Q&A with Gateway: Meet Yasmin Ali, Gateway Deputy Manager for the HALO Project Office
The Gateway’s habitation and logistics (HALO) element will be the ultimate “home away from home” for visiting Artemis astronauts. As a deputy manager for the HALO Project Office, NASA Johnson Space Center-based Yasmin Ali supports Production manager Jon Olansen in managing all teams responsible for the design, development, and testing of the HALO.
Get to know more about her, below!
What is your role in the Gateway program?
I am the deputy manager for the HALO Project Office.
What are your primary responsibilities?
My primary responsibilities are to manage the contractor and NASA teams responsible for the design, development, and testing of the HALO module. I also oversee and ensure that the power and propulsion element to HALO integration and the Gateway vehicle system manager are built within schedule, cost, and adequate technical risk.
What are you excited to share about Gateway and what it will do for human exploration as part of the Artemis program?
Building a sustainable infrastructure for human presence in deep space is a key milestone for advancement toward Mars. Sustainability is key, and if we ever want to explore Mars, we will need to learn how to live far away, build refillable/maintainable modules, and integrate elements in space and explore beyond the terrestrial surface, such as the Moon. Every time we explore a new environment or build for sustainability, we have brought new technology and science back to Earth, just like how the International Space Station (ISS) has done.
How has your own personal background influenced your work on the Gateway program?
I worked on the ISS program for five years and then worked for Orion until 2019. The combination of my experiences working on these programs has served me well to design and build a sustainable presence at the Moon.
Being surrounded by such a high-performing group of people, what’s a great piece of advice you’ve learned?
Don’t ever be afraid to be challenged, because that is how we all grow. Given the talent of this team, I am humbled and never anxious to be convinced otherwise or change my opinion.
In line with JSC’s DARE | UNITE | EXPLORE, how do you see yourself fitting into the vision?
Our program dares us to do things differently, make quicker decisions, and not let the team churn to make exploration possible. I am not afraid of daring to do things differently or challenge the way it has always been done.
Now, more about you. Where did you grow up?
I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but went to high school here in Houston, Texas.
How long have you been at JSC?
20 years.
Describe yourself in five words.
Funny, social, enthusiastic, thick-skinned, and confident.
Favorite thing(s) to do to unwind.
Working out in general, but right now hopping on my exercise machine. Hanging out with friends and family and binge-watching historical drama.
How has the pandemic shaped your working style?
I sleep in more but work more, too. It seems there are never enough hours in the day for all the meetings. I love getting to see my kids when they come home from school and multitasking to ensure they get their homework done.
Tell us a fun fact about you.
I love playing Mario Kart with my kids and beating them. My favorite Mario character is Yoshi.
At Johnson, we are laser-focused on the next: going forward to our lunar neighbor to build outposts in uncharted territory while revolutionizing the strategies and technologies that will eventually open up the universe. The Gateway is a critical component of the Artemis program and embodies Johnson's DARE | UNITE | EXPLORE vision: We dare to expand frontiers. We unite with our partners to complete bold missions. We explore space to benefit humanity.
DARE | UNITE | EXPLORE
