Chicagoan helps launch Artemis II, NASA's first moon mission in 53 years
By Violet Miller
Published on April 2, 2026.
Chicago resident Amy Lendian helped launch the Artemis II, NASA's first moon mission in 53 years. She was called out of retirement to oversee a team of engineers in the control room monitoring systems. The mission, set a new distance record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth and will set a U-turn. The launch is part of NASA's grand plans for a permanent moon base and is scheduled for 2028. The rocket took off without issue without issue, starting the astronauts' 10-day journey. The Adler Planetarium’s senior director of public programs, Michelle Nichols, witnessed the launch and expressed her excitement at the historic moment.
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