Artemis II — a 10-day crewed lunar flyby mission — is scheduled to launch Wednesday at 6:24 p.m. ET, and Florida is not the only state to take credit for the moon shot.
The Golden State is also playing a key role in making the historic launch possible, which will mark the first human return to the moon’s vicinity since 1972.
Sacramento-based Tecma, a machining services company for the aerospace and defense industries, played a key role in Artemis — so much so that its CEO will be in Florida watching the spacecraft lift off into space.
“The fact that there are four human beings on there going back to the moon after 50 years — I mean, that’s just incredible,” said Sonia Susac, president and owner of Tecma, in an interview with KCRA 3.
Susac said Tecma has produced thousands of components for the Space Launch System, with parts integrated throughout the rocket — from the Orion capsule at the top to the engines and ignition system. She added that the company’s role in the Artemis program builds on a long legacy that dates back to the Apollo era, when her father founded Tecma in 1957.
“To know that while the astronauts are up in space and maneuvering around in the Orion capsule, we have something to do with those orbital maneuvering systems and engines is extremely exciting,” Susac said.
She added that the moment is also personal.
“Growing up as a little girl, I always looked at the moon. I thought, ‘That is so cool. My dad made parts, and they’re on the moon right now,’” Susac said.
Tecma has a long history with such launches. During the Apollo missions, the company’s components were used to sever connections between the Apollo Lunar Module’s descent and ascent stages, enabling astronauts to lift off from the moon and return safely to Earth.
The upcoming launch of Artemis II, coinciding with Tecma’s 69th anniversary, is a point of pride for Susac, her family, and the company.
California will play another role in Artemis as well — this time in bringing the spacecraft back to Earth, with recovery efforts tied to San Diego.
“Even though we’ve been there, we are returning to that brave new world with the intent of really doing more than just stopping, as we did back in 1972,” said Jim Kidrick, CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum and a former Navy pilot.
The four astronauts aboard Artemis II will test critical systems in deep space, helping determine whether the spacecraft is ready for future human missions to the moon.
“Even though we’ve been there, we are returning to that brave new world with the intent of really doing more than just stopping, as we did back in 1972,” said Jim Kidrick, CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum and a former Navy pilot.
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The team selected for the Artemis II mission, scheduled for a 2026 launch, are NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.
While Californians will not be able to see the liftoff with the naked eye, NASA’s livestream will offer a front-row view of the launch. Several watch parties are planned across the state, including:
Artemis II Return Watch PartySan Diego Air & Space MuseumScheduled for April 10 | 5 p.m. – 7 p.m