🔒Simsbury-built components fly on NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in decades

Hardware designed and built in Simsbury was a crucial part of NASA’s recently completed Artemis II mission, the first crewed space flight beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense (EBAD) said it provided flight termination system, initiation and stage separation components for the space launch system rocket, supporting Boeing and Northrop Grumman. The company said it also supplied critical separation hardware for Lockheed Martin’s Orion spacecraft, including systems supporting the crew module, launch abort system and service module. During the historic 10-day mission, four astronauts traveled approximately 1.4 million miles around the Moon before safely returning to Earth at speeds reaching 24,500 mph. The Artemis II mission validated the space launch system rocket and Orion spacecraft systems ahead of future lunar landing missions. NASA reports that each separation and initiation event executed as designed, enabling proper vehicle staging and contributing to overall mission success and astronaut safety. EBAD employs 531 people in Simsbury, and a further 333 in Moorpark, California. All Artemis II hardware was developed and qualified at EBAD’s Simsbury facility, with about 50 employees working directly on the project, the company said. EBAD conducts in-house shock and vibration testing and validates performance in extreme environmental conditions including severe heat and cold. “From right here in Connecticut, our employees contributed to one of the most significant human spaceflight missions in decades. We are proud to stand alongside NASA and our industry partners in enabling the next chapter of exploration,” said Jennifer Lewis, president of EBAD. EBAD has supported the Artemis program since 2008 and previously contributed to the successful Artemis I mission.