NASA.gov<\/a>\u00a0for the original publication.<\/p>\n****<\/p>\n
By the time the Artemis II Orion spacecraft launches to the Moon next year, its many components will already have traveled thousands of miles and moved across multiple facilities before coming together at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center. Branelle Rodriguez, Artemis II vehicle manager for the Orion Program, has overseen many parts of that journey. Her job is to ensure the spacecraft is ready for its historic mission \u2013 carrying humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.<\/p>\n
Based at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Rodriguez has been involved in every stage of the spacecraft\u2019s lifecycle \u2013 from development and production through testing and final launch readiness. Her program-level leadership focuses on ensuring the spacecraft\u2019s hardware and subsystems are integrated and flight-ready.<\/p>\n
Most recently, she collaborated closely with Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy to oversee the spacecraft\u2019s move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it was mated with NASA\u2019s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. \u201cWe are getting our teams trained and ready so that we are GO for the Artemis II mission,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Her 21-year NASA career spans numerous roles at Johnson. She started in the center\u2019s Engineering Directorate, developing and building life support and habitation hardware for the Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station Program. She went on to lead teams of engineers and flight controllers tasked with real-time resolution of anomalies aboard the International Space Station before transitioning to the Orion Program in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking back, every role I\u2019ve held, every team I\u2019ve been a part of, and every milestone we\u2019ve achieved together has been truly remarkable,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m incredibly proud to have played a part in it all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Starry, starry nights<\/p>\n
Rodriguez has been fascinated by space since she was a little girl. \u201cGrowing up in northern Minnesota, I was lucky to experience the beauty of clear, starlit skies on a regular basis,\u201d she recalled. When Rodriguez was a teenager, her family encouraged her to attend Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, where she participated in mock astronaut training, flight controller simulations, and hands-on engineering projects. \u201cIt was a pivotal experience that only deepened my passion for space exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodriguez applied to NASA\u2019s internship program while studying mechanical engineering at the University of North Dakota. She was not accepted, but she did not give up. She spent a semester interning at Dow Chemical to gain more experience while continuing to apply for internships across multiple NASA centers. \u201cOn my eighth attempt, I was accepted at Johnson,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
![\"Branelle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Branelle-Rodriguez-NASA2.png\")
Branelle Rodriguez stands in front of Orion spacecraft.
Image courtesy of Branelle Rodriguez<\/p>\n
Three internships and one UND graduation \u2014 Class of 2005 \u2014 later, Rodriguez landed a full-time position in the Engineering Directorate\u2019s Crew and Thermal Systems Division. \u201cIt\u2019s been an incredible journey \u2014 and a dream realized,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
As a student athlete, Rodriguez knew the importance of teamwork from a young age, but said its value really became clear after joining NASA. \u201cSome goals take time. There will be setbacks and struggles, but when you stick together, you build the kind of trust and relationships that are the foundation for long-term success,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly what NASA represents. We take on some of the most complex and ambitious challenges imaginable \u2014 and we do it as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added, \u201cEspecially now, it\u2019s more important than ever to remember what we\u2019re capable of when we work together, and to celebrate the wins \u2014 big or small \u2014 because each one brings us closer to the extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodriguez also appreciates having a team outside of the office. One of the greatest challenges she has faced is balancing the demands of a fulfilling, high-impact career with the needs of her family. \u201cLike many parents, there are days when everything feels in sync, and days when I know I\u2019ve fallen short,\u201d she said, acknowledging that she must continually adapt to shifting needs and prioritize tasks to remain focused on what matters most at any given moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m beyond grateful for my family,\u201d she said. \u201cThey are my foundation, and they truly understand and support my passion for the work I do. Without their love, and the broader village that helps make it all possible, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n
To her children and future generations, Rodriguez hopes to pass on a desire to keep exploring. \u201cAs humans, we are naturally driven to grow, learn, and push beyond our limits,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpace exploration is still in its early stages when viewed through the lens of history, and the achievements of the next generation will be truly extraordinary. I want them to carry forward the curiosity, courage, and determination needed to reach new frontiers and unlock the unknown.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More from Author<\/p>\n
![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dennis-tom_photo-250x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Tom Dennis<\/a>
\n is the editor of UND Today and the associate director of communications for UND. A graduate of Williams College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Dennis served for 20 years as the Grand Forks Herald’s editorial-page editor before coming to UND. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Childhood dream leads UND grad to work for NASA, a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":187753,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[61,60,82,247],"class_list":{"0":"post-187752","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-space","8":"tag-ie","9":"tag-ireland","10":"tag-science","11":"tag-space"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187752\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/187753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Branelle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Branelle-Rodriguez-NASA1.png\")
Branelle Rodriguez, UND \u201905, crouches inside an Orion spacecraft training unit aboard the USS San Diego in March 2024. The training unit was used during a full recovery simulation with the Artemis II crew. Image courtesy of Branelle Rodriguez.<\/p>\n