Journey to the Moon…and Beyond: Constellium Takes Part in NASA’s Artemis Program

When NASA’s Artemis II astronauts safely splashed down and returned home, the moment marked more than the successful completion of a mission. It was the culmination of years of preparation, collaboration, and trust—trust in technology, in people, and in the materials designed to perform where failure is not an option. For teams across Constellium, it was a visible reminder that work done far from the launch pad played a role in getting the crew around the Moon and back to Earth.

Artemis II advances NASA’s long‑term vision for sustained lunar exploration and future missions to Mars. Constellium is proud to be part of that journey as a long‑standing contributor to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion Crew Module, providing advanced Airware® aluminum‑lithium alloys and conventional aluminum alloys for critical structural components across the system.

Designed for Liftoff, and the Long Way Home

From the towering Core Stage of the SLS to adapters, protective structures, and the Orion Crew Module itself, Constellium aluminum is integrated into major structural elements of both the launch vehicle and the crewed spacecraft. These components must perform through extraordinary challenges: the violent forces of liftoff, extreme temperature swings in space, and intense mechanical and thermal loads during re‑entry.

Two Constellium sites play especially important roles in supporting the Artemis program. Teams in Ravenswood, West Virginia, and Issoire, France, work as part of an integrated network to produce high‑performance aluminum plates, including aluminum-lithium products. Backed by the expertise of our C‑TEC research and technology center, these operations contribute to aluminum solutions that balance strength, weight efficiency, and reliability—qualities essential for human missions beyond Earth’s orbit and central to why NASA continues to rely on Constellium.

Constellium’s Brian McCallie, Michael Niedzinski and David Sanguin meet Artemis II Mission Specialist Christina Koch

It Takes a (Space) Village

Artemis is, at its core, a partnership. Constellium works closely with NASA and multiple Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, coordinating specifications, testing, material qualification, and delivery across a complex supply chain. That collaboration was on full display during NASA’s visit to Ravenswood last year, when agency leaders and engineers toured the facility to see firsthand the scale, precision, and rigor behind the materials supporting Artemis. Those relationships are built over time, grounded in technical transparency and mutual trust—and reinforced every time a mission succeeds.

“Your fingerprints will be on the Moon,” astronaut Doug Wheelock told Constellium employees during his visit to Ravenswood—a powerful reminder that our work plays a quiet but meaningful role in the awe‑inspiring endeavor of space exploration.

Astronaut Doug Wheelock inspired employees on a visit to Ravenswood, saying “Your fingerprints will be on the Moon.”

Every Launch Is Personal

For Michael Niedzinski of Constellium’s Aerospace Customer Applications Engineering team, who represented employees at the Artemis II launch at Kennedy Space Center, the experience was unforgettable.

“Standing just a few miles from the launch pad, watching the rocket rise, you feel the excitement—but also the weight of responsibility,” Niedzinski said. “But the moment that truly mattered to me was when Orion splashed down and the astronauts were safely home. Then you truly understand why every detail matters.”

That sense of responsibility connects thousands of Constellium employees, from R&D to casting and rolling to quality assurance, maintenance, inspection, and logistics—each step essential to mission success.

Michael Niedzinski represented Constellium employees at the Artemis II launch and shared the moment with dozens of colleagues in a live Teams event.

Next Stop: What’s Beyond

Space exploration has always been about progress, knowledge, and preparing for what comes next. Artemis II validated systems, materials, and partnerships that will enable longer missions and more ambitious goals. With Artemis III scheduled for next year, the focus now turns to the next milestone: advancing human presence on the Moon and taking another step toward Mars.

NASA leaders and engineers visit Ravenswood in May 2025.

Constellium proudly congratulates NASA and its partners on the success of Artemis II. We look forward to continuing our role in Artemis III and beyond—supporting exploration with the materials, expertise, and people that help turn bold ambition into safe return.

Watch the Constellium Artemis video, featuring employee reflections and partner perspectives.