For Elkin Norena, the dream of exploring space began when he was a child watching a space shuttle launch in class. This childhood fascination led him to pursue a career in engineering and eventually land a job at NASA, where he has worked on numerous historic missions, including the Space Shuttle Program and the Artemis missions.
From Childhood Dream to Reality
Norena’s journey to NASA began when he was a kid in New Jersey, watching a space shuttle launch on TV. He was captivated by the power of the launch and the bravery of the astronauts. This experience sparked a desire in him to become a part of the space program one day. He went on to study computer engineering at the University of Central Florida, which is located near the Kennedy Space Center.
After college, Norena joined NASA contractor United Space Alliance and later became a civil servant at NASA Kennedy, working on the same spacecraft that had inspired him as a child. He started as an electrical engineer and then moved into the firing room for 17 different shuttle missions as a flight termination engineer.
A Career of Historic Missions
Norena has been a part of many historic missions, including the construction of the International Space Station and the final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. He has also worked on critical science experiments that have improved life on Earth. Today, he is the manager of the Resident Management Office for the Space Launch System (SLS) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where he provides onsite support for the Exploration Ground Systems team.
As a resident management officer, Norena is responsible for providing an avenue of communication back to the SLS Program, which is managed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He is also the eyes and ears for the SLS Program, ensuring that everything runs smoothly during the launch process.
The Artemis Missions
Norena is now working on the Artemis II mission, which will send an international quartet of astronauts on a flyby of the Moon and back to Earth. He is one of the original SLS team members and has been a part of the teams that successfully launched Artemis I. He is also critical to the upcoming Artemis III mission, which will send astronauts to the lunar surface.
Norena believes that the Artemis missions are more than just a series of launches – they represent a historic opportunity for humanity to return to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence. He is excited to be a part of this new generation of space explorers and is proud to be working on a mission that will inspire future generations.
A Passion for Space Exploration
Outside of his work at NASA, Norena is an avid astrophotographer and loves to capture images of the Milky Way. He has traveled to various locations around the world to take photos of the night sky, including Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. He also enjoys participating in his teenage daughters’ activities and spending time with his family.
Norena’s passion for space exploration is evident in everything he does, from his work on historic missions to his hobby of astrophotography. He is an inspiration to anyone who has ever looked up at the stars and wondered what it would be like to explore the cosmos.
- Norena has worked on over a dozen space shuttle missions, including the construction of the International Space Station and the final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
- He is currently working on the Artemis II mission, which will send an international quartet of astronauts on a flyby of the Moon and back to Earth.
- Norena is an avid astrophotographer and loves to capture images of the Milky Way.
Source: nasa.gov.
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