I Am Artemis: Allison Mjoen

Allison Mjoen, NASA's operations manager for the Exploration Ground Systems program, witnessed the launch of NASA's SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on April 1, 2026. The bright day on the Florida Space Coast allowed her and her children to witness the rocket's power as it roared to life. Mjoen, who began her career as a flight crew systems engineer with United Space Alliance supporting the Space Shuttle Program, has since supported missions across the International Space Station and is now applying her experience to Artemis.

Mjoen's role as the offline operations manager for Artemis involves coordinating the work that happens long before launch day. She supports the senior vehicle operations manager, Matt Czech, in developing integration plans and overseeing ground operations for Artemis vehicle processing, with a focus on booster and Orion spacecraft operations.

Prior to her current position, Mjoen held various roles at NASA, including serving as a payload integration engineer for the International Space Station Program and as the Spacecraft Payloads Integration and Evolution Element lead for Artemis I.

Throughout her 20-year career at NASA, Mjoen has learned that every decision is an opportunity to learn and grow. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity, hard work, relationship-building, and trust in her approach to her work. As she reflected on the moment of the SLS rocket launch, Mjoen realized that the preparation and collaboration she has experienced throughout her career have prepared her for this significant moment in space exploration.