Elkin Norena, a pivotal figure in NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) Program, plays a crucial role in advancing the agency’s space exploration initiatives. Throughout her career, Norena has overseen more than a dozen Space Shuttle missions, contributing to the construction of the International Space Station, the final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope, and critical scientific experiments designed to improve life on Earth.
Currently serving as the manager of the SLS Ground Systems Office at the Kennedy Space Center, Norena is instrumental in preparing for the Artemis II mission. This mission will see the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, carrying an international astronaut crew, orbit the Moon and return to Earth. She acts as a vital communication link for the SLS Program, which is managed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, providing on-site SLS support.
Norena’s passion for space exploration was ignited in her childhood in New Jersey after witnessing a Space Shuttle launch. After earning a degree in computer engineering, she began her career as a civil servant at NASA, initially working as an electrical engineer and flight termination engineer on the Space Shuttle program. Following her involvement in the International Space Station’s construction, Norena contributed to the successful launches of Artemis I and II and is now focused on preparations for the Artemis III mission.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Norena is an avid astrophotographer, traveling to capture images of the Milky Way. She emphasized the historic significance of the Artemis II mission, stating, “Now it’s our turn to go back to the Moon with Artemis, to stay this time. I’m excited to be a part of the generation that does this.”
