Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has praised Cornwall’s contribution to the launch of NASA’s Artemis II spacecraft, which lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.

In a post shared on X this morning (Thursday), Sir Keir highlighted the significance of Goonhilly Earth Station near Helston, writing: “From Helston, Cornwall to the moon. Proud of the part Britain has played in this historic moment.”

His comments underline Cornwall’s growing influence in the mission, as astronauts prepare to fly around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

British astronaut Tim Peake also welcomed the achievement, telling The Independent that the UK should take pride in its role in Artemis II, which will send a four‑person crew on a journey beyond low Earth orbit and around the Moon.

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) (Image: Chris O’Meara)

More than half a century after Goonhilly Earth Station helped beam the Apollo 11 Moon landing into homes around the world, the iconic site on the Lizard Peninsula is set to support another landmark moment in human spaceflight.

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Goonhilly — the world’s first commercial deep space ground station – will help track the crewed Artemis II spacecraft as it travels around the Moon and back to Earth. Its team will passively track Orion, the spacecraft carrying astronauts, demonstrating the UK’s growing capability to support major international missions directly from British soil.

Based on the Lizard Peninsula, Goonhilly is the world’s first commercial deep space ground station. (Image: Supplied)

This is not Goonhilly’s first involvement with the Artemis programme. During the uncrewed Artemis I mission in 2022, the station provided vital communication and tracking support using its 32‑metre GHY‑6 antenna. The team also assisted in communicating with six CubeSats deployed during the mission.

Artemis II will take the next step, carrying astronauts beyond low Earth orbit, around the Moon, and safely home. The mission is a crucial part of NASA’s long‑term plan to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually establish a sustainable presence there.