Statement from the ADF on NASA Artemis II Mission
— Christa McAuliffe
On April 1st, 2026 at 6:35 PM, NASA’s Artemis II mission slipped the surly bonds of Earth on a 10 day mission to pave the way for the return of humans to the surface of the moon. This marks the first time since December 7th, 1972 when Apollo 17 departed on its mission to the moon (53 years ago or some 19,500 days for perspective) since man has undertaken such an endeavor. As airline dispatchers, we understand the enormous amount of work, dedication, and coordination between multiple experts in all aspects of flight to ensure the safety and success of every mission, every day. ADF, in fact, has in its ranks two members — Miguel Reyes and Mitch Baird — whose immediate families worked to establish NASA as the world's premier space agency, pioneering the science required to send humans safely into space and bring them home with information and knowledge for the betterment of all mankind. To all who came before, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude. Human air and space travel doesn’t happen by accident — it is a coordinated symphony of knowledge, planning, and ability…and just maybe a little magic too. ADF salutes and congratulates NASA and the 4 brave astronauts on board the Orion spacecraft who are showing the world that we are not limited to our own imaginations but are capable of exploration to the far reaches of space.
Godspeed Artemis II, we can’t wait to see what you can accomplish!
"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
— President John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Jim Starnes
President, ADF