Jaclyn Kagey's Role in Artemis III
Jaclyn Kagey serves as the Artemis III extravehicular activity (EVA) lead in NASA's Flight Operations Directorate. She is central to preparing astronauts for humanity's return to the lunar surface.
Her responsibilities include defining how astronauts will work on the Moon, planning detailed spacewalk timelines, and guiding real-time operations. These activities will occur after astronauts exit NASA's human landing system.
Artemis III missions will involve exploring the Moon's south polar region, an area never before visited by humans. Kagey's work is shaping how these future lunar exploration missions will unfold.
Career Highlights and Adaptability
Kagey's career at NASA spans over 25 years, including work across complex human spaceflight programs. A significant moment involved planning and executing U.S. EVA 21 on the International Space Station (ISS).
During this operation, her team had 36 hours to plan, prepare spacesuits, and execute the repair of a critical ammonia leak on the station. The team successfully completed the spacewalk and restored the system, demonstrating agility, dedication, and teamwork under pressure.
Kagey emphasizes that adaptability is essential in human spaceflight. She notes that events rarely proceed exactly as planned, and the job requires responding in a way that ensures crew safety and mission progression. She also highlights the importance of balancing intense mission demands with periods of stepping back.
Influencing Spacesuit Development
Kagey has also contributed to the future of spacesuit development. Her personal experience with the legacy Extravehicular Mobility Unit, which presented fitting challenges due to her height, led her to advocate for designs that support a wider range of body types.
This advocacy culminated in her completing a test in Axiom Space's Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) lunar spacesuit. She noted the excitement of fitting into the future of spacewalks.
Future of Lunar Exploration
As momentum builds for Artemis, Kagey remains focused on the responsibility of advancing human space exploration. Her mission involves working closely with scientists and industry partners to define lunar surface activities. She states that her team is setting the standard for humanity's return to the Moon.