While most of Western North Carolina was settling into the weekend, a team of scientists and engineers in the heart of the Pisgah National Forest was locked onto a signal from 200,000 miles away.
Since our last report on April 1st, the Artemis II mission has successfully transitioned from Earth’s orbit to deep space. As of today, April 4, 2026, the Orion spacecraft (named Integrity) is officially on its way to the Moon, and WNC is playing a critical role in bringing our "hometown" astronaut home.
The North Carolina Hero: Christina Hammock Koch
While the world watches the four-person crew, North Carolinians have a special reason to cheer. Mission Specialist Christina Hammock Koch is officially the first woman to ever leave low Earth orbit.
Though she was born in Michigan, Koch is a North Carolinian through and through. She grew up in Jacksonville, NC, and credits her time at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham for sparking her scientific journey. She is also a "triple threat" alumna of NC State University, holding two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s in electrical engineering.
For Koch, this isn’t just a mission; it’s the culmination of a journey that began in the North Carolina public school system and led her to the stars.
WNC’s "Ear" to the Heavens: PARI’s Vital Role
The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) near Rosman isn’t just a historic landmark—it is currently an active participant in this historic mission.
As part of a global network of 34 stations, PARI’s massive 26-meter radio telescopes are being used to track the Orion capsule. Because the number of spacecraft in orbit is growing faster than NASA’s own infrastructure, facilities like PARI are essential for:
Passive Tracking: Monitoring the radio signals sent from Orion to ensure the craft is exactly where it needs to be.
Doppler Shift Data: Using PARI’s giant dishes to measure the change in radio frequencies, which helps NASA calculate the spacecraft’s precise speed and trajectory.
Mission Update: Where are they now?
Current Status: The crew—Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen—is currently in the "coasting" phase of their 10-day mission.
The Milestone: On Thursday evening, the crew completed the critical Translunar Injection (TLI) burn, a 5-minute engine fire that broke them free of Earth's gravity.
The Next Big Event: This coming Monday, April 6, the crew will swing around the far side of the Moon, reaching a distance of approximately 4,700 miles above the lunar surface.
Why Artemis Matters
Unlike the Apollo missions of the 60s and 70s, Artemis II is the "proof of concept." This 10-day trip tests the life-support systems that will eventually allow humans to stay on the Moon long-term. Every bit of data collected by the instruments at PARI helps ensure that when the next mission—Artemis III—launches, humanity will finally step back onto the lunar dust.
As Christina Koch looks back at the "blue marble" of Earth this weekend, a small piece of North Carolina—both in her heart and in the mountains of Rosman—is right there with her.
For a look back at the history of the Rosman station and its Apollo roots, read our original article:
From Apollo to Artemis: WNC Ground Station Rejoins the Moon Race
Check back with wnctimes for more local updates as the crew prepares for their lunar flyby this Monday.