\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Marshall Star for January 17, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ss433-notext.jpg?w=1536\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\u2018Be King\u2019: Team Redstone Invites All to Honor Civil Rights Icon\u2019s Legacy<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Jessica Barnett<\/em><\/p>\nSeveral accomplished speakers took to the stage Jan. 11 at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center to share how Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s life and legacy helped shape their lives.<\/p>\n
The event was hosted by Marshall\u2019s ODEO (Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity), along with the FBI and U.S. Army, in the center\u2019s Activities Building 4316 as a way of honoring King, a minister and activist from Atlanta who rose to national prominence as a key figure in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. King would have been 95 on Jan. 15.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Several](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ar06030.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nSeveral guest speakers took to the stage Jan. 11 at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center to share how Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s life and legacy impacted them personally, as well as how others can continue his legacy by being like King today. Pictured here, from left, are Tora Henry, director of Marshall\u2019s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity; Kenny Anderson, director of Huntsville City\u2019s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Jacquelyn Gates Shipe, CEO of Global Ties Alabama; Darell Ezell, social scientist, professor, administrator, and corporate strategist; Bryan Samuel, vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Alabama in Huntsville; and Larry Leopard, associate center director, technical, at Marshall. <\/div>\nNASA\/Alex Russell<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMarshall ODEO Deputy Director Carolyn Magsby and Associate Center Director-Technical Larry Leopard kicked off the event before welcoming Kenny Anderson, Huntsville City\u2019s director of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.<\/p>\n
Though the theme for the event was \u201cIt Starts with Me,\u201d Anderson helped set the tone by encouraging everyone to honor King by \u201cbeing King\u201d and choosing peace, compassion, and education over violence, criticism, and ignorance.<\/p>\n
Following Anderson\u2019s remarks, Bill Marks, who serves as deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Office of Center Operations, moderated a panel featuring Darrell Ezell, a social scientist, administrator, professor, and corporate strategist; Jacquelyn Gates Shipe, CEO of Global Ties Alabama; and Bryan Samuel, vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Kenny](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ar05982.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nKenny Anderson, director of Huntsville City\u2019s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, speaks about Martin Luther King Jr. during an Jan. 11 event honoring King\u2019s life and legacy ahead of what would have been the civil rights icon\u2019s 95th birthday. Joining Anderson on stage are, from left, Global Ties CEO Jacquelyn Gates Shipe; social scientist and professor Darell Ezell; and Bryan Samuel, vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/div>\nNASA\/Alex Russell<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe panelists each shared King\u2019s impact on their personal lives, from school desegregation to interactions with foreign visitors to how they work to highlight and overcome injustice in their community. They also discussed the impacts of social media, cross-cultural connections, and access to education on the injustices faced by minority communities.<\/p>\n
Marshall ODEO Director Tora Henry said she looks forward to the event inspiring courageous conversations throughout 2024.<\/p>\n
Barnett,<\/em> a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNational Mentor Month: Navigating Mentorship with Michoud\u2019s Cynthia Spraul and Marie Allain<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Celine Smith<\/em><\/p>\nAs a mentor at NASA\u2019s MAF (Michoud Assembly Facility), Cynthia Spraul says her goal is the success of her mentee, Marie Allain.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels really good to pass on my experience to somebody who can get there faster and go beyond,\u201d Spraul said.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Mentor](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/christmas-party-2022-cropped.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>\nMentor and Michoud Assembly Facility integrations lead Cynthia Spraul, left, smiles with mentee, Marie Allain, project coordinator, at a holiday party in 2022. <\/div>\nNASA\/Courtesy of Marie Allain<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor some, a mentorship may seem daunting. A mentee looking for a mentor in a new environment can find it difficult to find someone they trust to guide their career and personal growth. Meanwhile, mentors may feel discouraged, thinking they might not have enough knowledge to be in their role.<\/p>\n
Hoping their experience can help others during National Mentor Month, Spraul and Allain shared their insight about finding and starting a mentorship.<\/p>\n
Spraul worked for Lockheed Martin at Michoud on the Space Shuttle Program\u2019s External Tank for 20 years. For the past 17 years, she has worked for NASA at Michoud, where she is currently the integrations lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI work on strategic site management, resource management, and contract management,\u201d Spraul said.<\/p>\n
Allain graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering from LSU (Louisiana State University) in 2021. \u201cI got involved with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics at LSU, an aerospace professional society, which is how I really got into aerospace,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Allain now works as a project coordinator on Spraul\u2019s integrations team. She performs project management in the Michoud Directorate and contract administration along with Component Processing Facility management.<\/p>\n
Spraul was asked to coordinate the summer internship program at Michoud, which is how she got started as a mentor. Spraul was the program\u2019s first mentor at MAF. So, when Allain approached her requesting mentorship, she gladly took her on.<\/p>\n
Question: <\/strong>What does mentorship mean to you?<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>Seeing someone\u2019s interest in what you do, like Marie taking an interest in my past experience, reinvigorates my love for my job and my desire to work. Mentoring makes work fun for me again. I might be doing the same things, but since I\u2019m teaching somebody while I\u2019m doing it, I get to listen to myself when I talk. It makes me go, \u2018Oh, wow, I really get to do this.\u2019 I get excited about my work all over again.<\/p>\nAllain: <\/strong>My mentor makes me feel like I\u2019m starting my career with the insight a person at the peak of their career wishes they had when they started. This mentorship gives me an opportunity to start on the right foot. I get to start out with tools that will help me later down the line. It gives me the opportunity to glean a lot of insight from people who have been at Michoud for a long time. They know the history of the place firsthand. A lot of people in this office are getting near retirement, and before too long, we\u2019re going to have a lot of information, a lot of our history, that\u2019s lost. I get the opportunity to retain some of that history from somebody who experienced it firsthand.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>What impact has mentorship had on you and your career?<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>Someone having an interest in what I\u2019m doing is a catalyst for me and my own career growth. The more I get reinterested in what I\u2019m doing, the more I ask myself, \u2018What\u2019s my next step and how do I get there?\u2019 Especially because Allain\u2019s watching me. It\u2019s always better to perform when someone\u2019s watching you. There\u2019s a reason to do better and grow because young people are watching. I also tend to turn my focus on the coming generations, because they\u2019re going to be here when I\u2019m gone.<\/p>\nAllain: <\/strong>Before going into this mentorship, I struggled visualizing what my career could look like. Especially coming right out of college, nobody knows what jobs actually exist. Spraul knows what our organization is and what exists in it, and what it\u2019s like to work in different roles in the organization. The kind of insight she provided completely changed how I feel about my career. I have an actual vision of where I\u2019m headed. Beforehand, I felt I was somewhat free floating in space.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>How did you find and connect with your mentor\/mentee?<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>After mentoring college interns over the years, I\u2019m always excited when I learn something new from them. When Marie came to me requesting mentorship, she had already taught me so many things that I thought it was a great idea to expand our dialogue.<\/p>\nAllain: <\/strong>It was natural for us.After the first few months of working together on projects, we would have lunch together. We\u2019d spend some time together and talk. I started to realize she and I have a lot in common.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>What steps did you take to approach your mentor\/mentee to initiate the partnership?<\/p>\nAllain:<\/strong> I started asking her for insight about her experience and her career. The mentorship relationship developed from there. It started with discussions during lunch and developed into conversations about everything from work stories to life experience.<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>Allain asked introspective questions that would lead us on a good tangent while we worked together as well. We also started staying after work so I could have longer conversations with Allain about a path for her future.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>What advice do you have for someone else considering finding or being a mentor?<\/p>\nAllain:<\/strong> For mentees, find somebody you look up to in your organization and just ask. Most potential mentors see it as a huge compliment. The worst thing that can happen is being told no. I think most people at NASA would say yes. Don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re putting somebody out by asking them to mentor you. Also, don\u2019t sit around assuming mentors are going to come to you.<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>I would suggest that mentees observe other people above them. Mentees should watch how potential mentors conduct themselves to see who they would like to model themselves after. For mentors, a lot of work goes into being mentor. It\u2019s more than showing up. Be prepared by knowing what you\u2019re going to have your mentee do and try. Being a mentor does take some work, but you receive tenfold in your own career and the enjoyment of your day. Don\u2019t be afraid is my best advice. Even showing up is valuable to the mentee. You\u2019ll get results from anything else you put into it.<\/p>\nEditor\u2019s note: This is the first in a Marshall Star series during National Mentor Month in January. Marshall team members can learn more about the benefits of mentoring on Inside Marshall.<\/em><\/p>\nSmith, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNASA Shares Progress Toward Early Artemis Moon Missions with Crew<\/strong><\/h2>\nNASA announced Jan. 9 updates to its Artemis campaign that will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all. To safely carry out these missions, agency leaders are adjusting the schedules for Artemis II and Artemis III to allow teams to work through challenges associated with first-time developments, operations, and integration.<\/p>\n
NASA will now target September 2025 for\u00a0Artemis II<\/a>, the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon, and September 2026 for\u00a0Artemis III<\/a>, which is planned to land the first astronauts near the lunar South Pole. Artemis IV, the first mission to the\u00a0Gateway<\/a>\u00a0lunar space station, remains on track for 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/ksc-20230920-ph-kls01-0126large.jpg?w=1920\")
<\/figure>\nFrom left, Artemis II crew members CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman walk out of Astronaut Crew Quarters inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to the Artemis crew transportation vehicles prior to traveling to Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 20, to test the crew timeline for launch day.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cWe are returning to the Moon in a way we never have before, and the safety of our astronauts is NASA\u2019s top priority as we prepare for future Artemis missions,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. \u201cWe\u2019ve learned a lot since Artemis I, and the success of these early missions relies on our commercial and international partnerships to further our reach and understanding of humanity\u2019s place in our solar system. Artemis represents what we can accomplish as a nation \u2013 and as a global coalition. When we set our sights on what is hard, together, we can achieve what is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ensuring crew safety is the primary driver for the Artemis II schedule changes. As the first Artemis flight test with crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, the mission will test critical environmental control and life support systems required to support astronauts. NASA\u2019s testing to qualify components to keep the crew safe and ensure mission success has uncovered issues that require additional time to resolve. Teams are troubleshooting a battery issue and addressing challenges with a circuitry component responsible for air ventilation and temperature control.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s investigation into unexpected loss of char layer pieces from the spacecraft\u2019s\u00a0heat shield\u00a0<\/a>during Artemis I is expected to conclude this spring. Teams have taken a methodical approach to understand the issue, including extensive sampling of the heat shield, testing, and review of data from sensors and imagery.<\/p>\nThe new timeline for Artemis III aligns with the updated schedule for Artemis II, ensures the agency can incorporate lessons learned from Artemis II into the next mission, and acknowledges development challenges experienced by NASA\u2019s industry partners. As each crewed Artemis mission increases complexity and adds flight tests for new systems, the adjusted schedule will give the providers developing new\u00a0capabilities\u00a0\u2013 SpaceX for the HLS (human landing system) and Axiom Space for the next-generation spacesuits \u2013 additional time for testing and any refinements ahead of the mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are letting the hardware talk to us so that crew safety drives our decision-making. We will use the Artemis II flight test, and each flight that follows, to reduce risk for future Moon missions,\u201d said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. \u201cWe are resolving challenges associated with first-time capabilities and operations, and we are closer than ever to establishing sustained exploration of Earth\u2019s nearest neighbor under Artemis.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the schedule updates for Artemis II and III, NASA is reviewing the schedule for launching the first integrated elements of Gateway, previously planned for October 2025, to provide additional development time and better align that launch with the Artemis IV mission in 2028.<\/p>\n
NASA also shared that it has asked both Artemis human landing system providers\u00a0\u2013\u00a0SpaceX and Blue Origin \u2013 to begin applying knowledge gained in developing their systems as part of their existing contracts toward future variations to potentially deliver large cargo on later missions.<\/p>\n
\u201cArtemis is a long-term exploration campaign to conduct science at the Moon with astronauts and prepare for future human missions to Mars. That means we must get it right as we develop and fly our foundational systems so that we can safely carry out these missions,\u201d said Amit Kshatriya, deputy associate administrator of Exploration Systems Development, and manager of NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars Program Office at headquarters. \u201cCrew safety is and will remain our number one priority.\u201d<\/p>\n
NASA leaders emphasized the importance of all partners delivering on time so the agency can maximize the flight objectives with available hardware on a given mission. NASA regularly assesses progress and timelines and as a part of integrated programmatic planning to ensure the agency and its partners can successfully accomplish its Moon to Mars exploration goals.<\/p>\n
With Artemis, NASA will explore more of the Moon than ever before, learn how to live and work away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of the Red Planet. NASA\u2019s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, exploration ground systems, and Orion spacecraft, along with the human landing system, next-generation spacesuits, Gateway lunar space station, and future rovers are NASA\u2019s foundation for deep space exploration.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS and HLS programs. NASA\u2019s Michoud Assembly Facility, which is managed by Marshall, manufactures several Artemis components, including the SLS core stage.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\u2018Be King\u2019: Team Redstone Invites All to Honor Civil Rights Icon\u2019s Legacy<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Jessica Barnett<\/em><\/p>\nSeveral accomplished speakers took to the stage Jan. 11 at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center to share how Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s life and legacy helped shape their lives.<\/p>\n
The event was hosted by Marshall\u2019s ODEO (Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity), along with the FBI and U.S. Army, in the center\u2019s Activities Building 4316 as a way of honoring King, a minister and activist from Atlanta who rose to national prominence as a key figure in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. King would have been 95 on Jan. 15.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nSeveral guest speakers took to the stage Jan. 11 at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center to share how Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s life and legacy impacted them personally, as well as how others can continue his legacy by being like King today. Pictured here, from left, are Tora Henry, director of Marshall\u2019s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity; Kenny Anderson, director of Huntsville City\u2019s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Jacquelyn Gates Shipe, CEO of Global Ties Alabama; Darell Ezell, social scientist, professor, administrator, and corporate strategist; Bryan Samuel, vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Alabama in Huntsville; and Larry Leopard, associate center director, technical, at Marshall. <\/div>\nNASA\/Alex Russell<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMarshall ODEO Deputy Director Carolyn Magsby and Associate Center Director-Technical Larry Leopard kicked off the event before welcoming Kenny Anderson, Huntsville City\u2019s director of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.<\/p>\n
Though the theme for the event was \u201cIt Starts with Me,\u201d Anderson helped set the tone by encouraging everyone to honor King by \u201cbeing King\u201d and choosing peace, compassion, and education over violence, criticism, and ignorance.<\/p>\n
Following Anderson\u2019s remarks, Bill Marks, who serves as deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Office of Center Operations, moderated a panel featuring Darrell Ezell, a social scientist, administrator, professor, and corporate strategist; Jacquelyn Gates Shipe, CEO of Global Ties Alabama; and Bryan Samuel, vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nKenny Anderson, director of Huntsville City\u2019s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, speaks about Martin Luther King Jr. during an Jan. 11 event honoring King\u2019s life and legacy ahead of what would have been the civil rights icon\u2019s 95th birthday. Joining Anderson on stage are, from left, Global Ties CEO Jacquelyn Gates Shipe; social scientist and professor Darell Ezell; and Bryan Samuel, vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.<\/div>\nNASA\/Alex Russell<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe panelists each shared King\u2019s impact on their personal lives, from school desegregation to interactions with foreign visitors to how they work to highlight and overcome injustice in their community. They also discussed the impacts of social media, cross-cultural connections, and access to education on the injustices faced by minority communities.<\/p>\n
Marshall ODEO Director Tora Henry said she looks forward to the event inspiring courageous conversations throughout 2024.<\/p>\n
Barnett,<\/em> a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNational Mentor Month: Navigating Mentorship with Michoud\u2019s Cynthia Spraul and Marie Allain<\/strong><\/h2>\nBy Celine Smith<\/em><\/p>\nAs a mentor at NASA\u2019s MAF (Michoud Assembly Facility), Cynthia Spraul says her goal is the success of her mentee, Marie Allain.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels really good to pass on my experience to somebody who can get there faster and go beyond,\u201d Spraul said.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/figure>\nMentor and Michoud Assembly Facility integrations lead Cynthia Spraul, left, smiles with mentee, Marie Allain, project coordinator, at a holiday party in 2022. <\/div>\nNASA\/Courtesy of Marie Allain<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor some, a mentorship may seem daunting. A mentee looking for a mentor in a new environment can find it difficult to find someone they trust to guide their career and personal growth. Meanwhile, mentors may feel discouraged, thinking they might not have enough knowledge to be in their role.<\/p>\n
Hoping their experience can help others during National Mentor Month, Spraul and Allain shared their insight about finding and starting a mentorship.<\/p>\n
Spraul worked for Lockheed Martin at Michoud on the Space Shuttle Program\u2019s External Tank for 20 years. For the past 17 years, she has worked for NASA at Michoud, where she is currently the integrations lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI work on strategic site management, resource management, and contract management,\u201d Spraul said.<\/p>\n
Allain graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering from LSU (Louisiana State University) in 2021. \u201cI got involved with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics at LSU, an aerospace professional society, which is how I really got into aerospace,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Allain now works as a project coordinator on Spraul\u2019s integrations team. She performs project management in the Michoud Directorate and contract administration along with Component Processing Facility management.<\/p>\n
Spraul was asked to coordinate the summer internship program at Michoud, which is how she got started as a mentor. Spraul was the program\u2019s first mentor at MAF. So, when Allain approached her requesting mentorship, she gladly took her on.<\/p>\n
Question: <\/strong>What does mentorship mean to you?<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>Seeing someone\u2019s interest in what you do, like Marie taking an interest in my past experience, reinvigorates my love for my job and my desire to work. Mentoring makes work fun for me again. I might be doing the same things, but since I\u2019m teaching somebody while I\u2019m doing it, I get to listen to myself when I talk. It makes me go, \u2018Oh, wow, I really get to do this.\u2019 I get excited about my work all over again.<\/p>\nAllain: <\/strong>My mentor makes me feel like I\u2019m starting my career with the insight a person at the peak of their career wishes they had when they started. This mentorship gives me an opportunity to start on the right foot. I get to start out with tools that will help me later down the line. It gives me the opportunity to glean a lot of insight from people who have been at Michoud for a long time. They know the history of the place firsthand. A lot of people in this office are getting near retirement, and before too long, we\u2019re going to have a lot of information, a lot of our history, that\u2019s lost. I get the opportunity to retain some of that history from somebody who experienced it firsthand.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>What impact has mentorship had on you and your career?<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>Someone having an interest in what I\u2019m doing is a catalyst for me and my own career growth. The more I get reinterested in what I\u2019m doing, the more I ask myself, \u2018What\u2019s my next step and how do I get there?\u2019 Especially because Allain\u2019s watching me. It\u2019s always better to perform when someone\u2019s watching you. There\u2019s a reason to do better and grow because young people are watching. I also tend to turn my focus on the coming generations, because they\u2019re going to be here when I\u2019m gone.<\/p>\nAllain: <\/strong>Before going into this mentorship, I struggled visualizing what my career could look like. Especially coming right out of college, nobody knows what jobs actually exist. Spraul knows what our organization is and what exists in it, and what it\u2019s like to work in different roles in the organization. The kind of insight she provided completely changed how I feel about my career. I have an actual vision of where I\u2019m headed. Beforehand, I felt I was somewhat free floating in space.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>How did you find and connect with your mentor\/mentee?<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>After mentoring college interns over the years, I\u2019m always excited when I learn something new from them. When Marie came to me requesting mentorship, she had already taught me so many things that I thought it was a great idea to expand our dialogue.<\/p>\nAllain: <\/strong>It was natural for us.After the first few months of working together on projects, we would have lunch together. We\u2019d spend some time together and talk. I started to realize she and I have a lot in common.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>What steps did you take to approach your mentor\/mentee to initiate the partnership?<\/p>\nAllain:<\/strong> I started asking her for insight about her experience and her career. The mentorship relationship developed from there. It started with discussions during lunch and developed into conversations about everything from work stories to life experience.<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>Allain asked introspective questions that would lead us on a good tangent while we worked together as well. We also started staying after work so I could have longer conversations with Allain about a path for her future.<\/p>\nQuestion: <\/strong>What advice do you have for someone else considering finding or being a mentor?<\/p>\nAllain:<\/strong> For mentees, find somebody you look up to in your organization and just ask. Most potential mentors see it as a huge compliment. The worst thing that can happen is being told no. I think most people at NASA would say yes. Don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re putting somebody out by asking them to mentor you. Also, don\u2019t sit around assuming mentors are going to come to you.<\/p>\nSpraul: <\/strong>I would suggest that mentees observe other people above them. Mentees should watch how potential mentors conduct themselves to see who they would like to model themselves after. For mentors, a lot of work goes into being mentor. It\u2019s more than showing up. Be prepared by knowing what you\u2019re going to have your mentee do and try. Being a mentor does take some work, but you receive tenfold in your own career and the enjoyment of your day. Don\u2019t be afraid is my best advice. Even showing up is valuable to the mentee. You\u2019ll get results from anything else you put into it.<\/p>\nEditor\u2019s note: This is the first in a Marshall Star series during National Mentor Month in January. Marshall team members can learn more about the benefits of mentoring on Inside Marshall.<\/em><\/p>\nSmith, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n\u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nNASA Shares Progress Toward Early Artemis Moon Missions with Crew<\/strong><\/h2>\nNASA announced Jan. 9 updates to its Artemis campaign that will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all. To safely carry out these missions, agency leaders are adjusting the schedules for Artemis II and Artemis III to allow teams to work through challenges associated with first-time developments, operations, and integration.<\/p>\n
NASA will now target September 2025 for\u00a0Artemis II<\/a>, the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon, and September 2026 for\u00a0Artemis III<\/a>, which is planned to land the first astronauts near the lunar South Pole. Artemis IV, the first mission to the\u00a0Gateway<\/a>\u00a0lunar space station, remains on track for 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nFrom left, Artemis II crew members CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman walk out of Astronaut Crew Quarters inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building to the Artemis crew transportation vehicles prior to traveling to Launch Pad 39B as part of an integrated ground systems test at Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 20, to test the crew timeline for launch day.<\/div>\nNASA<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cWe are returning to the Moon in a way we never have before, and the safety of our astronauts is NASA\u2019s top priority as we prepare for future Artemis missions,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. \u201cWe\u2019ve learned a lot since Artemis I, and the success of these early missions relies on our commercial and international partnerships to further our reach and understanding of humanity\u2019s place in our solar system. Artemis represents what we can accomplish as a nation \u2013 and as a global coalition. When we set our sights on what is hard, together, we can achieve what is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ensuring crew safety is the primary driver for the Artemis II schedule changes. As the first Artemis flight test with crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, the mission will test critical environmental control and life support systems required to support astronauts. NASA\u2019s testing to qualify components to keep the crew safe and ensure mission success has uncovered issues that require additional time to resolve. Teams are troubleshooting a battery issue and addressing challenges with a circuitry component responsible for air ventilation and temperature control.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s investigation into unexpected loss of char layer pieces from the spacecraft\u2019s\u00a0heat shield\u00a0<\/a>during Artemis I is expected to conclude this spring. Teams have taken a methodical approach to understand the issue, including extensive sampling of the heat shield, testing, and review of data from sensors and imagery.<\/p>\nThe new timeline for Artemis III aligns with the updated schedule for Artemis II, ensures the agency can incorporate lessons learned from Artemis II into the next mission, and acknowledges development challenges experienced by NASA\u2019s industry partners. As each crewed Artemis mission increases complexity and adds flight tests for new systems, the adjusted schedule will give the providers developing new\u00a0capabilities\u00a0\u2013 SpaceX for the HLS (human landing system) and Axiom Space for the next-generation spacesuits \u2013 additional time for testing and any refinements ahead of the mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are letting the hardware talk to us so that crew safety drives our decision-making. We will use the Artemis II flight test, and each flight that follows, to reduce risk for future Moon missions,\u201d said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. \u201cWe are resolving challenges associated with first-time capabilities and operations, and we are closer than ever to establishing sustained exploration of Earth\u2019s nearest neighbor under Artemis.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the schedule updates for Artemis II and III, NASA is reviewing the schedule for launching the first integrated elements of Gateway, previously planned for October 2025, to provide additional development time and better align that launch with the Artemis IV mission in 2028.<\/p>\n
NASA also shared that it has asked both Artemis human landing system providers\u00a0\u2013\u00a0SpaceX and Blue Origin \u2013 to begin applying knowledge gained in developing their systems as part of their existing contracts toward future variations to potentially deliver large cargo on later missions.<\/p>\n
\u201cArtemis is a long-term exploration campaign to conduct science at the Moon with astronauts and prepare for future human missions to Mars. That means we must get it right as we develop and fly our foundational systems so that we can safely carry out these missions,\u201d said Amit Kshatriya, deputy associate administrator of Exploration Systems Development, and manager of NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars Program Office at headquarters. \u201cCrew safety is and will remain our number one priority.\u201d<\/p>\n
NASA leaders emphasized the importance of all partners delivering on time so the agency can maximize the flight objectives with available hardware on a given mission. NASA regularly assesses progress and timelines and as a part of integrated programmatic planning to ensure the agency and its partners can successfully accomplish its Moon to Mars exploration goals.<\/p>\n
With Artemis, NASA will explore more of the Moon than ever before, learn how to live and work away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of the Red Planet. NASA\u2019s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, exploration ground systems, and Orion spacecraft, along with the human landing system, next-generation spacesuits, Gateway lunar space station, and future rovers are NASA\u2019s foundation for deep space exploration.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS and HLS programs. NASA\u2019s Michoud Assembly Facility, which is managed by Marshall, manufactures several Artemis components, including the SLS core stage.<\/p>\n
Several accomplished speakers took to the stage Jan. 11 at NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center to share how Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s life and legacy helped shape their lives.<\/p>\n
The event was hosted by Marshall\u2019s ODEO (Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity), along with the FBI and U.S. Army, in the center\u2019s Activities Building 4316 as a way of honoring King, a minister and activist from Atlanta who rose to national prominence as a key figure in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. King would have been 95 on Jan. 15.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>Marshall ODEO Deputy Director Carolyn Magsby and Associate Center Director-Technical Larry Leopard kicked off the event before welcoming Kenny Anderson, Huntsville City\u2019s director of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.<\/p>\n
Though the theme for the event was \u201cIt Starts with Me,\u201d Anderson helped set the tone by encouraging everyone to honor King by \u201cbeing King\u201d and choosing peace, compassion, and education over violence, criticism, and ignorance.<\/p>\n
Following Anderson\u2019s remarks, Bill Marks, who serves as deputy director of Marshall\u2019s Office of Center Operations, moderated a panel featuring Darrell Ezell, a social scientist, administrator, professor, and corporate strategist; Jacquelyn Gates Shipe, CEO of Global Ties Alabama; and Bryan Samuel, vice president of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>The panelists each shared King\u2019s impact on their personal lives, from school desegregation to interactions with foreign visitors to how they work to highlight and overcome injustice in their community. They also discussed the impacts of social media, cross-cultural connections, and access to education on the injustices faced by minority communities.<\/p>\n
Marshall ODEO Director Tora Henry said she looks forward to the event inspiring courageous conversations throughout 2024.<\/p>\n
Barnett,<\/em> a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n By Celine Smith<\/em><\/p>\n As a mentor at NASA\u2019s MAF (Michoud Assembly Facility), Cynthia Spraul says her goal is the success of her mentee, Marie Allain.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels really good to pass on my experience to somebody who can get there faster and go beyond,\u201d Spraul said.<\/p>\n For some, a mentorship may seem daunting. A mentee looking for a mentor in a new environment can find it difficult to find someone they trust to guide their career and personal growth. Meanwhile, mentors may feel discouraged, thinking they might not have enough knowledge to be in their role.<\/p>\n Hoping their experience can help others during National Mentor Month, Spraul and Allain shared their insight about finding and starting a mentorship.<\/p>\n Spraul worked for Lockheed Martin at Michoud on the Space Shuttle Program\u2019s External Tank for 20 years. For the past 17 years, she has worked for NASA at Michoud, where she is currently the integrations lead.<\/p>\n \u201cI work on strategic site management, resource management, and contract management,\u201d Spraul said.<\/p>\n Allain graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering from LSU (Louisiana State University) in 2021. \u201cI got involved with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics at LSU, an aerospace professional society, which is how I really got into aerospace,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Allain now works as a project coordinator on Spraul\u2019s integrations team. She performs project management in the Michoud Directorate and contract administration along with Component Processing Facility management.<\/p>\n Spraul was asked to coordinate the summer internship program at Michoud, which is how she got started as a mentor. Spraul was the program\u2019s first mentor at MAF. So, when Allain approached her requesting mentorship, she gladly took her on.<\/p>\n Question: <\/strong>What does mentorship mean to you?<\/p>\n Spraul: <\/strong>Seeing someone\u2019s interest in what you do, like Marie taking an interest in my past experience, reinvigorates my love for my job and my desire to work. Mentoring makes work fun for me again. I might be doing the same things, but since I\u2019m teaching somebody while I\u2019m doing it, I get to listen to myself when I talk. It makes me go, \u2018Oh, wow, I really get to do this.\u2019 I get excited about my work all over again.<\/p>\n Allain: <\/strong>My mentor makes me feel like I\u2019m starting my career with the insight a person at the peak of their career wishes they had when they started. This mentorship gives me an opportunity to start on the right foot. I get to start out with tools that will help me later down the line. It gives me the opportunity to glean a lot of insight from people who have been at Michoud for a long time. They know the history of the place firsthand. A lot of people in this office are getting near retirement, and before too long, we\u2019re going to have a lot of information, a lot of our history, that\u2019s lost. I get the opportunity to retain some of that history from somebody who experienced it firsthand.<\/p>\n Question: <\/strong>What impact has mentorship had on you and your career?<\/p>\n Spraul: <\/strong>Someone having an interest in what I\u2019m doing is a catalyst for me and my own career growth. The more I get reinterested in what I\u2019m doing, the more I ask myself, \u2018What\u2019s my next step and how do I get there?\u2019 Especially because Allain\u2019s watching me. It\u2019s always better to perform when someone\u2019s watching you. There\u2019s a reason to do better and grow because young people are watching. I also tend to turn my focus on the coming generations, because they\u2019re going to be here when I\u2019m gone.<\/p>\n Allain: <\/strong>Before going into this mentorship, I struggled visualizing what my career could look like. Especially coming right out of college, nobody knows what jobs actually exist. Spraul knows what our organization is and what exists in it, and what it\u2019s like to work in different roles in the organization. The kind of insight she provided completely changed how I feel about my career. I have an actual vision of where I\u2019m headed. Beforehand, I felt I was somewhat free floating in space.<\/p>\n Question: <\/strong>How did you find and connect with your mentor\/mentee?<\/p>\n Spraul: <\/strong>After mentoring college interns over the years, I\u2019m always excited when I learn something new from them. When Marie came to me requesting mentorship, she had already taught me so many things that I thought it was a great idea to expand our dialogue.<\/p>\n Allain: <\/strong>It was natural for us.After the first few months of working together on projects, we would have lunch together. We\u2019d spend some time together and talk. I started to realize she and I have a lot in common.<\/p>\n Question: <\/strong>What steps did you take to approach your mentor\/mentee to initiate the partnership?<\/p>\n Allain:<\/strong> I started asking her for insight about her experience and her career. The mentorship relationship developed from there. It started with discussions during lunch and developed into conversations about everything from work stories to life experience.<\/p>\n Spraul: <\/strong>Allain asked introspective questions that would lead us on a good tangent while we worked together as well. We also started staying after work so I could have longer conversations with Allain about a path for her future.<\/p>\n Question: <\/strong>What advice do you have for someone else considering finding or being a mentor?<\/p>\n Allain:<\/strong> For mentees, find somebody you look up to in your organization and just ask. Most potential mentors see it as a huge compliment. The worst thing that can happen is being told no. I think most people at NASA would say yes. Don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re putting somebody out by asking them to mentor you. Also, don\u2019t sit around assuming mentors are going to come to you.<\/p>\n Spraul: <\/strong>I would suggest that mentees observe other people above them. Mentees should watch how potential mentors conduct themselves to see who they would like to model themselves after. For mentors, a lot of work goes into being mentor. It\u2019s more than showing up. Be prepared by knowing what you\u2019re going to have your mentee do and try. Being a mentor does take some work, but you receive tenfold in your own career and the enjoyment of your day. Don\u2019t be afraid is my best advice. Even showing up is valuable to the mentee. You\u2019ll get results from anything else you put into it.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: This is the first in a Marshall Star series during National Mentor Month in January. Marshall team members can learn more about the benefits of mentoring on Inside Marshall.<\/em><\/p>\n Smith, a Media Fusion employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.<\/em><\/p>\n \u203a Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n NASA announced Jan. 9 updates to its Artemis campaign that will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all. To safely carry out these missions, agency leaders are adjusting the schedules for Artemis II and Artemis III to allow teams to work through challenges associated with first-time developments, operations, and integration.<\/p>\n NASA will now target September 2025 for\u00a0Artemis II<\/a>, the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon, and September 2026 for\u00a0Artemis III<\/a>, which is planned to land the first astronauts near the lunar South Pole. Artemis IV, the first mission to the\u00a0Gateway<\/a>\u00a0lunar space station, remains on track for 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are returning to the Moon in a way we never have before, and the safety of our astronauts is NASA\u2019s top priority as we prepare for future Artemis missions,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. \u201cWe\u2019ve learned a lot since Artemis I, and the success of these early missions relies on our commercial and international partnerships to further our reach and understanding of humanity\u2019s place in our solar system. Artemis represents what we can accomplish as a nation \u2013 and as a global coalition. When we set our sights on what is hard, together, we can achieve what is great.\u201d<\/p>\n Ensuring crew safety is the primary driver for the Artemis II schedule changes. As the first Artemis flight test with crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, the mission will test critical environmental control and life support systems required to support astronauts. NASA\u2019s testing to qualify components to keep the crew safe and ensure mission success has uncovered issues that require additional time to resolve. Teams are troubleshooting a battery issue and addressing challenges with a circuitry component responsible for air ventilation and temperature control.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s investigation into unexpected loss of char layer pieces from the spacecraft\u2019s\u00a0heat shield\u00a0<\/a>during Artemis I is expected to conclude this spring. Teams have taken a methodical approach to understand the issue, including extensive sampling of the heat shield, testing, and review of data from sensors and imagery.<\/p>\n The new timeline for Artemis III aligns with the updated schedule for Artemis II, ensures the agency can incorporate lessons learned from Artemis II into the next mission, and acknowledges development challenges experienced by NASA\u2019s industry partners. As each crewed Artemis mission increases complexity and adds flight tests for new systems, the adjusted schedule will give the providers developing new\u00a0capabilities\u00a0\u2013 SpaceX for the HLS (human landing system) and Axiom Space for the next-generation spacesuits \u2013 additional time for testing and any refinements ahead of the mission.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are letting the hardware talk to us so that crew safety drives our decision-making. We will use the Artemis II flight test, and each flight that follows, to reduce risk for future Moon missions,\u201d said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. \u201cWe are resolving challenges associated with first-time capabilities and operations, and we are closer than ever to establishing sustained exploration of Earth\u2019s nearest neighbor under Artemis.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the schedule updates for Artemis II and III, NASA is reviewing the schedule for launching the first integrated elements of Gateway, previously planned for October 2025, to provide additional development time and better align that launch with the Artemis IV mission in 2028.<\/p>\n NASA also shared that it has asked both Artemis human landing system providers\u00a0\u2013\u00a0SpaceX and Blue Origin \u2013 to begin applying knowledge gained in developing their systems as part of their existing contracts toward future variations to potentially deliver large cargo on later missions.<\/p>\n \u201cArtemis is a long-term exploration campaign to conduct science at the Moon with astronauts and prepare for future human missions to Mars. That means we must get it right as we develop and fly our foundational systems so that we can safely carry out these missions,\u201d said Amit Kshatriya, deputy associate administrator of Exploration Systems Development, and manager of NASA\u2019s Moon to Mars Program Office at headquarters. \u201cCrew safety is and will remain our number one priority.\u201d<\/p>\n NASA leaders emphasized the importance of all partners delivering on time so the agency can maximize the flight objectives with available hardware on a given mission. NASA regularly assesses progress and timelines and as a part of integrated programmatic planning to ensure the agency and its partners can successfully accomplish its Moon to Mars exploration goals.<\/p>\n With Artemis, NASA will explore more of the Moon than ever before, learn how to live and work away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of the Red Planet. NASA\u2019s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, exploration ground systems, and Orion spacecraft, along with the human landing system, next-generation spacesuits, Gateway lunar space station, and future rovers are NASA\u2019s foundation for deep space exploration.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the SLS and HLS programs. NASA\u2019s Michoud Assembly Facility, which is managed by Marshall, manufactures several Artemis components, including the SLS core stage.<\/p>\nNational Mentor Month: Navigating Mentorship with Michoud\u2019s Cynthia Spraul and Marie Allain<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/figure>NASA Shares Progress Toward Early Artemis Moon Missions with Crew<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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