Artemis I Launch Director and Plaque Award Ceremony

Artemis Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson (right) acknowledged and honored members of the Artemis team during the inaugural Artemis Launch Director Awards, held March 24, 2023, inside Firing Room 1 of the Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Award recipients included members of the red crew, who are employees of ERC – a company that partners with Jacobs, which is the prime contractor on NASA’s Test and Operations Support Contract. From left are ERC employees Chad Garrett, safety engineer; Billy Cairns, cryogenic engineering technician; and Trent Annis, cryogenic engineering technician. The team of technicians are part of the personnel specially trained to conduct operations at the launch pad during cryogenic loading operations at the launch pad. Prior to the launch of Artemis I, the red crew entered the zero deck, or base, of the mobile launcher and tightened several bolts to troubleshoot a valve used to replenish the core stage with liquid hydrogen, which showed a leak with readings above limits. Artemis I launched successfully from Kennedy's Launch Pad 39B at 1:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 16, 2022.