LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 1, 2026) — As Artemis II prepares to lift off — marking the first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years — researchers at the University of Kentucky are celebrating a milestone years in the making and their role in helping bring astronauts home safely. An Orio n capsule seated atop a 322-foot rocket will blast off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida as early as 6:24 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 1. Its mission: carry four astronauts around the moon and back — sending humans the farthest they’ve ever been from Earth. You can watch the launch live stream at www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kR2KK8TEs.  The mission builds on lessons learned from Artemis I and represents a major step forward in NASA’s efforts to return humans to the moon. Behind the scenes, faculty, staff and students in UK’s Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering have contributed critical research to improve one of the most essential components of human spaceflight: the rocket’s heat shield. “These are the systems that stand between astronauts and the extreme conditions of re-entry,” Alexandre Martin, Ph.D., professor of aerospace engineering and director of the Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and NASA EPSCoR programs, said. “To see Artemis II launch, knowing our work has helped improve those systems, is incredibly meaningful.” During re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, a spacecraft endures temperatures of nearly 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat shields are designed to absorb and dissipate that heat — protecting both the vehicle and its crew. Following Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight launched in November 2022, NASA identified unexpected issues with the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield after small sections of material were lost during re-entry. A nationwide investigation revealed the cause: gas buildup within the material that led to pieces breaking away under extreme conditions. UK researchers played a key role in understanding that failure. “Identifying why those materials behaved the way they did was critical,” Martin said. “That knowledge allows us to help improve designs and reduce risk for future missions — especially crewed ones like Artemis II.” To address the issue, UK engineering faculty developed new tools and techniques to better understand the material’s internal structure and behavior. Michael Renfro, Ph.D., designed a specialized device to measure permeability — how gases move through microscopic pores in the heat shield material — even in fragile samples. Savio Poovathingal, Ph.D., developed advanced methods to extract porosity data from three-dimensional imaging, giving researchers a more precise view of how the material responds under stress. “Our facility allows us to measure how gases flow and build pressure within these materials,” Renfro said. “That’s essential to ensuring the heat shield performs as expected during re-entry.” “The structure of these materials is incredibly complex,” Poovathingal added. “By improving how we analyze that structure, we’re helping make future designs safer and more reliable.” That work has contributed to ongoing improvements in thermal protection systems used in NASA missions. For those involved in the research, the launch represents more than a scientific milestone. It’s a rare opportunity to contribute to a historic moment in human space exploration. “Being part of something like this changes how students see what’s possible for their careers,” Martin said. “They’re not just learning in the classroom — they’re contributing to real missions that are shaping the future of space exploration.” The Artemis program is NASA’s long-term effort to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon and eventually prepare for missions to Mars. As Artemis II carries astronauts farther from Earth than any human has traveled in decades, UK researchers say their work will continue to play a role in what comes next. “Every mission builds on the last,” Martin said. “And we’re proud that research happening here in Kentucky is part of that journey.” The Pigman College of Engineering has engaged in heat shield research with NASA since 2011. Faculty in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering bring expertise in computational modeling, fluid dynamics and laboratory experimentation to study physical processes critical to hypersonic flight, such as ablation, pyrolysis and permeability. In addition to their work with NASA, UK researchers have developed and flown re-entry capsules in space multiple times — gathering valuable data on re-entry conditions. Their expertise extends beyond NASA partnerships, as they have collaborated on thermal protection systems (TPS) and hypersonic research with the Department of Defense, the European Space Agency and the international academic community. Through these efforts, the college has also emphasized education and workforce development, training students at every level — from undergraduate researchers to Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral fellows — to contribute to advancements in aerospace technology. Learn more about UK’s aerospace programs and their role in advancing space exploration at engr.uky.edu/undergraduate/aerospace-engineering.  This research was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) award numbers 80NSSC22M0034 and 80NSSC22M0174, awarded to the University of Kentucky. The material is based upon work supported by NASA under award Nos. 80NSSC21K0286, 80NSSC21K1117 and 80NSSC20M0047. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The post As NASA’s Artemis II heads to the moon, UK helps power safe return appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less