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<\/a><\/figure>\u201cGNC is like the brain of a spacecraft. It involves a suite of sensors that keep track of where the vehicle is in orbit so it can return home safely,\u201d he said. \u201cGetting to test the components of a GNC system makes you very familiar with how it all works together, and then to see it fly and help it operate successfully is immensely rewarding.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
His work is critical to the Artemis campaign, which aims to return humans to the Moon and pave the way for Mars. From developing optical navigation technology that allows Orion to determine its position using images of Earth and the Moon to testing docking cameras and Light Detection and Ranging systems that enable autonomous spacecraft rendezvous, Chong is pushing the limits of exploration. He also runs high-fidelity flight simulations at Lockheed Martin\u2019s Orion Test Hardware facility in Houston, ensuring Orion\u2019s software is ready for the demands of spaceflight.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Chong\u2019s NASA career spans seven years as a full-time engineer, plus three years as a co-op student at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. In 2024, he began leading Project TRON, an optical navigation initiative funded by a $2 million Early Career Initiative award. The project aims to advance autonomous space navigation\u2014an essential capability for missions beyond Earth\u2019s orbit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Thanks to Chong\u2019s work, the Artemis Generation is one step closer to exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond. He supported optical navigation operations during Artemis I, is writing software that will fly on Artemis II, and leads optical testing for Orion\u2019s docking cameras. But his path to NASA wasn\u2019t always written in the stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI found math difficult as a kid,\u201d Chong admits. \u201cI didn\u2019t enjoy it at first, but my parents encouraged me patiently, and eventually it started to click and then became a strength and something I enjoyed. Now, it\u2019s a core part of my career.\u201d He emphasizes that perseverance is key, especially for students who may feel discouraged by challenging subjects.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Most of what Chong has learned, he says, came from working collaboratively on the job. \u201cNo matter how difficult something may seem, anything can be learned,\u201d he said. \u201cI could not have envisioned being involved in projects like these or working alongside such great teams before coming to Johnson.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>His career has also reinforced the importance of teamwork, especially when working with contractors, vendors, universities, and other NASA centers. \u201cCoordinating across these dynamic teams and keeping the deliverables on track can be challenging, but it has helped to be able to lean on teammates for assistance and keep communication flowing,\u201d said Chong.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
And soon, those systems will help Artemis astronauts explore places no human has gone before. Whether guiding Orion to the Moon or beyond, Chong\u2019s work is helping NASA write the next chapter of space exploration.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI thank God for the doors He has opened for me and the incredible mentors and coworkers who have helped me along the way,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> Jorge Chong is helping shape the future of human spaceflight, one calculation at a time. As a project manager for TRON (Tracking and Ranging via Optical Navigation) and a guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) test engineer in the Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division, he is leading efforts to ensure the Orion spacecraft can navigate deep [\u2026] Continue reading
\nSumer Loggins <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"