Neil Armstrong’s legendary words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” reached millions of captivated listeners on Earth as humanity took its inaugural steps on the Moon. Behind this historic transmission was the high-frequency (VHF) communications technology—developed by L3Harris Technologies—that ensured Armstrong’s voice reached millions of eager listeners on Earth. The company’s legacy, which began with the Apollo missions, will continue with NASA’s Artemis II mission, set to return humans to the lunar surface in 2025. L3Harris’s advanced communications systems will once again be crucial in maintaining reliable contact between the astronauts and mission control, ensuring the success and safety of this ambitious endeavor. Powering the Artemis II Mission and Beyond Through its Aerojet Rocketdyne sub-division, L3Harris delivers the RS-25 engines, the core propulsion system for the Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket ever built. These engines are an evolution of the renowned Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) that powered 135 shuttle missions, now re-engineered for deep space expeditions. Leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques and production efficiencies, these next-generation RS-25s offer enhanced thrust capabilities while reducing unit costs by over 30 percent compared to its shuttleera counterparts. The SLS, equipped with four of these formidable engines, will propel Artemis II’s four-member crew beyond Earth’s orbit, marking the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in over five decades. While the RS-25 engines provide the necessary propulsion, L3Harris’s state-of-the-art audio communications system will ensure seamless connectivity between the astronauts and mission control. Designed to meet NASA’s stringent standards, this system comprises an audio control unit, a speaker unit and a lightweight audio interface unit that attaches to an astronaut’s suit. Featuring five voice channels, low power consumption and 13 alarms for real-time situational awareness, the audio system exemplifies L3Harris’s dedication to innovation, reliability and astronaut safety. The system’s modular architecture also highlights its adaptability. Its strategic design will support NASA’s Artemis program and position L3Harris to contribute to future human spaceflight initiatives, including reusable landers and commercial spaceflight endeavors. With a vision extending to Mars, L3Harris is poised to be a pivotal player in the future of space exploration by pushing the envelope of aerospace engineering and capturing the defining moments of humanity’s journey into the cosmos. Guardians of the Earth and the Skies L3Harris’s contributions to space exploration are undeniably impressive, but its innovation doesn’t end at the edge of our atmosphere. Its technological mastery extends deep into the heart of national security and defense, where its groundbreaking solutions play a vital role in protecting our planet and its interests from the ground up. A prime example of this commitment is its Viper Shield, an all-digital electronic warfare (EW) suite custom-designed to enhance the survivability and mission success of the nextgeneration F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets. This advanced system is a virtual electronic shield, safeguarding pilots against sophisticated, ever-evolving threats in increasingly complex battlespace scenarios.