A woman who grew up in Austin is playing a pivotal role in the historic Artemis II mission, which aims to take four astronauts around the moon and safely return them to Earth.
Nasa’s Deputy Chief Flight Director Emily Nelson, who was born in Okinawa, Japan, and raised in Austin, is spearheading the mission from Houston. The Artemis II crew recently marked the halfway point in their journey and will soon begin their return trip once they pass the far side of the moon.
Reflecting on her educational journey, Nelson expressed gratitude for the teachers who shaped her academic path in Austin. “I count myself really lucky and super grateful to all of those teachers that I benefited from so much through all of these years in Austin,” she stated. She attributes her strong foundation in math and science to her experiences in the Austin Independent School District (ISD).
“We had what we called the Science, Math, and Computer Academy in Austin, a magnet program. That’s where I went into high school. I spent a lot of time studying even advanced math in high school, again, one of the best school districts around,” Nelson recalled, emphasizing the exceptional opportunities she had before entering college.
After completing her education at Austin ISD, Nelson continued her studies at the University of Texas at Austin. “My mom worked for UT, my dad went to UT; it’s kind of the school down the street,” she shared. “It’s funny, my Dad would make fun of me because I didn’t realize how big UT was since it was just the school I had always known.” She graduated in 1998 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Nelson moved to Houston the same year to join NASA, starting her career as a flight controller for International Space Station thermal operations and resources with United Space Alliance. In May 2007, she became NASA’s 70th flight director and the tenth woman to receive this title in the agency’s history. In May 2023, she was appointed as deputy chief flight director, leading the team managing human spaceflight missions from Mission Control in Houston.
“I actually applied three times,” Nelson explained, noting that her perseverance ultimately paid off. Her leadership role is crucial for the Artemis II mission, which aims to set the stage for future lunar explorations, marking the first time humans may set foot on the moon in over fifty years.
As the mission progresses, the Artemis II crew is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean by Friday, provided everything goes according to plan.
