John Crane supports NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission

Smiths Group capabilities will support the first crewed million around the Moon since the Apollo program

Feb. 18, 2026

2 min read

Exterior shot of NASA's Orion spacecraft orbiting the moon

Flow-control supplier John Crane, reported Feb.2 that it’s supporting NASA’s Artemis II mission that’s scheduled to launch no earlier than February 2026. The mission will take four astronauts around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, and represents the first crewed, lunar mission since the Apollo program.

John Crane’s contribution forms part of a broader, multi-division effort across Smiths Group, which is gathering its complementary technologies to support this NASA’s program. Specifically, John Crane is supplying specialized filtration sieves for the spacecraft’s propellant management devices (PMD). These systems play a vital role in low-gravity environments by managing the separation of liquid and gas phases within propellant tanks, enabling effective and reliable thrust. The sieves are engineered to withstand the extreme vibration, pressure and temperature variations associated with launch and space travel. Manufactured to exceptionally high specifications, John Crane reports they reflect its expertise in delivering precision-engineered solutions for demanding and safety-critical applications.

Contributions from other Smiths Group businesses include Flex-Tek supplying engineered components for Orion’s space launch system, including rigid tubing for safely transferring fuel, gas and hot air within the rocket’s main propulsion and air systems. In addition, Smiths Interconnect is contributing high-speed cable assemblies and connectors critical to mission communications.

“Artemis II is a powerful example of what’s possible when deep engineering expertise, innovation and collaboration come together,” says Ruben Alvarez, president of John Crane. “We’re proud to contribute specialized technologies alongside our colleagues across Smiths Group, helping enable a mission that pushes the boundaries of performance, reliability and human exploration.”

Dr Nicolas Fries, Orion propellant tank development lead at ArianeGroup, adds, “Every piece of equipment for this kind of spacecraft needs to undergo a demanding qualification and acceptance program. During the sieve development phase we had to combine the extensive sieve manufacturing expertise from John Crane with the space engineering know how of ArianeGroup. John Crane has proven to be a reliable supplier for such critical elements and we are looking forward to continue our cooperation.”