Artemis II is NASA’s last moon mission without Silicon Valley

SpaceX launched its IPO on the same day the U.S. sent astronauts to the moon for the first time in 54 years. And the timing is appropriate: This is likely the last time NASA will try to send people to deep space without major assistance from a company that emerged from the venture-backed tech scene.

Hardware·April 5, 2026·3 min read

The Lead

Artemis II is NASA’s last moon mission without Silicon Valley. SpaceX launched its IPO on the same day the U.S. sent astronauts to the moon for the first time in 54 years. And the timing is appropriate: This is likely the last time NASA will try to send people to deep space without major assistance from a company that emerged from the venture-backed tech scene. The origins of NASA’s current lunar campaign trace a complicated path back to the second Bush administration, which began developing an enormous rocket and a spacecraft called Orion to return to the moon. By 2010, the project had grown over budget and was pared back.

Key Details

That decision led to a company-saving contract for SpaceX and a rush of venture capital into extraterrestrial technology, and to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that is now carrying three Americans and one Canadian around the moon and back. The SLS is the most powerful operational rocket in the world today. It has flown just once before, when it launched an empty Orion spacecraft on a test flight around the moon in preparation for this week’s historic mission, which.

Context

When NASA decided to head for the moon again in 2019, the agency felt it had to stick with the SLS and Orion. Techcrunch event Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room Your next round. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400. Save up to $300 or 30%.

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Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately Offer ends March 13. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW But there was a missing piece of the puzzle: A vehicle to transport astronauts from space down to the surface of the moon. That, NASA decided, would come from the new generation of venture-backed space firms. The agency also turned to a.