Episode #287
The Making of Artemis II and the Generation That Will the Build Moon Base - Dr. Sharon Cobb, NASA Space Launch System
For the first time in more than half a century, NASA is preparing to send humans around the Moon, laying the foundation for a sustained lunar presence and the eventual journey to Mars. Just months after the successful completion of Artemis II, Sharon Cobb, Associate Program Manager for NASA's Space Launch System, returns to The TechEd Podcast with a behind-the-scenes look at the engineering, manufacturing, testing, data and emotions that went into the successful Artemis II mission. Sharon shares firsthand stories, like facing a critical hydrogen leak discovered during testing, how NASA solved the problem without rolling the rocket back from the launch pad, and why the mission ultimately achieved an astonishing 99.94% orbital insertion accuracy. She also explains how breakthroughs in additive manufacturing, digital modeling, and systems engineering are transforming the way rockets are designed, built, and tested. Looking ahead, Sharon outlines NASA's vision for NASA's Moon Base the infrastructure needed for a sustained human presence on the lunar surface, and the technologies that will make future missions to Mars possible. Along the way, she offers her perspective on the "Artemis Generation," why systems thinking matters more than ever, and how students can prepare today for careers that may not even exist yet. In this episode, you’ll hear: 3 skills students need if they want to work at NASA How 3,800 suppliers across all 50 states help power Artemis Why NASA can now simulate missions that once required live testing The manufacturing breakthrough changing how rocket engines are built What it'll take to achievema sustained presence on the moon (and eventually Mars) 3 Big Takeaways from this Episode: 1. Artemis II was the product of thousands of engineering decisions made between launches. Between Artemis I and Artemis II, NASA teams stacked and integrated the vehicle, completed multiple rounds of testing, investigated and resolved a hydrogen leak discovered during a wet dress rehearsal, and modified hardware to improve performance. The mission ultimately achieved 99.94% orbital insertion accuracy, validating years of analysis, simulation, testing, and problem-solving across the program. 2. NASA's success depends on a nationwide manufacturing ecosystem. The Artemis program relies on 3,800 suppliers across all 50 states to provide the components, materials, and systems required to build and launch its missions. Sharon emphasized that behind every launch are manufacturers, technicians, welders, quality professionals, and skilled tradespeople whose work must meet exceptionally demanding standards because many of these components have only one opportunity to perform. 3. The Artemis Generation will build Moon Base and carry humanity farther into deep space. As NASA shifts its focus toward Moon Base, future missions will require the engineers, technicians, program managers, systems thinkers, and manufacturing professionals capable of building lunar infrastructure and eventually enabling missions to Mars. Sharon highlighted multiple pathways into those careers, including internships, two-year technical degrees, certifications, apprenticeships, and traditional engineering programs, emphasizing that there is no single route into a place like NASA. Resources in this Episode: Catch up on the story by starting with episode 1 with Sharon Cobb: From the Moon to Mars: NASA's Artemis Program and the Future of Space Exploration Artemis Program Space Launch System (SLS) Get access to NASA Career & Internship resources and more on the show notes page: https://techedpodcast.com/cobb2/ We want to hear from you! Send us a text. Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn
