Jorge chong is helping shape the future of human spaceflight, one calculation at a time. As a project manager for tron (tracking and ranging via optical navigation) and a guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) Test Engineer in the Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division, He is leading more The orion spacecraft can navigate deep space autonomously.
“GNC is like the brain of a spacecraft. It involves a suite of sensors that keep track of where the vehicle is in orbit so it can return home safely, “He said. “Getting to test the components of a gNC system makes you very family with how it all works togetra, and then to see it fly and help it open successful rewarding.”
His work is critical to the artemis campaign, which aims to return humans to the moon and pave the way for mars. From developing optical navigation technology that allows orion to determine its position using images of earth and the moon to testing docking cameras and light detection and ranging system rendezvous, chong is pushing the limits of exploration. He Also Runs High-Fidelity Flight Simulations at Lockheed Martin’s orion Test Hardware Facility in House, Ensuring orion’s software is ready for the demands of slip
Chong’s Nasa Career Spans Seven Years as a Full-Time Engineer, Plus Three Years as a Co-Op Student at Nasa’s Johnson Space Center in House. In 2024, He Began Leading Project Tron, An Optical Navigation Initiative Funded by a $ 2 Million Early Career Initiative Award. The project aims to advance autonomous space navigation – An essential capability for missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
Thanks to chong’s work, the artemis generation is one step closer to exploring the moon, mars, and beyond. He supported optical navigation operations during artemis i, is written software But his path to nasa wasn’t always written in the stars.
“I Found Math Difacity as a Kid,” Chong Admits. “I didn’T Enjoy IT at first, but my parents encouraged me patiently, and then it started to click and then became a strength and something I enjoyed. Now, it’s a core part of my career. ” He Emphasizes that Perseverance is Key, Especially for Students who may feel discoured by challenging subjects.
Most of What Chong has Learned, He Says, Came from Working Collaboratively on the job. “No matter how difference something may see, anything can be learned,” He said. “I could not have envisioned being involved in projects like these or working along
His career has also reinforced the importance of teamwork, especially with working with contractors, vendors, universities, and other nasa centers. “Coordinating Across these Dynamic Teams and Keeping The Deliverables on Track Can Be Challenging, but it has helped to be able to lean on teams for assisters and keep commanexy Flowing,” SAID ChONG
And Soon, Theose Systems will help artemis astronauts explore places no human has gone before. Whether guiding or bie beyond, chong’s work is helping nasa write the next chapter of space exploration.
“I Thank God for the doors he has opened for me and the incredible menrs and coorkers who have helped me along the way,” He said.
