I provided oversight and was responsible for critical decisions during the Artemis I mission including conducting polls at key decision points, analyzing risks, and providing direction for the relevant operations team.
Mission management is the process of taking a rocket and a spacecraft with limitations and known system capabilities and applying it to a purpose. There are four primary objectives on Artemis I:
To test the heat shield at lunar reentry conditions.
To demonstrate the flight vehicle in the flight environment.
To recover the spacecraft.
To conduct payload operations, which I like to call bonus objectives.
The most fulfilling part of my job is working with highly skilled professionals who are dedicated to their country and their work.
Mike Sarafin was the lead flight director for Orion’s first flight test in 2014. Orion was the spacecraft for the Artemis I mission.
Mike Sarafin and his team provided a “go” or “no go” for launch 2 days before the launch date.
Artemis I is the 65th mission that Mike Sarafin has supported.
