EventsOutdoorsBusinessesNewsGuidesSafety & Alerts

Footer

Live Here. Visit Here. Find It Here.

Explore

  • The Western Slope
  • Events
  • Businesses
  • News
  • Guides
  • Outdoor

Community

  • Weather
  • Emergency & Alerts
  • Preparedness
  • Local Resources

Get Involved

  • Become an Insider
  • For Business
  • For Government
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Cookie Policy

© 2026 The Slope. All rights reserved.

Join The Slope Community

Create an account to get personalized recommendations and save your favorite places and events

Sign Up
    1. News
    2. Local News
    3. NASA Spent $10 Million on Colorado Training for Artemis II
    Local News

    NASA Spent $10 Million on Colorado Training for Artemis II

    NASA invested $10 million in a Colorado training course for the Artemis II mission, which successfully tested the Orion spacecraft and marked a new era in lunar discovery.

    Sarah MitchellApril 13th, 2026Updated April 17th, 20263 min read
    NASA Spent $10 Million on Colorado Training for Artemis II
    Image source: Steamboat Pilot

    $10 million — that's what NASA spent on a training course in Colorado for the Artemis II mission. The course, developed in partnership with the Colorado National Guard, is based out of the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site in Gypsum.

    The three American astronauts on the Artemis II mission — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, participated in the course in August, eight months before they left Earth's orbit on April 1 aboard the Orion spacecraft.

    Their 10-day flight around the moon marked the beginning of a new era of lunar discovery under NASA's Artemis program. The mission's primary goal was to test the new Orion spacecraft and its life-support, launch, navigation, and ground systems in deep space.

    The training in Gypsum focused on the human landing system, provided by SpaceX and Blue Origin, which will be used for future Artemis missions. The course gave the astronauts a real-world environment to practice flight skills, in addition to ground and simulation training they received in Ohio and Texas.

    The mountains and surrounding area around Gypsum offer unique visual illusions and flight conditions; thin air, varied landscapes - making it an ideal location for the training.

    Make no mistake, this training was crucial for the astronauts. The Artemis II mission set several records and hit milestones while in flight, including venturing further from Earth than any other humans and becoming the first to view parts of the moon's far side.

    The mission also carried the first woman and person of color to the moon and captured a full lunar eclipse. Artemis II touched back down on Friday evening off the coast of San Diego, marking the end of its 10-day journey.

    The short version: NASA spent $10 million on a training course in Colorado, and it paid off. The Artemis II mission was a success, and the training in Gypsum played a significant role in that success.

    Read that again: $10 million. That's a significant investment in the state's space industry. Worth watching: how this investment will impact the local economy and the future of space exploration in Colorado.

    The High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site in Gypsum is a unique facility. one that offers a real-world environment for astronauts to practice flight skills. The site's thin air and varied landscapes make it an ideal location for training.

    The Colorado National Guard partnered with NASA in 2021 to develop the training course. The partnership has been successful, with the Artemis II astronauts participating in the course in August.

    The Artemis program aims to reestablish frequent human travel to the moon and future missions to Mars. The program's success relies on the training and preparation of astronauts, which takes place in part in Colorado.

    Folks around here should take notice: the space industry is growing in Colorado, and it's not just about the money. It's about the innovation, the technology, and the exploration. The success of the Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone.

    The community in Gypsum and surrounding areas should be proud; they're playing a significant role in the success of the Artemis program. The training site in Gypsum is a unique asset, one that will continue to be used for future missions.

    The next step for NASA's lunar ambitions is unclear - but the training in Colorado will continue to play a crucial role in the success of future missions. The investment in the state's space industry will pay off, and the local economy will benefit.

    That's what locals need to know: the space industry is growing, and it's growing in Colorado. The Artemis II mission has ended, but its impact will be felt for years to come. Colorado will be at the forefront of future space exploration.

    The training in Gypsum was a success, and it will continue to be used for future missions. The partnership between NASA and the Colorado National Guard has been successful, and it will remain an important part of NASA's training efforts.

    People in the valley should take notice: the space industry is growing, and it's not just about the technology; it's about the people, the innovation, and the exploration. The success of the Artemis II mission demonstrates the importance of the training in Colorado.

    The community should be proud - they're playing a significant role in the program's success. The training site in Gypsum is a unique asset, one that will continue to be used.

    The next step is unclear, but the training in Colorado will remain crucial to the program's success. The investment in the state's space industry will have a lasting impact, and the local economy will benefit.

    That's the fact.

    • From Colorado peaks to the moon: How the Rocky Mountains helped NASA astronauts prepare for the Artemis II mission 
      Vail DailySteamboat Pilot
    136
    All News
    Back to all news
    All News

    Latest News

    LowDown Brass Band Kicks Off Free Steamboat Mountain Music Series

    LowDown Brass Band Kicks Off Free Steamboat Mountain Music Series

    June 25th, 2026·3m
    Aspen’s June JAS Experience and Ideas Festival Dominate Late June Calendar

    Aspen’s June JAS Experience and Ideas Festival Dominate Late June Calendar

    June 25th, 2026·3m
    Aspen Ideas Health Panel Debates Psychedelic Prescription Costs

    Aspen Ideas Health Panel Debates Psychedelic Prescription Costs

    June 25th, 2026·3m
    View all news →

    More from Local News

    View all →
    Vail Valley Trains Employers to Spot Hidden Labor Trafficking
    Local News

    Vail Valley Trains Employers to Spot Hidden Labor Trafficking

    June 26th, 2026·3m
    Blue Mesa Reservoir Closes Boat Ramps as Water Levels Drop
    Local News

    Blue Mesa Reservoir Closes Boat Ramps as Water Levels Drop

    June 25th, 2026·4m
    Sarah Jones Wins YVEA District 6 Seat in Record Turnout
    Local News

    Sarah Jones Wins YVEA District 6 Seat in Record Turnout

    June 25th, 2026·3m
    Rio Blanco Ranchers Track Wolf Losses as CPW Monitors Small Population
    Local News

    Rio Blanco Ranchers Track Wolf Losses as CPW Monitors Small Population

    June 25th, 2026·3m
    Red Lion Developers Seek 41% Patio Expansion for Vail Village
    Local News

    Red Lion Developers Seek 41% Patio Expansion for Vail Village

    June 25th, 2026·4m
    Storm Washes Out Bridges in Evergreen and Kittredge
    Local News

    Storm Washes Out Bridges in Evergreen and Kittredge

    June 25th, 2026·3m