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<\/a><\/figure>With nearly a decade of experience at NASA, Cavanaugh currently works within the Orion Crew and Service Module Office at Johnson. He oversees the technical integration of the European Service Module, which provides power, propulsion, and life support to Orion during Artemis missions to the Moon. His work includes aligning and verifying essential systems to keeping the crew alive, including oxygen, nitrogen, water storage, temperature regulation, and spacecraft structures. <\/p>\n
In addition to his integration work, Cavanaugh is an Orion Mission Evaluation Room (MER) manager. The MER is the engineering nerve center during Artemis flights, responsible for real-time monitoring of the Orion spacecraft and real-time decision-making. From prelaunch to splashdown, Cavanaugh will lead a team of engineers who track vehicle health and status, troubleshoot anomalies, and communicate directly with the flight director to ensure the mission remains safe and on track. <\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Cavanaugh\u2019s passion for space exploration began early. \u201cI\u2019ve wanted to be an aerospace engineer since I was six years old,\u201d he said. \u201cMy uncle, who is also an aerospace engineer, used to take me to wind tunnel tests and flight museums as a kid.\u201d <\/p>\n
That passion only deepened after a fifth-grade trip from Philadelphia to Houston with his grandfather. \u201cMy dream of working at NASA Johnson started when I visited the center for the first time,\u201d he said. \u201cGoing from being a fifth grader riding the tram on the tour to contributing to the great work done at Johnson has been truly incredible.\u201d <\/p>\n
Turning that childhood dream into reality did not come with a straight path. Cavanaugh graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 2011, the same year NASA\u2019s Space Shuttle Program ended. With jobs in the space industry in short supply, he took a position with Boeing in Houston, working on the International Space Station\u2019s Passive Thermal Control System. He later supported thermal teams for the Artemis Moon rocket called the Space Launch System, and the Starliner spacecraft that flew astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams during their Boeing Crew Flight Test mission, before a mentor flagged a NASA job posting that turned out to be the perfect fit. <\/p>\n
He joined NASA as the deputy system manager for Orion\u2019s Passive Thermal Control System, eventually stepping into his current leadership role on the broader Orion integration team. \u201cI\u2019ve been very lucky to work with some of the best and most supportive teammates you can imagine,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Cavanaugh says collaboration and empathy were key to solving challenges along the way. \u201cI\u2019ve learned to look at things from the other person\u2019s perspective,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re all working toward the same incredible goal, even if we don\u2019t always agree. That mindset helps keep things constructive and prevents misunderstandings.\u201d <\/p>\n
He also emphasizes the importance of creative problem-solving. \u201cFor me, overcoming technical challenges comes down to seeking different perspectives, questioning assumptions, and not being afraid to try something new\u2014even if it sounds a little ridiculous at first.\u201d <\/p>\n