Growing Our Future
How KBR’s Technology and Talent Are Driving Progress in Spaceflight, AI and Beyond
At KBR, technology fuels the solutions we deliver every day to solve the world’s most challenging problems. Powered by our people, our digital capabilities push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our technology, paired with our deep domain expertise, helps customers operate safely, make better decisions and achieve results across the energy, defense, national security, science and space domains. From powering historic human spaceflight to advancing AI, we are using technology to turn innovation into outcomes and shape the future of mission success.
Making Space History With Artemis II
KBR’s people were involved in essentially every phase of the historic Artemis II mission. For the first time in 50 years, humans flew around the moon and traveled farther into space than anyone has ever gone before. KBR proudly delivered technology-enabled support for real-time mission operations, mission planning and verification, and astronaut training. We also delivered key engineering expertise for NASA’s Space Launch System, the heavy-lift rocket that launched the Orion spacecraft on its historic journey.
The mission also provided people around the world with breathtaking photos and interesting in-flight interviews that might not have been possible without Paul Reichert, a KBR flight operations imagery instructor. Paul trained the Artemis II astronauts to use specialized cameras in deep space, combining advanced hardware, customized software and detailed crew procedures to ensure the imagery captured in orbit could be reliably analyzed on the ground as critical data sources for engineers, scientists and mission managers.
“There's only four people that are going to go around the moon on Artemis II, but there's eight billion people on Earth, and they're taking us with them,” Reichert said on the KBR In Orbit podcast. “They are letting us in on their adventure.”
Photo: Paul Reichert, imaging instructor on KBR’s Integrated Mission Operations Contract, stands to the left of NASA astronauts Christina Koch (middle) and Victor Glover (right) during Earth-based training for the Artemis II mission. Image by NASA/James Blair
Edward González also helped prepare the Artemis II astronauts for their history-making mission, applying advanced simulation technology and flight dynamics expertise as an exploration flight dynamics officer. González was featured in the LA Times for his support as an instructor during complex pre-mission rehearsals conducted in a highly integrated simulation environment.
“We had data flowing from the simulator like it’s the real thing,” González said. “As instructors, we introduce malfunctions into the simulation so the flight controllers, mission control and astronauts can work together to solve problems as a team. That prepares them for situations where a major malfunction means you have to change course immediately to get the crew home safely.”
Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon.
Image Credit: NASA
KBR technology is already playing a critical role in future moon landing preparations. We are developing new lunar-orienting tools to help astronauts find their way even if electronic systems fail or if the moon’s rough terrain throws them off course. These tools will be tested during Artemis III and are expected to evolve into integrated electronic navigation systems for future missions.
Our Real-world AI Impact
The AI revolution is here, and KBR is actively embedding AI across our business, applying the technology with purpose to solve complex challenges and create real value. We partner, design, build and deploy mission-ready AI solutions that enable our customers to achieve results at speed and scale.
The launch of KBR INSITE 3.0 is one of our latest AI milestones. The digital platform was developed in collaboration with our partner, U.K.-based Applied Computing. It introduces a physics-informed AI adviser designed specifically for energy and industrial operations. INSITE 3.0 absorbs 100% of operators’ data and provides detailed assessments, suggestions, simulation scenarios and operational solutions with 99% accuracy and in near-real time. This gives our customers a radical understanding of how their industrial or energy assets are performing, which then enables them to optimize operations, reduce costs and improve safety.
Accuracy
Achieved with live data in refining/petrochemical for soft sensors
This tool has also allowed our technology team to embed KBR’s deep engineering expertise directly into the AI engine, providing traceable root causes and predictions of emerging issues as well as real-world, real-time recommendations.
Andy Webster, senior director of digital for Sustainable Technology Solutions, says the evolution of INSITE 3.0 reflects both KBR’s process technology and engineering expertise and our rapid adoption of advanced AI capabilities.
“Seeing our teams learn about and then take advantage of a very new AI capability is what makes KBR such an exciting place to be,” Webster said. “Within a year, we’ve discovered physics-informed AI, formed technical partnerships and brought solutions to our existing technology customers. That’s truly amazing!”
Crucially, KBR’s AI capabilities are also rapidly evolving across the company so we can meet our customers’ needs. For example, we are currently using AI to review and assure legal contracts, and we are integrating it within our supply chain decision-making. Furthermore, our people are deploying AI-powered anomaly detection systems that safeguard satellites and aircraft, and we integrate AI with wargaming simulation to predict enemy behavior. And in addition to our partnership with Applied Computing in the energy and industrial sectors, we have also formed a new strategic alliance with Tagup, an AI-driven defense tech company, to accelerate AI solutions for the U.S. military.
At KBR, technology has always deeply integrated into our solutions and in the ways we work. But our people are the ones bringing these solutions to life. It is our deep expertise, creativity and purpose that are truly shaping what’s possible in today’s rapidly changing technological landscape — and in the era ahead.
