When the Orion spacecraft, part of NASA’s much-watched Artemis II mission, rocketed into space and orbited the moon, it took a small part of Olathe with it.
Olathe-based aerospace company Mid-State Aerospace supplied several parts used on both the rocket that launched Orion into space and the spacecraft itself for the Artemis II mission, the first time humans have flown so close to the moon in more than 50 years.
Four astronauts took a 10-day trip around the moon, at one point setting a record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth at more than 252,700 miles, before a successful reentry last Friday.
The flight served as a test run to make sure the rocket and all systems worked before NASA attempts another mission that will land astronauts on the moon.
Mid-State’s history
Mid-State Aerospace was founded in 1983 and originally operated as a hardware distributor selling supplies like rivets, nuts and bolts to aviation companies.
By the time Mid-State President Robert Rogers joined the company in 2006, it had shifted its focus to manufacturing for aerospace.
“We do a little bit of everything in the aerospace industry,” Rogers said in an interview on Monday.
The company specializes in what Rogers described as “light manufacturing,” meaning it purchases parts, primarily hoses and fittings, and assembles them to meet customer specifications.
The company has been a supplier for NASA for more than 20 years, and it also works with major federal aerospace contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Roger said the company’s biggest customer remains the United States government. Its “bread and butter” is manufacturing highly specialized parts in small batches for military aircraft, defense systems and missiles.
“Anything that flies,” Rogers said. “But most of the time it’s not as sexy as Artemis.”
How Mid-State contributed to Artemis
Mid-State supplied NASA with fuel hoses for the Space Launch System’s engine and fittings for the Orion spacecraft.
Rogers said watching the liftoff was meaningful.
“For our employees to see in real time and real life, the fruits of their labor, so to speak, being part of a program that’s much bigger than a 24-employee company … was rewarding,” Rogers said.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat representing Johnson County, highlighted Mid-State’s contribution to Artemis, along with several other Kansas-based companies, in a statement Friday.
“From right here in Kansas, our workers and businesses are helping power one of the most ambitious space exploration efforts in decades,” said Davids. “Artemis II shows what’s possible when we invest in innovation and American manufacturing.”
Davids noted Mid-State, as well as another Johnson County company, U.S. National Bank Association of Overland Park.
“I’m proud to see companies from the Third District contributing to a moment that’s advancing science, strengthening our economy, and inspiring the next generation. I wish the crew a safe reentry and a successful return home,” she said.
While being a part of the process was exciting, Rogers said Mid-State’s is high-stakes work.
“You don’t get a lot of do-overs with the midfield. So you have to perform, usually get one shot,” he said. “So quality becomes a key part of what we do.”
Rogers said being a part of a program like Artemis II is a testament to Mid-State employees’ hard work.
“I think it’s super cool that a little shop in Olathe, Kansas, gets to participate in something so big,” Rogers said.
