NASA has selected Catherine Koerner to lead the agency’s Orion program. In this role, she will be responsible for developing and operating NASA’s newest spacecraft that will transport astronauts on Artemis missions to the moon and return them safely to Earth. Koerner took up her new position with effect from Tuesday, September 8th.
“I am honored to be selected as Orion Program Manager. Orion is a key element of the agency’s Artemis infrastructure, and I look forward to leading the team responsible for developing and building the American spacecraft, ”said Koerner. “Next year we will start the Artemis I test flight – an important milestone – and the first in the Artemis mission series on the way to getting the first woman and the next man to the moon.”
Koerner will be stationed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. Most recently, she led the Human Health and Performance Directorate team at Johnson that works to optimize astronaut performance and reduce the health risks associated with human spaceflight. Koerner’s experience includes roles as flight director, space shuttle manager for Mission Operations Directorate, deputy manager of the vehicle bureau, and manager of the transport integration bureau for the International Space Station Program.
“Cathy brings with her a diverse background in engineering and human health, two key components of the Artemis program, which the spaceship will use to send our astronauts to the moon for a sustainable presence on the lunar surface,” said Kathy Lueders, associate at NASA Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations. “Working with our partners, your leadership will lead the program to successes that inspire and nurture humanity.”
Koerner is from Schaumburg, Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Over the course of her career, Koerner has been recognized for her achievements and has received multiple awards and accolades, including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the JSC Superior Achievement Award, and the JSC Director’s Commendation Award.
“Cathy brings 30 years of human space experience to the challenging role of administering the Orion program,” said Mark Geyer, director of the Johnson Center. “I am confident that it will lead Orion on the run and into a sustainable future.”
As Orion Program Manager, Koerner will be responsible for the European Space Agency (ESA), which oversees the design, development and testing of the Orion spacecraft, as well as spacecraft manufacture at locations across the country and Europe.
Koerner succeeds Mark Kirasich, who currently heads NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems department in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission department at NASA headquarters. Howard Hu, who served as Orion Program Manager, will serve as Orion Assistant Program Manager.
Orion, the space launch system (SLS) and Exploration Ground Systems programs are fundamental elements of NASA’s Artemis program. Artemis I will be the first integrated flight test from Orion and SLS next year. Artemis II will be the first human mission to follow, taking astronauts further into space than ever before. On Artemis III, astronauts will set foot on the moon by 2024.