Tess Caswell plays a pivotal role in NASA’s Artemis missions, particularly focusing on spacewalks and communication. She serves as an extravehicular activity (EVA) flight controller and lead capsule communicator (CAPCOM) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. In these capacities, Caswell is integral to ensuring the safety and success of astronauts during their missions and spacewalks.
Her role as an EVA flight controller involves meticulous planning and real-time problem-solving to supervise the astronauts’ activities outside their spacecraft. This demands a comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects surrounding the EVA missions. Simultaneously, as the lead CAPCOM, she acts as the primary communication bridge between the crew onboard and mission control, making her work crucial for mission coordination and operation.
Responsibilities
Some of her significant responsibilities include:
- Maintaining clear and effective communication with astronauts.
- Strategizing spacewalk protocols to ensure safety and mission objectives are met.
- Collaborating with various teams at NASA to troubleshoot and resolve issues promptly.
Key Challenges
Caswell’s work is not without challenges. Among these are:
- The need to make split-second decisions under pressure.
- Coordinating across different time zones and teams to align mission efforts.
- Ensuring that information relayed to astronauts is both precise and timely.
Tess Caswell’s dedication to her responsibilities showcases her importance within NASA’s intricate operations, particularly as the agency prepares for the ambitious goals set by the Artemis program.
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