Arlington, Va. – The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) today celebrated the successful launch of NASA’s Artemis II mission, a defining moment in America’s return to the Moon. This launch is the first crewed journey around the Moon in more than 50 years and will take humans farther from Earth than ever before. This milestone comes as the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States, marking yet another groundbreaking moment in the innovation that has propelled America forward since its founding.
“Artemis II is more than a mission — it’s a powerful reminder of the unmatched American capability that is unleashed when government and industry work together,” said Eric Fanning, AIA’s President and CEO. “From the factory floor, to the launch pad, and out into lunar orbit, AIA’s members are at the forefront of the innovations that make this historic mission possible and will continue to drive progress toward the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”
The Artemis II mission underscores America’s strong aerospace workforce and the transformative capabilities of the Space Launch System (SLS), the Orion crew capsule, and the thousands of commercial and industrial partners making up the nation’s space enterprise. Many of AIA’s members, including small manufacturers, mid‑sized innovators, and major prime contractors, contributed to the critical components, technologies, and expertise that made this launch possible.
As the space sector continues to grow, Artemis II highlights the importance of sustained national investment and a modern regulatory framework that enables innovation, competition, and safety. AIA has continued to call for bipartisan support to ensure the United States maintains its leadership in space exploration and the industrial base that sustains it. Find our 2026 space priorities here and read our recent letter to Congress on NASA funding here.
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