HOUSTON, Texas – NASA is returning to the moon, with a little help from the Evergreen State.

Forty-two companies with ties to Washington state are helping the Artemis I mission that launched on Wednesday, November 16th, Kiro7 News reports.

The 26-day flight is designed as a test before sending missions with humans onboard for the first time in 50 years.

Of the 18 people under consideration to go to the moon, two are Washington state natives: Kayla Barron and Anne McClain.