Artemis launch’s unsung hero recognized for mission success

NASA and the Artemis I team received the Nelson P. Jackson Aerospace Award for their contributions to aerospace through the historic Artemis I launch on November 16, 2022. Presented at the AAS Goddard Space Science Symposium in Washington, D.C.

On Jay Grow’s first day on the Space Launch System program, he told himself he would see the rocket lift off the ground. And he did that plus more.

As Boeing’s associate chief engineer for Space Launch System Launch Operations, Grow’s expertise was crucial in preparing the first Artemis rocket’s core stage for launch.

On Friday, NASA and the Artemis I industry team were awarded with the Nelson P. Jackson Aerospace Award for their exceptional contributions to aerospace through the historic Artemis I launch on November 16, 2022. The award was presented at this year’s AAS Goddard Space Science Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Grow’s aerospace knowledge and guidance lead the team every step of the way as they prepared the core stage for launch. On the day of, he collaborated with Boeing engineers to troubleshoot anomalies and ensure optimal performance across all subsystems. As the integrator and engineering leader, Grow diagnosed issues, determined next steps and effectively communicated with the NASA team for a smooth launch countdown.

Grow shared, "On my first day with the program, I told myself I would be there to get this thing off the ground – literally. And not only was I there, but I led the Boeing engineering team through the problem-solving required to launch the rocket for the first time. It was the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the big day."

Four other individuals accepted the award on behalf of the companies comprising the Artemis I industry team – including Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, Jacobs, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

The success of the Artemis I mission marked a significant milestone in NASA's goal of returning humans to the moon. The industry partners, along with NASA, were crucial in supporting all aspects of the launch, from the SLS rocket elements to the Orion spacecraft and ground systems.

"It was surreal. I worked for so many years through all phases of the design, development, build and green run testing – it didn't feel real that we finally launched. After it sunk in, it really felt great. Most importantly, I felt very, very proud to be a part of the team," said Grow.

Grow remains ready and focused on future Artemis missions.

"I'm ready to go! The only downside of this job is waiting between launches. But, I have enjoyed the time without the stress of launch in the air, shifting some focus to life outside work and recharging my batteries to be ready for Artemis II. When I am in the office, I strive to make this program sustainable by training younger teammates and preparing them for the road ahead," he said.