By the time the Artemis II Orion spacecraft launches to the Moon next year, its many components will already have traveled thousands of miles and moved across multiple facilities before coming together at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Branelle Rodriguez, Artemis II vehicle manager for the Orion Program, has overseen many parts of that journey. Her job is to ensure the spacecraft is ready for its historic mission – carrying humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.
Based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Rodriguez has been involved in every stage of the spacecraft’s lifecycle – from development and production through testing and final launch readiness. Her program-level leadership focuses on ensuring the spacecraft’s hardware and subsystems are integrated and flight-ready. Most recently, she collaborated closely with Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy to oversee the spacecraft’s move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it was mated with NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. “We are getting our teams trained and ready so that we are GO for the Artemis II mission,” she said.
Her 21-year NASA career spans numerous roles at Johnson. She started in the center’s Engineering Directorate, developing and building life support and habitation hardware for the Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station Program. She went on to lead teams of engineers and flight controllers tasked with real-time resolution of anomalies aboard the International Space Station before transitioning to the Orion Program in 2022.
“Looking back, every role I’ve held, every team I’ve been a part of, and every milestone we’ve achieved together has been truly remarkable,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in it all.”
Rodriguez has been fascinated by space since she was a little girl. “Growing up in northern Minnesota, I was lucky to experience the beauty of clear, starlit skies on a regular basis,” she recalled. When Rodriguez was a teenager, her family encouraged her to attend Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, where she participated in mock 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 NASA’s internship program while studying mechanical engineering at the University of North Dakota. She was not accepted, but she did not give up. She spent a semester interning at Dow Chemical to gain more experience while continuing to apply for internships across multiple NASA centers. “On my eighth attempt, I was accepted at Johnson,” she said. Three internships and one graduation later, Rodriguez landed a full-time position in the Engineering Directorate’s Crew and Thermal Systems Division. “It’s been an incredible journey—and a dream realized,” she said.
As a student athlete, Rodriguez knew the importance of teamwork from a young age, but said its value really became clear after joining NASA. “Some goals take time. There will be setbacks and struggles, but when you stick together, you build the kind of trust and relationships that are the foundation for long-term success,” she said. “That’s exactly what NASA represents. We take on some of the most complex and ambitious challenges imaginable—and we do it as a team.”
She added, “Especially now, it’s more important than ever to remember what we’re capable of when we work together, and to celebrate the wins—big or small—because each one brings us closer to the extraordinary.”
Rodriguez also appreciates having a team outside of the office. One of the greatest challenges she has faced is balancing the demands of a fulfilling, high-impact career with the needs of her family. “Like many parents, there are days when everything feels in sync, and days when I know I’ve fallen short,” she said, acknowledging that she must continually adapt to shifting needs and prioritize tasks to remain focused on what matters most at any given moment. “I’m beyond grateful for 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 the broader village that helps make it all possible, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
To her children and future generations, Rodriguez hopes to pass on a desire to keep exploring. “As humans, we are naturally driven to grow, learn, and push beyond our limits,” she said. “Space exploration is still in its early stages when viewed through the lens of history, and the achievements of the next generation will be truly extraordinary. I want them to carry forward the curiosity, courage, and determination needed to reach new frontiers and unlock the unknown.”
