From Around the Moon to Canoga Park: Artemis II Crew Visits L3Harris Following Historic Mission
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Just months after the historic Artemis II mission, which set a new record for human spaceflight’s greatest distance from Earth, the crew members and NASA leadership have taken the opportunity to visit key suppliers vital to the mission. The team recently made a stop at L3Harris’ Canoga Park facility, renowned for its production of the RS-25 engines, to acknowledge the hard work of employees who contributed to the technology that ensures the safe launch of astronauts into orbit.
The Artemis II crew, consisting of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, received a warm welcome from nearly 1,000 L3Harris employees who gathered to celebrate not only their achievements but also the collaborative effort of NASA and its industry partners.
During the opening remarks, L3Harris Missile Solutions President Ken Bedingfield expressed his honor in representing the dedicated team at Canoga Park, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the incredible effort that led to the successful Artemis II mission.
Bedingfield also cited remarks made by Christina Koch regarding the essence of a cohesive crew, one that works in unison towards a shared goal and holds each other accountable—the very definition of the Canoga Park workforce.
“It’s incredibly motivating to welcome these astronauts who just made history to our site,” stated Scott Alexander, President of Propulsion Systems, Missile Solutions at L3Harris. “Whenever the end user of our technology, whether a warfighter or an astronaut, meets with our teams in person, it underscores the significance and critical importance of the work our teams do every day.”
During the gathering, NASA leaders presented an Artemis II flag that had flown in space to Bedingfield and Mike Lauer, General Manager and Program Manager for the RS-25 SLS, who accepted it on the company’s behalf. This honor recognized L3Harris for its significant contributions, exemplary performance, and dedication to NASA in the successful launch of the Artemis II mission.
L3Harris played a pivotal role in powering this historic space mission with advanced propulsion systems, communications, and avionics.
The RS-25 engines delivered an impressive 2 million pounds of thrust during the Artemis II mission, propelling NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket during its initial flight into orbit.
“Words can’t fully express the honor and gratitude the RS-25 team felt in hosting the Artemis II crew,” remarked Mike Lauer, General Manager and Program Manager of RS-25 SLS at 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 over six decades, L3Harris has proudly supported NASA with crucial technologies that have driven the evolution of lunar exploration, paving the way for sending astronauts to the moon and beyond. Just last month, the company achieved a significant milestone with the delivery of four RS-25 engines intended for the Artemis III mission.
Kevin McCombs, Vice President and General Manager of Strategic Systems at L3Harris, noted that the visit served as a significant reminder of the pride and momentum driving the company’s ongoing support for NASA’s Artemis program.
“The legacy of the RS-25 engines continues to guide L3Harris’ commitment to the advancement of human spaceflight,” McCombs stated. “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 gears up for Artemis III and subsequent missions, the L3Harris team is steadfast in its commitment to contribute to the future of human exploration, enabling astronauts to reach farther than ever before.
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“meta_description”: “The Artemis II crew visits L3Harris’ Canoga Park site to thank employees for their contributions to the historic space mission.”,
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Source: L3Harris (2026-08-19)
