By Sophia Herndon

Aerospace engineering students and professors at the University of Maryland are feeling excited about future space exploration after NASA launched a moon mission on Wednesday, April 1.

In a 10-day mission titled Artemis II, four astronauts circled the moon for the first time in over 50 years to test how spacecraft systems perform in a deep-space environment. The Artemis crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, a Baltimore native; pilot Victor Glover; NASA mission specialist Christina Koch; and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency.

Christine Hartzell, an aerospace engineering professor at UMD, explained in an email that this mission is the catalyst for future NASA missions, as the goal is to eventually get humans back on the lunar surface.

The last moon mission, titled Apollo 17, took place in December 1972. Three astronauts spent around three days on the lunar surface, according to an NPR article.

“Artemis II is so exciting because it is a very real, concrete step towards returning humans to the surface of the moon,” Hartzell said.

Srujana Theerthala, a sophomore computer science and aerospace engineering major, feels encouraged to continue her work at UMD and is inspired by the astronauts aboard.

“The fact that the missions are starting to happen again inspires me to keep studying,” Theerthala said.

She explained that aerospace engineering students have been following the rocketship’s path online to stay updated on Artemis II’s current location. There was a lot of excitement in the department, with many enjoying staying up to date with the mission.

“Students have been very excited about space exploration for several years now, in large part because of the high-profile successes of SpaceX and Blue Origin,” Hartzell said.

SpaceX and Blue Origin are both American aerospace manufacturers that aim to make space travel more affordable and efficient. 

Hartzell explained that these companies are also involved in the quest to put humans back on the lunar surface. Recently, they have made advancements in launching capabilities and landing efficiency.

Sophomore aerospace engineering major Jeannette Henning wants to be an astronaut and is excited for humans to return to space in this new era of NASA. 

“I think it’s the coolest thing ever,” Henning said.

Both Henning and Theerthala expressed excitement over Koch, the only female astronaut aboard the ship. She became the first woman in history to orbit the moon. 

In the last couple of weeks, she has become popular with Generation Z on social media platforms, and UMD aerospace engineering students have widely recognized her accomplishments.

“We don’t have that many women in the space industry,” Henning said.

Theerthala said Koch is “iconic” and that the astronaut’s accomplishments have inspired her to study hard at UMD. Henning explained how important it is for young girls to recognize Koch’s success.

“This isn’t a job that’s limited to men. Women are capable of doing this, and women are vital to the Artemis program,” Henning said.

With humans back in space and the astronauts aboard, students involved in aerospace engineering are feeling inspired and motivated about the role they will play in future space missions.

“Artemis II continues to build a wave of excitement around space exploration,” Hartzell said.

Featured Image: Calendar inside the department of astronomy main office in the Atlantic Building on April 10, 2025. Photo by Anika Stikeleather.