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I am Artemis: Christoph Schmitt

I am Artemis: Christoph Schmitt

On his path to a career in aerospace, Christoph Schmitt learned that sometimes, change is required for growth.

Before earning his diploma in aerospace engineering, Schmitt played semi-professional soccer in Germany, something he felt compelled to pursue after the death of his mother at a young age.

“She always was my biggest supporter, and I somehow had the feeling as a kid that I was playing for her,” Schmitt said.

But after going head-to-head with soccer players who are now on Germany’s national soccer team, Schmitt felt he needed a change in his career. This time, toward something else that had long captivated him.

“I grew up in the shuttle era, and my dad had to buy every LEGO shuttle set that was available,“ he said. “Space, and especially exploration, always fascinated me.”

This inspired Schmitt to enter the world of aerospace, and today he is the program manager and system engineer for the Orion spacecraft‘s lidar sensors at Jena-Optronik GmbH in Jena, Germany. 

Orion is the spacecraft that will carry astronauts to space on Artemis missions to the Moon and bring them back to Earth. Jena-Optronik builds the lidar sensors that are part of Orion’s guidance, navigation, and control system and will fly aboard Orion beginning with the Artemis III mission. Lidar stands for light detection and ranging, and is a method for measuring ranges using pulses of laser light. Lidar sensors will help Orion dock with other spacecraft on Artemis III and beyond.

Now, Schmitt is part of the Artemis missions and a new generation of exploration, and moving on from soccer is something he is not remorseful about.

“I never regret the decision,” he said. “I found my path and have the feeling that I can contribute to something bigger – what else do you need?”

Learn more about the Orion spacecraft.