Full Breakdown
Artemis II Crew to Speak at Red Rocks Amphitheater
7/15/2026, 11:46:14 AM
Core Event
On Monday, August 3, the four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—will present a public program at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. The two-hour session, running from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., will feature mission highlights, never-before-seen video from the April flight, and a live Q&A about life and work in space. Doors open at 8 a.m. for a STEM fair on the venue’s top plaza, and tickets are free aside from a $1 processing fee charged by the ticketing platform.
Colorado’s Role in Artemis II
Colorado companies and institutions contributed key hardware and training resources to the mission. Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Jefferson County, designed and engineered the Orion spacecraft that carried the crew. United Launch Alliance, based in Centennial and partnered with Boeing, built the launch vehicle that propelled Orion. Northrop Grumman noted that Colorado contractors helped develop the two rocket boosters flanking the spacecraft. The Colorado Army National Guard also provides high-altitude aviation training near Gypsum for crewed lunar missions, leveraging the state’s mountainous terrain as an analog for lunar flight conditions.
Crew and Mission Highlights
Artemis II marked humanity’s first crewed trip to the Moon since 1972, slinging the four astronauts around the lunar surface and setting a new record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13. The mission lasted 25 days and served as a crewed test of systems that will support future landings, with Artemis IV slated for 2028.
Official Statements & Responses
Red Rocks officials described the August 3 program as a celebration of the Rocky Mountain region’s contributions to the Artemis II mission. Event organizers emphasized the opportunity for attendees to meet aerospace industry leaders, community organizations, and educators during the STEM fair.
Verbatim Quotes
- “— The Artemis II crew is scheduled to speak at Red Rocks Amphitheater next month to celebrate Colorado's contributions to NASA's mission to the moon.” — Denver7
- “celebrate the Rocky Mountain Region’s contributions to NASA’s Artemis II mission,” — Red Rocks officials
- “The mission slingshotted four astronauts around the moon, breaking Apollo 13’s record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.” — Denver Post
- “The Artemis II mission flew in a spacecraft designed and engineered at Lockheed Martin in Jefferson County.” — Denver Post
- “Tickets are free, but AXS charges a $1 processing fee.” — Denver Post