On May 3, 2025, NASA’s Orion spacecraft took a significant step forward in the Artemis mission. It embarked on its journey from the Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Facility to the Multi-Payload Processing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center, marking completion of the assembly and testing phase and the beginning of critical preparations for launch.
This significant milestone has been years in the making and is a product of the mission-critical support and unwavering dedication of 325+ ASRC Federal employees and our partners.
A Proud Partnership with Artemis
Since 2012, ASRC Federal has been a critical partner in NASA’s Artemis mission, ensuring every aspect of the Orion spacecraft meets the highest standards required for space exploration. Our team of certified spacecraft technicians and inspectors is responsible for building, integrating, assembling, and testing the Orion spacecraft that will carry humans to the Moon and beyond. Beyond technical expertise, our subject matter experts provide vital support in areas such as mission and ground operations, metrology, manufacturing and test engineering, and program planning and scheduling support.
Our team is also committed to the program’s long-term sustainability with initiatives like our Orion Apprenticeship program with Eastern Florida State College designed to foster the next generation of space exploration experts. We’ve proudly trained over 60 local students, with 57 transitioning to full-time technicians for the Orion program. Among them is Matthew Mudrak, recipient of the prestigious 2024 Nextgov/FCW Rising Star Award, who has made extraordinary contributions as a Lead Mechanical Technician. Matthew’s hands-on leadership has been instrumental in ensuring each component of the spacecraft meets NASA’s exacting standards.
“I would not be where I am without the selfless help of my family and the people within this program wanting to see the younger generation shine.”
– Matthew Mudrak
Forward to Artemis II
The Orion spacecraft now transitions to the fueling stage where propellants, high-pressure gases, coolant, and other essential fluids will be loaded to prepare the spacecraft for its next major objective.
The upcoming Artemis II test flight, scheduled for early 2026, will send a crew of four astronauts around the Moon. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch from NASA, alongside mission specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, will be the pioneering team aboard this historic flight. Their mission marks a pivotal step in advancing humanity’s return to the lunar surface and, eventually, venturing onward to Mars.
“At ASRC Federal, we take immense pride in our role in ensuring Orion’s success and advancing the Artemis mission. Every step of our collaboration has been grounded in engineering precision, innovative problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to NASA’s powerful vision of returning humanity to the Moon and building a sustainable path toward Mars. This milestone is more than just a technical achievement; it’s a testament to the dedication, passion, and talent of our team. To the Moon, Mars, and beyond—we are proud to be part of this historic journey.”
– Scott “Scooter” Altman
Go Orion, Go Artemis! #WeAreGoing
