Engineer Prepping NASA's First Moon Crew Launch in 50 Years

Jesse Berdis never planned on working for NASA, but leaving his resume at an Orlando conference four years ago changed everything.

Today, the structural engineer serves as deputy project manager for the mobile launcher that will send four astronauts to the Moon on Artemis II. It's a role that transformed his childhood dreams of building city skylines into something far more extraordinary.

The mobile launcher stands over 400 feet tall at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Berdis calls it "the shoulders" that will support the massive Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft at liftoff, providing power, communications, fuel, and crew access before launch.

After Artemis I successfully completed its uncrewed test flight, Berdis and his team shifted focus to an even bigger challenge. Artemis II will mark NASA's first crewed Moon mission in more than half a century, carrying astronauts farther into space than anyone has traveled since the Apollo era.

One of the most critical additions for this mission is the emergency egress system. Four baskets positioned 274 feet above the ground can rapidly transport crew and personnel to safety using electromagnetic braking technology if an emergency occurs at the pad.

When Berdis first arrived at Kennedy, the sheer scale of the ground systems left him awestruck. To him, they weren't just structures but skyscrapers purpose-built for space exploration.

Now he's expanded his role even further, helping develop and maintain the integrated schedule for Artemis human landing system operations. His team ensures that ground operations and lander development stay perfectly synchronized as NASA prepares to return humans to the lunar surface.

Why This Inspires

What makes this story remarkable isn't just the engineering achievement. It's the reminder that one simple decision, like handing a resume to the right person, can open doors to helping humanity take its next giant leap.

Thousands of people are pouring their expertise and passion into Artemis, working together to make history at T-0. Berdis captures it perfectly: "That is a true feat of humanity: someone putting all of their passion into these systems to make it all come together."

The dream that started with Oklahoma and Dallas skyscrapers has reached heights Jesse Berdis never imagined, and soon it will help carry astronauts back to the Moon.