{"id":15001,"date":"2026-02-04T18:06:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/station-nation-erin-edwards-deputy-branch-chief-for-crew-operations-and-capsule-communicator\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T18:06:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:06:56","slug":"station-nation-erin-edwards-deputy-branch-chief-for-crew-operations-and-capsule-communicator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/station-nation-erin-edwards-deputy-branch-chief-for-crew-operations-and-capsule-communicator\/","title":{"rendered":"Station Nation:\u00a0Erin Edwards, Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Station Nation:\u00a0Erin Edwards, Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator\u00a0<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

As a member of the Crew Operations Office, Erin Edwards\u00a0and her\u00a0team\u00a0manage astronaut candidate training schedules, including field medical exercises, land survival, and underwater operations at NASA\u2019s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston. She also develops and tests new training programs to keep crews\u00a0mission-ready.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Along with her role as a crew operations officer, Edwards works in the International Space Station Mission Control Center as a capsule communicator, or capcom, and instructor. As a capcom, she must be fluent in the language of the spacecraft and its operations to clearly relay\u00a0important information\u00a0to the crew, especially during dynamic operations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read on to learn about\u00a0Edwards\u2019\u00a0career with NASA and more!\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Erin Edwards serves as a capsule communicator, or capcom, in the International Space Station Mission Control Center in Houston.<\/div>\n
NASA\/James Blair<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Where are you from?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Port Moody, British Columbia,\u00a0Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How long have you been working for NASA?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve\u00a0been at NASA for two years. My term here with the military is three years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What was your path to NASA?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Super random!\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0a Canadian military pilot, previously working in the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command as\u00a0an aircraft\u00a0commander on the\u00a0CH-146\u00a0Griffon.\u00a0While we use a lot of space-based assets in aviation, the leap to human spaceflight was\u00a0unexpected.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

An opportunity for an officer to work in\u00a0the astronaut office\u00a0as a\u00a0capcom\u00a0arose a\u00a0few\u00a0years ago. As\u00a0a lifelong space nerd,\u00a0I figured\u00a0it\u00a0would be an amazing opportunity. I applied\u00a0and was interviewed,\u00a0and\u00a0before long,\u00a0was posted to\u00a0NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center\u00a0as the first Canadian non-astronaut to be posted as a\u00a0capcom\u00a0and later\u00a0as an\u00a0operations officer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How would you describe your job to family or friends that may not be familiar with NASA?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

My\u00a0team\u00a0and I organize the unassigned\u00a0crew\u00a0and\u00a0astronaut candidates\u2019\u00a0work lives! As a\u00a0capcom, I help translate what the engineers are saying in the flight control room\u00a0for the astronauts\u00a0aboard\u00a0the station,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0help with\u00a0the station\u00a0activities as call sign Houston.\u00a0More recently\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been assigned as the TH57 Helicopter Project Pilot at AOD to help get that fleet integrated for more lunar-focused Space Flight Readiness Training.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What advice would you give to young individuals aspiring to work in the space industry or at NASA?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Just go for it! You miss 100% of the shots you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0take, as Wayne Gretzky said. My background as a military helicopter pilot, Navy diver, and mining engineer may appear to have no relevance to NASA, but that diverse experience has turned out to be useful here as an operations officer for astronaut training. I\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0have known that if I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0thrown my hat in the ring. No matter your technical background,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0probably a\u00a0place for it in spaceflight. Your experience has unique ways of\u00a0benefiting\u00a0such complex, multifaceted programs like spaceflight\u2014so give it a shot!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is there a space figure\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0looked up to or someone that inspires you?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Spaceflight\u00a0isn’t\u00a0something we can do on our own, there\u00a0are\u00a0many integrated teams\u00a0comprised\u00a0of many\u00a0different types\u00a0of people all pulling together to make the impossible happen.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"Erin<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Erin Edwards<\/p>\n

Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Honestly, there\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0a single person, but I think what NASA and my own country\u2019s space program,\u00a0like others,\u00a0have committed themselves to as a giant team is what has inspired me over the years.\u00a0I think I\u00a0was inspired by that, the mission,\u00a0and the culture of a united effort of so many to do hard things.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What is your favorite NASA memory or the most meaningful project\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0worked on during your time with NASA?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are two! After only a few months at NASA, I was told by my soon-to-be boss, James \u2018Vegas\u2019 Kelly, that I was selected to take over NASA astronaut Jonny Kim\u2019s operations job. This was a huge vote of confidence for me as a new team member from Canada. The second was sending my first transmission to the station as a qualified capcom, which was incredibly cool. I am just a big nerd from a small town in Canada, and never in a million years did I think I would be at NASA at that console, so it was a little mind blowing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a><\/figure>
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Erin Edwards during diving operations at NASA\u2019s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in front of the Canadarm2 mock-up.<\/div>\n
NASA\/Tess Caswell<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What do you love sharing about station?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Everyone is playing their part to\u00a0accomplish\u00a0important science and experiments that we\u00a0can’t\u00a0do anywhere else.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"Erin<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Erin Edwards<\/p>\n

Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

People always seem surprised at how big the teams are that support the station and how collaborative of an effort it is. It stretches across disciplines, centers, and even countries. That information is critical for solving problems here on Earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

November 2, 2025, marked\u00a025 years of continuous human presence. What does this milestone mean to you?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

A quarter century of science and partnership aboard the orbital laboratory is a testament to what we can do as a global society when we really want to. To me personally, being able to be here with people who have worked\u00a0in space\u00a0or help train the people going next is such a full circle situation. I dreamed of working on a team like this, and it happened 20 years later. That opportunity to fulfill a dream and represent Canada as part of the ISS program means a lot to me!\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you could have dinner with any astronaut, past or present, who would it be?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

I was never able to meet Sally Ride. I think I would have loved to ask her some questions and hear her story in person.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do you have a favorite space-related memory or moment that stands out to you?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dr. Robert Thirsk, a Canadian astronaut, spoke to my elementary school in 1996, which he had attended years earlier. I was in sixth grade, and it was a formative interaction. Hearing him talk so passionately about his shuttle mission and life with his team aboard the orbiter was absolutely lifechanging. I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know how I was going to do it, but I decided then that I wanted to work in space. That set my course for life.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0likely never\u00a0get to space, but I got\u00a0pretty close, and it is really something to pursue a goal like that for so long and have it work out, almost\u00a0<\/p>\n

What are some of the key projects\u00a0you have\u00a0worked on during your time at NASA? What have been your favorite?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Being able to put my operational helicopter background to use in helping to build the helicopter flight program here has been a\u00a0really cool\u00a0and unexpected opportunity! I happened to be the right person at the right time with the right skill set to make a difference in that aspect of training.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0proud of that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Erin Edwards pictured in her role as a Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter pilot, where she built skills that she leverages in her work at NASA.<\/div>\n
Canadian Armed Forces\/Erin Edwards<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What are your hobbies\/things you enjoy doing outside of work?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m\u00a0in my forties,\u00a0but still really like playing contact rugby, which is such a fun sport. Between the tactics, teamwork, bashing into people on the pitch, and a cheeky beer after a game,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a great way\u00a0to spend a weekend. I run a lot and, when I can, climb\u00a0\u2013\u00a0any kind of climbing, sport, bouldering, trad, ice climbing. All of it!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Day launch or night launch?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Night launch!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Favorite\u00a0space movie?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Apollo 13. Obviously.\u00a0<\/p>\n

NASA Worm or Meatball logo?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meatball!\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The NASA Meatball logo<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NASA and its partners have supported humans continuously living and working in space since November 2000. After 25 years of continuous human presence, the space station\u00a0remains\u00a0a training and proving ground for\u00a0the future of commercial space stations,\u00a0deep space missions, enabling NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign, lunar exploration, and future Mars missions.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Every day,\u00a0we are\u00a0conducting exciting research aboard our orbiting laboratory that will help us explore\u00a0farther\u00a0into space and bring benefits back to people on Earth. You can keep up with the latest news, videos, and pictures about space station science on the\u00a0Station Research & Technology news page<\/a>.\u00a0It is\u00a0a curated hub of space station research digital media from Johnson and other centers and space agencies.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sign up for our weekly\u00a0email newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to get the updates delivered directly to you.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Follow updates on social media at\u00a0@Space_Station\u00a0on X, and on the\u00a0space\u00a0station accounts on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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As a member of the Crew Operations Office, Erin Edwards\u00a0and her\u00a0team\u00a0manage astronaut candidate training schedules, including field medical exercises, land survival, and underwater operations at NASA\u2019s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston. She also develops and tests new training programs to keep crews\u00a0mission-ready.\u00a0\u00a0 Along with her role as a crew operations officer, Edwards works in the [\u2026] Continue reading → <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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