I Am Artemis: Allison Mjoen
NASA’s Allison Mjoen reflects on her role in Artemis after witnessing the SLS rocket launch, highlighting her 20-year career and contributions to ground systems supporting lunar missions.
Allison Mjoen, NASA’s operations manager for the Exploration Ground Systems Program, stood with her family as the Space Launch System rocket ignited, marking a milestone in her 20-year career at Kennedy Space Center. Her work has spanned the Space Shuttle Program, the International Space Station, and now Artemis, where she oversees ground operations for Artemis vehicle processing, including booster and Orion spacecraft operations.
Mjoen began as a flight crew systems engineer supporting the Space Shuttle Program, configuring mission-specific cabin setups such as food, spacesuits, cargo, and payloads. After the shuttle’s retirement, she transitioned to the International Space Station Program as a payload integration engineer, connecting investigators with hardware developers.
She later joined the Test and Operations Support Contract before moving to NASA’s Operations Project Engineering Office, where she led the Spacecraft Payloads Integration and Evolution Element for Artemis I. Her preparation culminated in supporting integrated firing room operations during Artemis I, earning certification as an operations project engineer.
Mjoen emphasized the importance of preparation, collaboration, and trust during Artemis I’s integrated operations, noting that every decision supported safe execution of test procedures. She views Artemis as a generational moment, echoing the impact of the Apollo Moon landing and inspiring new audiences to pursue bold goals.