Manuel Retana got here in the U.S. at 15 years of ages, not able to speak English and with absolutely nothing however a dream and $200 in his pocket. Now, he plays an essential function carrying out life support group on spacecraft that will bring people to the Moon and, ultimately, Mars– leading the way for the next frontier of area expedition.
A task supervisor for NASA’s Johnson Space Center Life Support Systems Branch in Houston, Retana assists to guarantee astronaut security aboard the International Space Station and for future Artemis objectives. His work includes tracking on-orbit technical problems, handling the expense and schedule effects of flight jobs, and providing emergency situation hardware.
Among his most noteworthy accomplishments came throughout the certification of the Orion Smoke Eater Filter for the Artemis II and III objectives. The filter is developed to eliminate hazardous gases and particulates from the team cabin in case of a fire inside the spacecraft. Retana was charged with developing an affordable test rig — an important action for making the filter safe for flight.
Retana’s approach is easy: “Rockets do not construct themselves. Individuals develop rockets, and your capability to deal with individuals will specify how well your rocket is developed.”
Throughout his profession, Retana has actually developed his soft abilities– interaction, management, cooperation, and dispute resolution– to cultivate an environment of success.
Retana motivates his associates to find out brand-new languages and share their special point of views. He even established NASA’s very first mariachi ensemble, enabling him to share his cultural heritage in the work environment.
He thinks variety of idea is a crucial element in resolving complicated difficulties in addition to developing an environment where everybody feels comfy sharing their point of views.
“You require to be modest and have a determination to constantly be finding out,” he stated. “What makes a strong group is the truth that not everybody believes the very same method.”
For the future of area expedition, Retana is thrilled about the democratization of area, imagining a world where every nation has the chance to check out. He aspires to see mankind reach the Moon, Mars, and beyond, driven by the mission to address deep space’s most enigmatic concerns.
To the Artemis Generation, he states, “Never lose hope, and it is never ever far too late to begin following your dreams, no matter how far you are.”