As the nation marks a new era of space exploration with NASA’s Artemis II launch, New Hampshire leaders gathered Wednesday night at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center to celebrate the Artemis II launch, and the state’s long-standing contributions to aerospace innovation and its growing economic opportunities.
“Our state is a hub for innovation that powers America’s aerospace industry, and last night’s launch was no exception,” said Governor Kelly Ayotte. “I’m proud to see so many New Hampshire companies involved in the first mission to the moon in decades. I’m thrilled that Americans get to experience this moment in history with the Granite State playing a critical role.”
Department of Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Lucy Lange attended Wednesday’s launch event at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, joining 175 others celebrating the launch. “We’re not here to simply witness history, we, along with many New Hampshire innovative manufacturers join together to celebrate the contributions to another successful the U.S. space program,” Commissioner Lange said. “We are a state which continues to be leaders in the space program."
Among the companies attending the watch party included RdF Corp., of Hudson, whose temperature sensors launched with the Artemis II astronauts, as well as on the nation’s first trip to the moon in 1968.
“RdF built on more than 65 years of experience supplying the space program to design, qualify and manufacture more than 20 new temperature sensor designs to withstand the unprecedented extreme conditions Artemis II faces through launch and the mission around the moon,” said President and CEO Naresh Puri. “Space exploration is central to RdF’s ethos and we are immensely proud of the hard work our team has put into this program over many years.”
Other New Hampshire companies contributing to the Artemis II program include TURBOCAM of Barrington, Creare of Hanover, and Haigh-Farr of Hudson.
In all, according to NASA, 18 New Hampshire companies were involved in the Artemis II program, supplying parts and components for the SLS rocket, the most powerful one ever flown. Within New Hampshire, the agency supports more than 700 jobs, has a $162 million economic output, and contributes $5.7 million in state tax revenue.
“New Hampshire has been a bedrock state for the space program since its inception,” said Randy Makee, executive director of the New Hampshire Aerospace and Defense Consortium. “It has also been a cornerstone of the U.S. space program since its earliest days, from tracking Sputnik at New Boston to supporting NASA missions through the University of New Hampshire and a strong network of manufacturers, which cements its role as a key contributor to space exploration.”
“Tonight’s Artemis launch really is a testament to New Hampshire’s long history of innovation and touching the future,” Lange said. “We recognize space pioneers like Alan Shepard, Christa McAulliffe, and Lee Morin, and behind them are generations of fellow Granite Staters who have contributed technology and more to NASA missions to the point now where humans are going deeper into space than ever before.”