Smiths Group is playing an instrumental role in NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo, scheduled for launch no earlier than February 2026. John Crane, a global leader in flow control technologies and part of Smiths Group, is supplying specialised filtration sieves for the Orion spacecraft’s Propellant Management Devices (PMDs). These devices are crucial in managing the separation of liquid and gas phases within propellant tanks, ensuring effective thrust in low-gravity environments.
The filtration sieves, engineered to endure extreme vibration, pressure, and temperature variations, exemplify John Crane’s precision-engineering capabilities for safety-critical applications. These sieves are part of a broader effort by Smiths Group, which integrates complementary technologies across its divisions to support this mission-critical programme.
In addition to John Crane’s contribution, other Smiths Group businesses are actively involved in Artemis II. Flex-Tek is providing highly engineered components for the Orion Space Launch System, including rigid tubing essential for the safe transfer of fuel, gas, and hot air within the rocket’s propulsion and air systems. Smiths Interconnect is supplying high-speed cable assemblies and connectors vital for mission communications.
Ruben Alvarez, President of John Crane, stated, “Artemis II is a powerful example of what’s possible when deep engineering expertise, innovation, and collaboration come together. At John Crane, we are proud to contribute specialised 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, commented, “Every piece of equipment for this kind of spacecraft needs to undergo a demanding qualification and acceptance programme. 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 continuing our cooperation.”
As humanity prepares to return to deep space exploration, the contributions from Smiths Group underscore the importance of collaboration and technical expertise in advancing aerospace engineering.
