Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Efforts (and Job Opportunities!) Expand at Johnson Space Center
NASA is developing a robust economy in low-Earth orbit, where NASA is one of many customers purchasing services and capabilities from U.S. commercial providers at lower costs. As the agency continues to work with industry to build this ecosystem, commercial low-Earth orbit (LEO) efforts are expanding at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Stemming from the Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities initiative that began in 2014 to foster development of new industrial space-related capabilities, NASA recently established the Commercial LEO Program Office, which will be led by Angela Hart.
“I've been working on the commercial side of human spaceflight for a long time and believe very strongly that this is the right course for NASA and for humankind to build a sustainable future of living and working in space,” said Hart. “I was very excited when the opportunity came up to become manager of the Commercial LEO Program Office.”
NASA’s ambitious goal is to create an economic environment in low-Earth orbit in which U.S. commercial businesses can thrive. The agency is revamping its strategy to expand these efforts and better engage with industry to move at the speed of business.
The Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington worked to develop a strategy on how best to unify the Directorate’s commercial activities. This led to the consolidation of commercial low-Earth orbit activities into the expanded office.
“We’re looking at supply and demand and how we can help to enable those early free-flying destinations in low-Earth orbit owned and operated by commercial companies” said Hart. Enabling the development and operation of free-flying destinations is one of the major goals of commercialization efforts that will ensure continuous U.S. presence in low-Earth orbit. “NASA will have to test technologies, train astronauts, and continue scientific research in low-Earth orbit even after the life of the International Space Station.”
Prior to taking the role, Hart worked in the Mission Integration and Management Office within the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. During her time in CCP, Hart worked in cooperation with Boeing and SpaceX and was responsible for all aspects of mission integration, scheduling, mission specific analysis, and manifesting. She spent much of her earlier NASA career in cargo integration planning, commercial resupply, and commercial crew integration for the International Space Station Program. Hart spent two years in the Orion program in a management role. She began her NASA career in 1996.
The International Space Station is already allowing economies to blossom, and NASA also is bringing commercial partners into its Artemis lunar exploration plans. On the space station, enterprising companies are exploring the unique market value and demand for a number of potential industries, from manufacturing to drug development to tourism.
“We just had the SpaceX Demo-2 mission, there are suborbital flights and the uncrewed Boeing Starliner flight coming up, and we’ll soon be seeing private tourists on the International Space Station" said Hart. "The amount of commercial interest in space exploration has been amazing. Since the success of Demo-2, I’ve had at least a half a dozen new white papers for commercial activities come across my desk. It’s an exciting time to be a part of this new era.”
Johnson is at the forefront of human spaceflight and commercialization efforts. The Commercial LEO Program Office will work closely with International Space Station Program to manage commercial activities and build on the relationships with commercial companies, also establishing new ones. The office is still growing, and opportunities are opening.
The Commercial LEO Program Office (UA) is advertising a few positions in NASA’s Talent Marketplace. These opportunities are open to employees at the center and across the agency. They will be open Oct. 5, 2020 – Oct. 13, 2020.
· UA/Commercial LEO Deputy; GS15
· UA/ Commercial LEO Customer Manager AST, GS15
· UA/ Commercial LEO Contracting Officer Representative and Agreements Manager AST – GS14/15
The work to develop a sustainable economy in low-Earth orbit is just beginning. A robust commercial space economy ensures national interests for research and development in low-Earth orbit are fulfilled while allowing NASA to focus government resources on deep space exploration through the Artemis program and land the first woman and next man on the surface of the Moon in 2024.
For more on NASA’s low-Earth orbit commercialization efforts, visit:
