Worcester-Made Suits Head To Space On Historic Artemis II Mission: Report

WORCESTER, MA — Four NASA astronauts took off on a historic mission last week, also marking a monumental moment for one company in Worcester.

Artemis II astronauts took off in a flight around the moon for the first time in nearly 50 years on Wednesday. And those astronauts have a piece of Massachusetts with them, as they are wearing custom-made suits from the Worcester-based David Clark Company, according to multiple reports.

It's not the first time NASA astronauts have been outfitted by the Worcester company, as David Clark has been creating space suits since 1941, according to its website.

The company created the suits worn by astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on a historic flight test in 2024.

The suits for Artemis II, in particular, are meant to be worn in high-risk parts of the mission, CBS News Boston reported.

The company's chief technologist told the news outlet that the astronauts would be able to survive six days in the suits, as they almost act like their own spacecraft.

• Artemis II Launches Astronauts Toward Moon: See Photos

The 32-story Artemis II rocket is carrying three Americans and one Canadian. Commander Reid Wiseman is overseeing the team’s flight with pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen.

On Wednesday, Artemis II launched from the same Florida site that the Apollo rockets did decades ago.

The mission is expected to be 10 days long, to the Moon and back. The purpose is primarily to test the Orion spacecraft for future missions, during which NASA astronauts will travel to and land on the lunar surface.

See Also:

• Worcester Dual Language Magnet School Adds 7th and 8th Grades
• Beloved Worcester Brewery Reopens Following Months Of Renovations