NASA Celebrates Artemis II During Houston Texans Space City Day - NASA

Houston Texans Fans Witness History as Artemis II Mission Takes Flight During Space City Day Event

The NRG Stadium in Houston was abuzz with excitement yesterday as the city's favorite football team, the Texans, faced off against the Indianapolis Colts during the annual Space City Day celebration. But this year's event took on an extra layer of significance as NASA commemorated the Artemis II mission, marking a major milestone in the agency's plans to return humans to the lunar surface.

The four-person crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, consisting of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, will embark on an epic journey around the Moon and back to Earth. During their 25-hour orbit, they'll test crucial systems for future lunar missions and pave the way for a new era in space exploration.

Fans at the stadium had the opportunity to get up close and personal with NASA's latest technological advancements, including the Mobile Exhibit Trailer and interactive displays showcasing the agency's latest innovations. Johnson Space Center employees were on hand to answer questions and share their insights into the Artemis II mission.

"This city, this team, we're all connected," said astronaut Zena Cardman, highlighting the parallels between space exploration and athletic safety research. "From the materials used in spacesuits to cooling technologies developed for extreme environments, space innovation is all around us – even on the 50-yard line."

The event also featured a special appearance by NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Vanessa Wyche, who joined the festivities on the field wearing NASA's iconic Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits. The bright orange pressure suits were designed to protect astronauts during launch, flight, and reentry.

As the game progressed, the stadium jumbotron played an Artemis Fueling the Fire video, outlining the agency's plans for a Moon-to-Mars campaign. To commemorate the occasion, NASA hosted a live interview with Wyche and Watkins, where they discussed the mission's significance and shared stories of astronaut training's similarities to football training.

The event culminated in an invitation to fans to participate in NASA's "Send Your Name with Artemis II" initiative, allowing participants to have their names stored on a small chip aboard the Orion spacecraft. By doing so, they'll receive a digital boarding pass and virtual guest access to select NASA launches – a unique opportunity for those who can't make it to Houston.

As the Texans took to the field, the spirit of Space City Day shone bright, symbolizing the connection between Houston, NASA, and the city's beloved football team. The Artemis II mission is more than just a technological achievement; it represents a new chapter in human exploration and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries that will benefit life on Earth.

omg u guys i'm literally so hyped about the artemis ii mission ! like i know space travel is all cool and stuff but seriously can u imagine being one of those 4 people on the orbiting spacecraft? Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are literally my heroes . and omg the things they'll be testing on that mission are gonna be soooo important for future lunar missions . like cooling techs and space suit materials .

and did u see those astronauts wearing them Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits? it's crazy how NASA is always pushing the boundaries of innovation . i mean what's next? spaceships that can travel to mars in like, a day?!

i love that they invited fans to participate in that "send your name with artemis ii" thing tho . i totally wanna do it lol! who knows maybe my name'll be on that chip and we'll have a virtual guest pass to nasa launches

OMG, this is like, super cool ! I mean, can you imagine being able to have your name on a spacecraft? It's like, literally reaching for the stars, right? And NASA is all about pushing boundaries and making history happen. The way they're connecting space exploration with football safety research is so inspiring - it just shows that innovation knows no bounds . I'm loving how inclusive this whole event was too, inviting fans to be a part of something bigger than themselves. It's not just about the game, it's about the possibilities .

I don't get why they can't let us stream the whole thing online, like we're gonna miss out on any good moments because of it being only at the stadium . Plus, 25 hours orbiting the moon is a lot of downtime for astronauts, gotta wonder what they do up there

I gotta say, I'm feeling super proud of our Space City ! It's amazing to see NASA's Artemis II mission taking flight right under our noses. And I love how they're involving the community in this whole thing – getting us involved with their mission and making it accessible for everyone. The idea of having your name stored on a chip aboard the Orion spacecraft? Mind blown! It just goes to show that space exploration is not just about NASA, but about all of us, working together towards something bigger .

I'm telling you, this Artemis II mission is just the tip of the iceberg, fam . They're setting up the stage for something big, but what's really going down? Are they planning to plant a flag on Mars or something? And why are NASA astronauts getting involved with football teams? Is it some kind of secret training program for space travel? I mean, think about it, the Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits were designed by NASA, but who's funding them? It's all connected, man. The more you dig, the more you realize that this whole space exploration thing is just a cover-up for something bigger... like an alien invasion . Don't believe me? Just keep looking up at those stars and wondering what's really out there...

omg i'm literally freaking out!! Space City Day was lit!!! NASA's Artemis II mission is like, soooo inspiring! I mean, can you even imagine being part of a crew that's gonna travel to the moon?! The fact that they're testing systems for future lunar missions and paving the way for humans to return to the moon is mind-blowing! And the coolest part? They'll be flying around the moon in just 25 hours! It's like, we're not even there yet but NASA is already planning for it! The astronauts' words about space innovation being connected to athletic safety research made so much sense... who knew?! And can I get a yes or no on whether they'll be going to Mars next?!

I think its AMAZING that NASA is getting back to the MOON!!! I mean, who doesnt love space EXPLORATION??? Artemis II is gonna be so cool! The fact that we get to see NASA's latest tech and meet astronauts like Jessica Watkins and Vanessa Wyche on the field is just AWESOME!!! And can you believe thats your name could be on a CHIP aboard the Orion spacecraft? That would be SO COOL!!! I also loved what Zena Cardman said about how space innovation is connected to everything around us, even football! Who knew spacesuits and cooling tech could relate to playing sports? The event was so much fun to watch online, I wish more people could experience it in person!

omg, can you even imagine having your name on a chip in space ?! NASA's "Send Your Name with Artemis II" initiative is literally out of this world! I'm low-key jealous of those astronauts who got to train like football players . And can we talk about how cool it would be to wear an orange spacesuit on the field? It's amazing how space tech is influencing other areas, like athletic safety research (as astronaut Zena Cardman said). The Artemis II mission is a big deal, not just for space enthusiasts but for humanity as a whole . And who needs football when you have astronauts exploring the cosmos?

omg i was so hyped to watch the game yesterday but what really got me was when those astronauts came out on the field wearing those sick orange spacesuits i felt like such a nerd for being excited about space stuff, but like, who isn't right? and i love how the Texans are all about being part of the community with events like Space City Day it's so cool that NASA is using this as an opportunity to showcase their tech and collaborate with local experts and can we talk about how awesome it would be to have our names on a spacecraft? i'm totally signing up for that initiative my friends and i are already brainstorming what we'd name our little piece of space

OMG , I'm loving how this Space City Day celebration is bringing people together! It's so cool to see NASA and the Texans teaming up to celebrate innovation and exploration . And can we talk about how awesome it is that fans got to experience the Mobile Exhibit Trailer and interactive displays? That stuff is lit ! The parallels between space exploration and athletic safety research are mind-blowing – I mean, who knew that materials used in spacesuits could also be applied to football equipment? . And I'm dying over the special appearance by NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Vanessa Wyche rocking those bright orange spacesuits – they're total rockstars! . It's amazing how this event is inspiring a new generation of space enthusiasts and explorers . Let's keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible, Houston!

I'm just glad they didn't postpone the game because of all the space stuff . I mean, who needs football when you have astronauts flying around the moon? The special appearance by Jessica and Vanessa was pretty cool, but I guess it's not every day you get to see NASA astronauts on the field in bright orange spacesuits . And yeah, the parallels between space exploration and athletic safety research are definitely something we should all be aware of... said no one ever . Anyway, I'm sure it was a real thrill ride watching Reid Wiseman and his crew fly around for 25 hours . Can't wait to see what other cool tech they're going to unveil next .

so i just saw this thread about space city day event in houston and i'm like wow did i miss everything nasa's artemis ii mission is super cool btw, can't believe we're getting closer to returning humans to the lunar surface also, who knew there was a connection between football and space tech that astronaut zena cardman quote gave me chills tho "this city, this team, we're all connected" what's your take on this mission?

Yooo, did u guys catch the vibe @ NRG Stadium? It was straight fire! I'm hyped for NASA's Artemis II mission - we're talkin' historic, game-changing stuff . Fans got to experience all the tech and innovation that's goin' into this lunar mission, and it's wild to think about how much of an impact this is gonna have on space exploration . As @AstronautZena said, "space innovation is all around us" - even in football stadiums! It's dope to see the parallels between spacesuit tech and athletic safety research . And can we talk about those Orion Crew Survival System suits? They're fire!

OH MY GOSH!!! I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE ARTIMIS II MISSION!!! IT'S SUCH A HUGE DEAL FOR SPACE EXPLORATION AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO RETURNING HUMANS TO THE MOON!!!

I LOVE HOW NASA IS INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN THIS EVENT, LIKE THE "SEND YOUR NAME WITH ARTIMIS II" INITIATIVE!!! IT'S SUCH A COOL WAY FOR FANS TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIG AND UNIQUE!!!

AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE NASA ASTRONAUTS WHO WERE THERE?! THEY'RE SO INSPIRING AND I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE THE ULTIMATE ROLE MODELS FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN SCIENCE AND SPACE EXPLORATION!!!

I gotta say, people are getting way too excited about this whole space thing . Like, yeah we're making progress and all, but let's not forget that NASA is still a bunch of rich white folks who get to fly around in spacesuits while the rest of us are stuck on Earth . Don't get me wrong, it's cool and all, but can't we just focus on solving some of our own problems on this planet first? Like, have you seen the state of our oceans lately? It's like we're so busy looking up at the stars that we forgot to take care of our own home.

Man, this Space City Day event was literally out of this world ! I love how NASA connected space exploration to football safety research - it's like they're saying our athletes are already innovating for space travel . And can we talk about the Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits? They're so cool-looking ! Having astronauts from the Canadian Space Agency on board is awesome too, it shows how global space exploration is . I'm all about that "Send Your Name with Artemis II" initiative - who wouldn't want their name on a spaceship chip ?! It's great to see NASA engaging with the community like this . This whole event just showed us that Houston, NASA, and the Texans are all connected at the hip #SpaceCityDay #ArtemisII #NASA #HoustonTexans

The energy at Space City Day was infectious ! It got me thinking, what can we learn from NASA's Artemis II mission? I mean, their journey around the Moon is no small feat - it takes teamwork, dedication, and a willingness to take risks. Just like how football teams come together to conquer the gridiron, the crew on Orion has put in countless hours of training to be ready for this moment .

And what's fascinating is that the innovations being developed for space exploration have direct applications here on Earth - think cooling technologies for extreme environments and materials science. It just goes to show how connected we all are, whether it's the field or the final frontier .

So, who gets to write their name on a chip aboard the Orion spacecraft? Well, anyone can participate in NASA's "Send Your Name with Artemis II" initiative ! What does that say about our society? That we value participation over perfection. We're not just spectators, we're active contributors to something bigger than ourselves .

All this got me thinking - what's the game plan for humanity next? Will it be a lunar touchdown or a Mars landing? Whatever it is, I'm confident that with collaboration and determination, we'll make history .

Yaaas, I love how NASA is trying to make space exploration cool again ! Having astronauts showing up to a Texans game in those sweet Orion spacesuits was straight fire ! It's awesome that they're highlighting the tech and innovation behind Artemis II – we need more people thinking about the potential benefits of space travel for our planet . I mean, can you imagine if we could harness some of that lunar energy to power our cities? Mind blown . And I love how NASA is engaging with the community by letting fans participate in their "Send Your Name" initiative – it's a great way to make space exploration more accessible and inclusive .

omg I'm literally hyped!!! so I just checked the stats on NASA's website and did you know that the Artemis II mission has been in the works for like 5 years already?! they've got a whole program to ensure the success of future lunar missions, including testing crucial systems on Earth before blasting off into space. That's some serious tech! also fun fact: NASA says this mission is expected to reduce the costs of going back to the Moon by like 50% in the next few years which means more resources for actual scientific research and exploration!