Exploration Ground Systems
Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, develops and operates the systems and facilities needed to process and launch rockets and spacecraft for NASA’s Artemis missions. EGS plays a primary role in assembly, launch, and recovery of rockets and spacecraft. EGS has helped transform Kennedy Space Center from a historically government-only launch complex to a spaceport that can handle several different kinds of spacecraft and rockets – both government and commercial.
Our Nation's Return to the Moon
Learn about the Artemis missions that will pave the way for long-term human presence on the Moon.
Learn More about Our Nation's Return to the Moon
Meet the artemis ii crew
Focus Areas and Capabilities
EGS is preparing the infrastructure to support several different kinds of spacecraft and rockets. Here's how:
Launch Processing
EGS uses various facilities at Kennedy for spacecraft and launch vehicle processing, including the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building.
The Crawlers
Two behemoth machines called crawler-transporters have carried the load of taking rockets and spacecraft to the launch pad for more than 50 years at Kennedy.
Mobile Launcher
The mobile launcher is the ground structure used to assemble, process, and launch NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.
Launch Pad 39B
EGS is preparing Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B to support NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Recovery Operations
The Landing and Recovery team led by EGS is responsible for safely recovering the Orion capsule and its crew following splashdown.
Launch Control Center
The Rocco A. Petrone Launch Control Center and its firing rooms is a vital part of EGS's infrastructure needed to launch future Artemis missions.
Meet Our Team
Shawn Quinn
Shawn Quinn is the manager of NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program at Kennedy.
Jeremy W. Parsons
Jeremy Parsons is the deputy manager of NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program at Kennedy.
Robert A. Yaskovic
Robert A. Yaskovic is the associate manager of NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson serves as a launch director for NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Scott B. Wilson
Scott B. Wilson serves in a cross-program role as manager of production operations for the Orion Program and of offline processing and infrastructure development for the Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Darrell Foster
Darrell Foster is the ground systems integration manager (GSIM) with NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Clifton Lanham
Cliff Lanham is the senior vehicle operations manager for NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Chad Brown
Chad Brown is the division chief for the Future Projects Office in the Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Melissa Jones
Melissa Jones currently serves as division chief of Operations and Team Management for the Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Anton Kiriwas
Anton Kiriwas is the senior technical integration manager for NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Allison Mjoen
Allison Mjoen is an operations project engineer for NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program.
Wes Mosedale
Wes Mosedale serves as the technical assistant to the Artemis I launch director.
