Harris supplied significant capabilities for the historic space mission that captivated the world, including propulsion systems, communications and avionics.
The RS-25 engines, which generated 2 million pounds of thrust during the Artemis II mission, powered NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the first eight and a half minutes of flight into orbit.
“Words can’t fully express the honor and gratitude the RS-25 team felt in hosting the Artemis II crew,” said Mike Lauer, General Manager and Program Manager, RS-25 SLS, Missile Solutions, L3Harris. “Those four astronauts are outstanding role models, demonstrating how teamwork makes it possible to accomplish the most difficult challenges. That same ethic is one the RS-25 team at L3Harris embraces and strives to uphold every day.”
For six decades, L3Harris has proudly supported NASA with technologies essential to the evolution of lunar exploration, sending astronauts to the moon’s surface and beyond. Just last month, L3Harris reached another key milestone: the delivery of the four RS‑25 engines that will power Artemis III.
For Kevin McCombs, Vice President and General Manager, Strategic Systems, L3Harris, the visit highlighted the pride and momentum behind the company’s continued support for NASA’s Artemis program.
“The legacy of the RS‑25 engines continues to guide L3Harris’ commitment to the advancement of human spaceflight," said McCombs. "We deliver propulsion solutions for the world’s most complex and critical missions. Our dedicated workforce is driving modernization and leveraging advanced production processes to support future Artemis missions with greater speed and efficiency."
As NASA prepares for Artemis III and the missions that will follow, the L3Harris team remains committed to doing its part to advance the future of human exploration, so astronauts can travel farther than ever before.
