Dundee's link to historic Moon mission as Artemis II prepares for launch
- Andrew Batchelor
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
A Dundee-linked engineering firm is playing a role in one of the most significant space missions in decades, as NASA prepares to launch Artemis II.
The mission will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, marking a major step forward in humanity’s return to deep space exploration.
Smiths Group has confirmed it is supplying a range of critical components for the mission, including filtration systems, fuel and air system tubing, and high-speed connectors onboard the Orion spacecraft.
These systems are designed to operate in the harshest conditions imaginable, from extreme temperatures to the vacuum of space, helping to ensure the spacecraft remains safe and fully functional throughout its journey.
The company’s specialist division, Smiths Interconnect, has a major presence in Dundee and produces advanced connectors and cable assemblies used in high-reliability environments, including space missions.
While the Artemis II mission is a global effort involving international collaboration, the involvement of Smiths means technology linked to Dundee will form part of the journey as it travels thousands of miles beyond Earth.
Dundee's links with space
Dundee’s connection to space stretches back more than a century, with the city playing a small but fascinating role in astronomy and discovery.
One of the most notable figures is Williamina Fleming, who began her career in Dundee before going on to make groundbreaking discoveries at Harvard College Observatory. She is credited with helping identify the famous Horsehead Nebula and played a key role in the classification of stars, including early work on white dwarfs. Her legacy is honoured with a lunar crater named after her.
The RRS Discovery built in Dundee back in 1901 was one of the ships that donned the name Discovery that inspired the name for the Space Shuttle Discovery. The crew of STS-133, Discovery's last mission, visited the city - and the ship in 2012.
Closer to home, Mills Observatory continues to keep that connection alive. The observatory - the oldest purpose-built public observatory in the UK - has recently hosted talks on modern space exploration, including discussions around missions such as Artemis II and was visited by Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott in 2005.
The launch represents a landmark moment in modern space exploration, with Artemis II paving the way for future missions that aim to return humans to the Moon and eventually travel onwards to Mars.
For Dundee, it is another reminder of the city’s place within global industries, contributing to projects that reach far beyond Scotland.
