I Am Artemis Tom Percy

NASA's Artemis missions, aimed at long-term exploration of the Moon and Mars, have gained momentum with the acceleration of systems engineering and integration processes. At the helm of this progress is Tom Percy, the manager of systems engineering and integration for NASA's Human Landing Systems Program. Percy, based at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, liaises with SpaceX and Blue Origin, two private companies, to expedite and harmonize the development of their crewed lunar landers.

Percy's role encompasses overseeing the design, construction, testing, and certification of these landers, ensuring they function seamlessly with other NASA exploration assets. Percy's journey to NASA began during his undergraduate years at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he participated in the Great Moonbuggy Race, an annual event held at Marshall.

This event sparked his interest in NASA's projects, leading him to pursue a master's degree in aerospace engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. During his time at Georgia Tech, Percy focused on advanced propulsion technology development and spacecraft design, culminating in a doctorate in aerospace systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

His broad expertise encompasses space transportation, advanced propulsion systems, trajectory analysis, and spacecraft and mission concept development. Percy's extensive experience is now utilized in his current role, where he plays a pivotal part in the development of human landing systems for Artemis missions. These missions aim to advance human presence on the Moon, gather scientific data, and prepare for potential crewed missions to Mars.