By the time the Artemis II Orion spacecraft launches to the Moon next year, its many components will have already traveled thousands of miles and passed through multiple facilities before coming together at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Branelle Rodriguez, Artemis II vehicle manager for the Orion program, oversaw many stages of this journey. His job is to ensure the spacecraft is ready for its historic mission: transporting humans to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
Based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Rodriguez has been involved in every stage of the spacecraft’s life cycle – from development and production to testing and final preparation for launch. His program-level leadership aims to ensure that the spacecraft’s hardware and subsystems are integrated and ready to fly. Most recently, she worked closely with Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy to oversee the movement of the spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it was coupled to NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. “We are training and preparing our teams so that we are ready for the Artemis II mission,” she said.
His 21-year NASA career spans many positions at Johnson. She began as the center’s engineering director, developing and building life support and habitation equipment for the Space Shuttle program and the International Space Station program. She then led teams of engineers and flight controllers to resolve anomalies aboard the International Space Station in real time before transitioning to the Orion program in 2022.
“Looking back, every role I’ve had, every team I’ve been a part of, and every milestone we’ve reached together has been truly remarkable,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in all of this.”
Rodriguez has been fascinated by space since she was little. “Growing up in northern Minnesota, I was fortunate to regularly experience the beauty of clear, starry skies,” she recalls. When Rodriguez was a teenager, her family encouraged her to attend the Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, where she participated in simulated astronaut training, flight controller simulations, and hands-on engineering projects. “It was a pivotal experience that only deepened my passion for space exploration. »
Rodriguez applied to the NASA internship program while studying mechanical engineering at the University of North Dakota. She wasn’t accepted, but she didn’t give up. She spent a semester interning at Dow Chemical to gain more experience while continuing to apply for internships at several NASA centers. “On my eighth attempt, I was accepted to Johnson,” she said. Three internships and a degree later, Rodriguez landed a full-time position in the engineering department’s crew and thermal systems division. “It’s been an incredible journey and a dream come true,” she said.
As a student-athlete, Rodriguez knew the importance of teamwork from a young age, but said its value became clear after joining NASA. “Some goals take time. There will be setbacks and challenges, but when you stay together, you build the type of trust and relationships that provide the foundation for long-term success,” she said. “That’s exactly what NASA is about. We take on some of the most complex and ambitious challenges imaginable, and we do it as a team.”
She added: “Especially now, it is more important than ever to remember what we are capable of when we work together and to celebrate victories, big or small, because each one brings us closer to the extraordinary. »
Rodriguez also enjoys having a team outside the office. One of the biggest challenges she faced was balancing the demands of a fulfilling, high-impact career with the needs of her family. “Like many parents, there are days when everything seems in sync and days when I know I’ve failed,” she said, acknowledging that she must continually adapt to changing needs and prioritize tasks to stay focused on what matters most at all times. “I am beyond grateful to my family,” she said. “They are my foundation, and they truly understand and support my passion for the work I do. Without their love and without the wider village helping to make it all possible, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
To his children and future generations, Rodriguez hopes to pass on the desire to continue exploring. “As human beings, we are naturally led to grow, learn and push our limits,” she said. “Space exploration is still in its infancy when viewed through the lens of history, and the achievements of the next generation will be truly extraordinary. I want them to demonstrate the curiosity, courage and determination necessary to reach new frontiers and unlock the unknown.”
