Wisconsin Engineer Leads NASA's Moon Rocket Operations

Doug Parkinson lights up when he talks about his journey from a Wisconsin kid who wanted to fix cars to the person monitoring NASA's most powerful rocket during launch.

As the Launch Integration and Mission Operations lead for NASA's Space Launch System, Parkinson guides the engineers who watch over the massive rocket during testing and launch. He's the first person to ever hold this role in the SLS Program.

His path to NASA started with a single college decision. While studying mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Parkinson stumbled on an opportunity at the university's Propulsion Research Center. He'd been planning a future in computers or automotive work, but rocket engines changed his mind.

"It was a chance to put into practical use what I was learning in the books and in theory," Parkinson said. "It ended up being a lot of fun and very educational."

He joined NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in 1999, working on advanced liquid rocket engines including the J-2X, an upgraded version of the Saturn V upper stage engine. In 2012, he moved to the SLS program, bringing his engine testing experience to rocket operations.

Now Parkinson also manages the SLS Engineering Support Center, training the team that verifies the rocket's systems are performing correctly. The team operates from NASA Marshall and plays a critical role in every launch.

"I love all aspects of the operations. I like getting my hands dirty. I like seeing the erector set go together," Parkinson said.

Why This Inspires

When Artemis II launches, four astronauts will fly within miles of the lunar surface aboard a rocket Parkinson helped develop. He'll be on console during part of the mission, listening to the crew's communications in real time.

"I have goosebumps just thinking about it," he said. "It's amazing to think we're going to go do that."

The mission will lay groundwork for returning humans to the Moon and eventually sending the first astronauts to Mars. For Parkinson, it's proof that following your curiosity, even when it leads somewhere unexpected, can take you farther than you ever imagined.

Sometimes the best career path is the one you never planned.