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Meet the Landsat 9 Team: Matt Johnson

NASA's Landsat 9 satellite at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Inside the Integrated Processing Facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United Launch Alliance (ULA) technicians perform ultraviolet and white light inspections on one of two ULA Atlas V rocket payload fairings for NASA’s Landsat 9 satellite on June 17, 2021. The fairings will encapsulate the satellite for its launch atop the Atlas V from Vandenberg. The launch is being managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
u003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eCredits: USSF 30th Space Wing/Pedro Carriu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003e
Matt Johnson, Senior Vehicle Systems Engineer for the Launch Services Program
Matt Johnson has worked in the Launch Servies Program at Kennedy Space Center for three years. He plays an important role in Landsat 9, which is targeted to launch next month.
Contributed photo
NASA Landsat 9 logo

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of five features introducing members of the Landsat 9 team. The features will run weekly, through Sept. 8.
By Jim Cawley
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

 

The Landsat 9 satellite, targeted for launch on Sept. 16, 2021, will continue the nearly 50-year legacy of previous Landsat missions. It will monitor key natural and economic resources from orbit. Meet one of the key members of the team:

Name: Matt Johnson
Official title: Senior Vehicle Systems Engineer
Job responsibilities: Vehicle systems engineers are the technical arm of the program. They coordinate the launch vehicle’s qualification, build, and readiness for flight, among the various engineering disciplines.

How long have you worked for NASA: Three years – all in the Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center

Degrees earned: Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Central Florida

Hometown: I was born in Titusville, FL, and live there now.
Family: I’m blessed to have my parents, two sisters, two brothers-in-law, and eight nieces and nephews who live locally. There is never a dull moment when those kiddos are around!
Hobbies: As a former propulsion systems test engineer, I enjoy troubleshooting things that are broken or not working properly. I’m one of the few people who gets a little excited when something at my house or on my car breaks. I love spending time with my nieces and nephews and also enjoy taking the occasional motorcycle ride – especially in cooler weather.

Fun fact: I have a lucky green bow tie with little yellow rubber duckies on it. Every time I wore it on console for a launch attempt, it never scrubbed and always resulted in a successful launch.