WNC -- April 1, 2026: Rosman -- Deep within the quiet zones of the Pisgah National Forest, a piece of Cold War and Space Race history is humming back to life for a new generation of explorers. The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) has been selected by NASA as one of 34 organizations worldwide to provide critical ground station support for Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the moon in over fifty years.
A Legacy Reborn
The facility’s return to NASA operations is a homecoming 64 years in the making. Originally built in 1962 as the Rosman Satellite Tracking Station, the site was a vital link for the Apollo program. After a stint as a classified NSA listening post during the 1980s and 90s, the site was saved from demolition and transformed into a non-profit dedicated to science education.
Now, one of PARI’s massive 26-meter (85-foot) radio telescope dishes will be responsible for locking onto the Orion spacecraft as it carries four astronauts around the lunar far side.
The Mission at Hand
During the Artemis II flight, PARI’s primary role involves:
Data Tracking: Capturing radio waves from Orion to monitor the spacecraft’s trajectory.
Doppler Shift Monitoring: Helping NASA engineers ensure the craft is moving at the precise speeds required for a safe return to Earth.
24/7 Operations: PARI staff will work in rotating shifts to manually monitor and adjust the 60-year-old instruments, which remain world-class but require "hands-on" care.
Why PARI?
As the number of private and government spacecraft in orbit grows, NASA’s existing "Deep Space Network" is facing a bandwidth bottleneck. PARI’s unique location—shielded from radio interference by the surrounding mountains—and its heritage hardware make it an ideal "overflow" station for high-stakes lunar communication.
For the scientists and educators in Transylvania County, this isn't just a technical contract; it is a validation of the facility's endurance. By helping guide Artemis II, this WNC landmark is once again helping humanity reach for the stars.