RoundupReads MERloween Bash: NASA Johnson Celebrates Space-themed Costume Contest

MERloween Bash: NASA Johnson Celebrates Space-themed Costume Contest

by Sumer Loggins | 2023-11-02

It was not a regular conference meeting this Halloween in the Mission Control Center Mission Evaluation Room (MER) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The International Space Station Program’s MER team dressed up in their favorite space-themed costumes for a creative celebration of the year’s milestones and lessons learned on the orbiting laboratory. “MERloween” has been a tradition for the team since 2006.

“We look forward to this all year long. It’s our favorite event in the control center,” said Dina Contella, International Space Station Program operations integration manager. 

A group of people in costumes pose for a photo in a room around a conference desk.
Costume contestants strike a pose in the Mission Control Center Mission Evaluation Room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Credit: NASA/James Blair

“Echoing Dina, we look forward to this tradition all year. It’s an honor to serve as a judge and I extend my gratitude to this team for their hard work 24/7/365,” said Dana Weigel, International Space Station Program deputy manager. “Their unwavering dedication has been instrumental in upholding continuous operation of the orbital outpost.”

The MER includes program and engineering technical excellence, and it serves as the nerve center for real-time and near real-time engineering support for the Space Station vehicle. MER Managers coordinate and integrate 23 subsystem consoles to oversee all space station systems and operations. The MER has a rich history dating back to the Apollo and shuttle programs and since 1998, has played a crucial role in supporting the station. 

“We work hard to find ingenious solutions to intricate challenges in real time,” said Suzanne Hansen, On-Orbit Engineering Office manager. “We also play hard with costume contests that make fun of events that have happened on the station.”

Dina Contella, Dana Weigel, International Space Station Vehicle Office Manager Bill Spetch, and retired International Space Station MER IT and Data Systems Support Brenda Honza formed the judges panel, voting for their favorite space-themed costumes.

The MERloween costume contest was divided into five categories: Most Creative, Best Overall, Best Space Theme, Funniest, and People’s Choice.

Scroll below to view images from the MERloween bash.

A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
A group of people in costumes are gathered in a conference room.
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