NASA's Artemis II Carries Wright Brothers Fabric to the Moon

A tiny piece of fabric that made the world's first powered flight will soon journey around the Moon. NASA's Artemis II mission will carry a one-inch square of muslin from the Wright Brothers' 1903 Wright Flyer when four astronauts embark on humanity's first crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years.

The historic fabric, on loan from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, previously flew on space shuttle Discovery in 1985. Now it gets a second trip to space, this time venturing 240,000 miles from Earth.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman calls the collection of mementos "the long arc of American exploration." The timing couldn't be more perfect as the mission launches during America's 250th anniversary celebration in 2026.

The Orion spacecraft will carry about 10 pounds of meaningful keepsakes in its official flight kit. An American flag that flew on the very first shuttle mission, the final shuttle flight, and SpaceX's first crewed Dragon flight will make another historic journey.

One particularly poignant item is a flag originally meant for the canceled Apollo 18 mission. After decades of waiting, it will finally reach lunar orbit, symbolizing dreams deferred but never forgotten.

A photo negative from Ranger 7, America's first successful lunar contact mission, represents the careful groundwork that made Apollo possible. That same spirit of preparation now guides Artemis as NASA maps humanity's return to the Moon.

The Ripple Effect

The mission continues a beautiful tradition started with Artemis I's tree seeds. Seeds from that uncrewed test flight were distributed to 236 locations across America, where they've grown into "Moon Trees" at schools and educational centers.

Soil samples from these young Artemis I Moon Trees at NASA's 10 centers will fly aboard Artemis II, completing a full cycle of exploration. The Canadian Space Agency is sending new tree seeds to continue the legacy for the next generation.

Millions of names submitted through NASA's "Send Your Name to Space" campaign will travel on an SD card, bringing everyday dreamers along for the ride. International flags, patches, and stickers from partner agencies underscore how space exploration now unites nations rather than divides them.

The European Space Agency, which built Orion's powerful service module, will see its flag circle the Moon as a testament to what humanity achieves together. These small symbols carry big meaning as we venture beyond Earth once more.