A "cool" device made in Illinois helped Artemis II go to the moon

The NASA Standard Initiator is an electrically activated, pyrotechnic device that played a critical role in the recent launch of the Artemis Two/Orion mission. On April 15th, after an eight-week competition the Initiator---made at Chemring Energetic Devices in Downers Grove won the 2026 “Makers Madness” contest, earning it the title of "The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois".