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<\/a><\/figure>For some people, a passion for space is something that might develop over time, but for Patrick Junen, the desire was there from the beginning. With a father and grandfather who both worked for NASA, space exploration is not just a dream; it remains a family legacy.<\/p>\n
Now, as the stage assembly and structures subsystem manager at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the BOLE (Booster Obsolescence Life Extension) Program \u2014 an advanced solid rocket booster for NASA\u2019s SLS (Space Launch System) heavy lift rocket \u2014 Junen is continuing that legacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy grandfather worked on the Apollo & Space Shuttle Programs. Then my dad went on to work for the Space Shuttle and SLS Programs,\u201d Junen says. \u201cI guess you could say engineering is in my blood.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his role, he\u2019s responsible for managing the Design, Development, Test, & Evaluation team for all unpressurized structural elements, such as the forward skirt, aft skirt, and the integration hardware that connects the boosters to the core stage. He also collaborates closely with NASA\u2019s Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to coordinate any necessary modifications to ground facilities or the mobile launcher to support the new boosters.<\/p>\n
Junen enjoys the technical challenges of his role and said he feels fortunate to be in a position of leadership \u2014 but it takes a team of talented individuals to build the next generation of boosters. As a former offensive lineman for the University of Mississippi, he knows firsthand the power of teamwork and the importance of effective communication in guiding a coordinated effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always been drawn to team activities, and exploration is the ultimate team endeavor,\u201d Junen says. \u201cOn the football field, it takes a strong team to be successful \u2014 and it\u2019s really no different from what we\u2019re doing as a team at NASA with our Northrop Grumman counterparts for the SLS rocket and Artemis missions.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a kid, Junen often accompanied his dad to Space Shuttle launches and was inspired by some of the talented engineers that developed Shuttle. Years later, he\u2019s still seeing some of those same faces \u2014 but now they\u2019re teammates, working together toward a greater mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up around Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, there was always this strong sense of family and dedication to the Misson. And that has always resonated with me,\u201d Junen recalls.<\/p>\n
This philosophy of connecting family to the mission is a tradition Junen now continues with his own children. One of his fondest NASA memories is watching the successful launch of Artemis I on Nov. 16, 2022. Although he couldn\u2019t attend in person, Junen and his family made the most of the moment \u2014 watching the launch live beneath the Saturn V rocket at Huntsville\u2019s U.S. Space & Rocket Center. With his dad beside him and his daughter on his shoulders, three generations stood beneath the rocket Junen\u2019s grandfather helped build, as a new era of space exploration began.<\/p>\n
In June, Junen witnessed the BOLE Demonstration Motor-1 perform a full-scale static test to demonstrate the ballistic performance for the evolved booster motor. This test isn\u2019t just a technical milestone for Junen \u2014 it\u2019s a continuation of a lifelong journey rooted in family and teamwork.<\/p>\n
As NASA explores the Moon and prepares for the journey to Mars through Artemis, Junen is helping shape the next chapter of human spaceflight. And just like the generations before him, he\u2019s not only building rockets \u2014 he\u2019s building a legacy.<\/p>\n
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Jonathan Deal Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> For some people, a passion for space is something that might develop over time, but for Patrick Junen, the desire was there from the beginning. With a father and grandfather who both worked for NASA, space exploration is not just a dream; it remains a family legacy. Now, as the stage assembly and structures subsystem [\u2026] Continue reading
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.\u00a0
256-544-0034\u00a0
jonathan.e.deal@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
\nLee Mohon <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"