NASA Celebrates Artemis II Throughout Houston Texans Space City Day 

NASA’s Johnson Space Center was entrance and middle Jan. 4, 2026, because the Houston Texans confronted the Indianapolis Colts throughout Space City Day at NRG Stadium. Fans watched the Texans win whereas getting an in depth take a look at NASA’s Artemis II mission, the primary crewed flight of the Artemis marketing campaign. 

The Artemis II mission will ship 4 astronauts—NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, together with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen—across the Moon and again to Earth to check Orion spacecraft methods in deep area and assist lay the groundwork for future lunar missions. 

NASA linked followers with the company’s subsequent big leap, reinforcing Space City’s position in shaping the way forward for human exploration.   

Before kickoff, 27 Johnson workers helped unfurl the U.S. flag for the nationwide anthem, marking the beginning of a night that blended soccer, exploration, and Houston pleasure.  

On the BULLevard, Johnson workers engaged with followers at a NASA activation space, the place guests explored the company’s Mobile Exhibit Trailer and discovered extra about Artemis II. Team members answered questions and shared how NASA is making ready to ship people again to the Moon.  

Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche and NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins visited the exhibit and the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program sales space, the place they greeted group members and thanked volunteers supporting the occasion. 

The International Space Station Program joined the celebration with a prerecorded message from the Expedition 74 crew, marking over 25 years of steady human presence in low Earth orbit. 

“Even from 250 miles above the Earth, we’re proud to represent Houston and celebrate the mission of this incredible city on and off the field,” stated NASA astronaut Mike Fincke.  

“Today’s game reminds us how connected Houston, NASA, and the Texans truly are,” stated NASA astronaut Zena Cardman.  

Cardman highlighted how analysis aboard the International Space Station has led to improvements that profit life on Earth, together with purposes now utilized in sports activities and athletic security. Advances in supplies developed for spacesuits and astronaut safety have influenced the design of contemporary helmets and padding, whereas cooling applied sciences initially created for excessive environments are utilized in coaching gear and protecting gear. 

“Space innovation doesn’t remain in orbit, sometimes it ends up on the 50-yard line.” 

Jessica Watkins took the sector for the Texans’ “Reppin’ H-Town” look, joined by Johnson workers Tessa Rundle and Daniel Kolodziejcyk sporting NASA’s Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits. The brilliant orange strain fits are designed to guard astronauts throughout launch, flight, and reentry aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft.  

The pregame continued with Center Director Vanessa Wyche becoming a member of the festivities on the sector and taking part within the ceremonial coin toss, the place she known as heads. 

About 30 seconds into halftime, the Artemis Fueling the Fire video performed on the stadium jumbotron, sharing NASA’s plans to return people to the Moon and marking a significant step within the company’s Moon to Mars marketing campaign.  

The video led right into a dwell interview with Vanessa Wyche and Jessica Watkins, the place Wyche mentioned the Artemis II mission and Watkins highlighted similarities between astronaut coaching and soccer coaching. At the conclusion of the interview, the host invited followers to participate in NASA’s “Send Your Name with Artemis II” initiative, which permits the general public to have their names saved on a small chip aboard the Orion spacecraft throughout the mission. Participants obtain a digital boarding go and digital visitor entry to pick out NASA launches. While the names stay saved electronically contained in the spacecraft, the effort symbolically provides members a spot on Orion’s journey across the Moon.