Connecticut-based aerospace firm celebrated for 190 years of innovation and its essential contribution to NASA's historic Artemis II mission
HARTFORD, CT, UNITED STATES, September 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense (EBAD) was officially welcomed into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame on Tuesday at the Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum, hosted at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Accepting the award on the company's behalf was Lisa Brown, who serves as EBAD's Market Segment Director for Launch Vehicles. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal delivered the induction, joined by Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Chief Manufacturing Officer Kirti Patel.
This recognition highlights EBAD's 190-year manufacturing heritage in Simsbury, which traces back to 1836 and William Bickford's creation of the safety fuse, along with the company's vital work as a supplier for NASA's Artemis II mission. EBAD-designed and -built hardware operated flawlessly throughout Artemis II, marking the first crewed voyage beyond low Earth orbit in over five decades. The nearly 10-day flight, which began April 1, 2026, saw four astronauts journey roughly 1.4 million miles, setting a new record of 252,756 miles from Earth prior to their safe return. EBAD produced the critical separation hardware that enabled the Orion Crew Module to detach from its Service Module, an essential maneuver before the crew headed back to Earth.
"Starting with our origins here in Connecticut and evolving into an industry frontrunner in Space and Defense across three states, our people have remained the steady thread throughout our story," stated Lisa Brown, Market Segment Director for Launch Vehicles at EBAD. "Successive generations have brought creativity, skill, and dedication to EBAD – and today, their efforts back some of the most exacting and vital missions worldwide. …. We take great pride in our Connecticut heritage, the legacy we've established here, and the opportunities that lie ahead."
The Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum, organized by the Connecticut Office of Manufacturing, assembled manufacturers, educators, and state officials to discuss the technologies, approaches, and workforce initiatives shaping the sector's future. EBAD joined RBC Bearings, Trumpf, CLA, and Raymond James as event sponsors, with Fox61 serving as the media partner.
Established in 2014, the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame celebrates Connecticut's manufacturing and innovation heritage, recognizing a state that has fostered groundbreaking developments for more than 350 years — from the helicopter and the nuclear submarine to the first spacesuit donned on the Moon. americanmanufacturinghof.com
About Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense (EBAD)
Since 1836, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense has stood as a technology pioneer and sector leader in energetic solutions for aerospace and defense, delivering technologies that enable the launch of people and satellites into space while safeguarding armed forces worldwide. With headquarters in Simsbury, Connecticut, plus an engineering and manufacturing site in Moorpark, California and Graham, Kentucky, EBAD has provided initiation, separation, and flight-destruct hardware for commercial and government launches for nearly 60 years, and its satellite hold-down and release mechanisms have been deployed on more than 500 platforms. EBAD is right for your mission. Find out more at ebad.com.
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