Q&A with Gateway: Meet Dan Sweeney, Integrated Spacecraft Performance Lead of the Systems Engineering and Integration Office

The Gateway, an outpost orbiting the Moon and vital part of NASA’s Artemis program, is built with sound engineering and operational principles that will serve as a staging point for deep space exploration and model for future missions to Mars. As the integrated spacecraft performance lead of the Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Office for the Gateway program, NASA Johnson Space Center-based Dan Sweeney is responsible for ensuring that the integrated performance of the Gateway meets requirements and mission needs. With PPE, HALO, I-HAB, and other elements playing an important role in the development of the Gateway, Sweeney's role as integrated spacecraft performance lead ensures that the these elements properly work after they are assembled in cislunar space, the space when in orbit near the Moon.

Keep reading to learn more about Dan Sweeney, below! 

What does your office do for the Gateway program?
The SE&I office is responsible for integrated spacecraft performance, cross-program integration with our Human Landing System and Orion program partners, and spacecraft configuration management, where we manage internal and external computer-aided design and mass properties. 

What are you most excited to share about Gateway and what it will do for human exploration as part of the Artemis program?
I like the fact that Gateway is the primary element that supports a sustainable human presence in cislunar space. It will be a multipurpose outpost for exploration that can be used to stage lunar-surface missions, and can also be utilized to support deep space missions in the future.

What I’m really excited about are the new things we will be learning about living in cislunar space. It’s very cool being a part of our evolution in knowledge as we learn how to live in low- Earth orbit (International Space Station), cislunar space (Gateway) and, eventually, in deep space as we travel to Mars and beyond. 

How has your personal background influenced your work in the Gateway program?
I spent half of my career working in the private industry. I believe my experience of managing many projects through all phases of development gives me a unique perspective on assessing the integrated impact of design implementations for Gateway. 

What has been your favorite memory while working at NASA?
Being a part of the International Space Station Solar Alpha Rotary Joints recovery team was my first experience at NASA with an agencywide issue resolution team. It was rewarding to see months of effort pay off with a successful implementation of a fix that allowed continued operation of the space station. 

Being surrounded by such a high-performing group of people, what’s a great piece of advice you’ve learned?
Never assume you’re the smartest person in the room, and seek opinions that challenge your thoughts or assumptions. 

In line with JSC’s DARE | UNITE | EXPLORE, how do you see yourself fitting into the vision?
I feel that the Gateway program perfectly aligns with the vision. I’m very fortunate that my role in Gateway allows me to help make the Dare | Unite | Explore vision a reality.  

More about Dan:  

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Potterville, Michigan. It’s a tiny town just southwest of the “big” city of Lansing. I went from a high school with a graduating class of 48 to a large university with a class of roughly 10,000 students, and I really enjoyed both experiences. 

If you could temporarily live (or visit) in another part of the world, where would that be? 
I would love to live somewhere in the mountain west for a period of time and spend time hiking, climbing, and exploring as much as possible. I’ve been on vacations in Colorado and Utah and really enjoyed it. I’m sure after one winter, though, I’ll want to move back somewhere warm. 

How long have you been at JSC?
I’ve been at JSC for 16 years. I moved to Houston in February 2006, and it was one of the best decisions of my life.  

Describe yourself in five words:
Logical, happy, pragmatic, optimistic, and intense. 

Favorite thing(s) to do to unwind:
Hanging out with friends and having a good laugh is a great stress reducer. A sip or two of bourbon always hits the spot as well. 

How has the pandemic shaped your work style? 
It’s a lot more casual now. Shorts and T-shirts are my typical attire, and I’ve reduced my shaving routine to once a week. The downside of working remotely is that it has eliminated the casual conversations where ideas are shared and creative solutions are more rapidly formulated. I’ve learned that additional communication is needed to make sure we’re all on the same page, and I need to actively solicit thoughts and ideas from co-workers in virtual meetings. I’m honestly still adjusting to this new environment.

Name one thing we would be surprised to learn about you.
One thing most people don’t know about me is that I married my high school sweetheart. What may be more surprising is that she continues to put up with me and we are still happily married.

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