MANE and RARE Host Artemis II Launch Celebration at RPI

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist onboard launches on the Artemis II mission, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education (RARE) Center, in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering (MANE), recently hosted a campus-wide celebration to watch the Artemis II launch.

The event brought together students, faculty, and the broader RPI community to recognize and support RPI alumnus Captain Reid Wiseman, who is commanding Artemis II. Attendees gathered to share in the excitement surrounding this historic step toward returning humans to the Moon.

Local news outlet WNYT covered the event live from RPI’s studio, capturing the growing energy as the room filled and the celebration extended into the hallways. Their coverage highlights the strong sense of community and pride surrounding Wiseman’s leadership of this landmark mission.

You can watch the full news segment here: WNYT

This event reflects RPI’s continued role in advancing space exploration and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Image Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber

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