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<\/a><\/figure>NASA has selected Jennifer Lyons as acting program manager for the agency\u2019s Launch Services Program (LSP) based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Lyons will lead NASA\u2019s acquisition and management of domestic commercial launch services for science and robotic exploration missions beginning Wednesday, April 1.<\/p>\n
Lyons will oversee mission planning, launch vehicle selection, spacecraft integration, launch processing, launch campaigns, and postlaunch activities. The program matches spacecraft with the most suitable commercial rockets and ensures mission requirements are met from early planning through launch and mission completion. It supports NASA missions that observe Earth, explore the solar system, and expand understanding of the universe.<\/p>\n
\u201cJenny brings the kind of flight-readiness discipline and mission-assurance expertise that have defined the program\u2019s 25\u2011year record of more than 100 successful flights across 15 commercial rocket types,\u201d said Bradley Smith, director of NASA\u2019s Launch Services Office at NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cIn addition to being the transportation cornerstone of NASA\u2019s science and robotic exploration missions, commercial launch is also critically important to NASA\u2019s Artemis architecture. Jenny\u2019s experience in having worked across many NASA projects \u2014 from space shuttle to the International Space Station, to Commercial Crew, and partnering with commercial providers \u2014 will enable LSP to continue bringing its core launch vehicle capabilities to bear, ensuring successful outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lyons brings nearly four decades of technical, operational, and program leadership experience to the role. She served as the launch services deputy program manager since March 2024 and previously was deputy manager for the Gateway Program\u2019s Deep Space Logistics project. She has worked with launch services for nearly 20 years and led the Fleet and Systems Management Division for more than a decade, overseeing NASA insight and approval activities related to launch vehicle readiness, certification, and mission assurance across a diverse fleet of commercial rockets.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am honored to take on this important role supporting NASA\u2019s science and exploration missions,\u201d said Lyons. \u201cI am confident our team will remain focused on delivering safe, reliable launch services while strengthening a healthy commercial market that enables discoveries across the solar system and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lyons has received numerous individual achievement, group, and leadership awards. She holds degrees in aerospace and ocean engineering, space technology, and engineering management. Her career includes a wide range of experiences, including serving as the first woman to act as NASA convoy commander for a space shuttle landing to chairing the source evaluation board for NASA Launch Services II, under which NASA has awarded multiple contracts that support many of the agency\u2019s high-priority missions.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>She succeeds Albert Sierra, who led the program since March 2024 and is retiring after 36 years of service with NASA. Sierra guided the program through five primary missions and numerous venture\u2011class launches that provided a steady cadence of flights for the agency. These missions ranged from major weather and Earth\u2011observing satellites to deep\u2011space probes, astrophysics and solar\u2011monitoring observatories, and many CubeSats.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeading LSP has been one of the greatest privileges of my career, especially knowing the missions we\u2019ve launched will fuel discovery for years to come,\u201d said Sierra. \u201cWhile it\u2019s never easy to step away, I\u2019m confident the program will continue its strong record of mission success under Jenny\u2019s leadership.\u201d<\/s><\/p>\n
Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> NASA has selected Jennifer Lyons as acting program manager for the agency\u2019s Launch Services Program (LSP) based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Lyons will lead NASA\u2019s acquisition and management of domestic commercial launch services for science and robotic exploration missions beginning Wednesday, April 1. Lyons will oversee mission planning, launch vehicle [\u2026] Continue reading
\nLeejay Lockhart <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"