Editor’s Note: This is the fifth in a series of posts introducing you to members of NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) team at Kennedy Space Center in Florida who will launch the Lucy probe on its journey to deep space.
By Danielle Sempsrott
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is scheduled to launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Oct. 16, 2021. The mission will be the first ever to study the Jupiter Trojan asteroids – two separate swarms of asteroids that are thought to be remnants of the initial material that formed the planets within the solar system. The mission will provide a glimpse into the origins of our solar system as we know it.
Name: Jennifer Nufer
Official title: Lucy Mission Manager
Job responsibilities: As the launch service mission manager, I lead the LSP Mission Integration Team (MIT) in the management of day-to-day launch service activities for the Lucy mission. I serve as the primary Lucy project customer interface and oversee the technical integration, schedule management, budget/contract performance, launch site processing activities, and engineering to provide the end-to-end launch service for our Lucy customer.
Time working for NASA: I started my career at NASA as an intern at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, while in college. I have worked directly for NASA for 19 years. Three of those years were spent at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and 16 years have been here at Kennedy Space Center. I spent seven years supporting the Space Shuttle Program before joining the LSP family nine years ago. I am truly honored to work for our nation’s space agency!
Degrees earned: I hold a Bachelor of Science in systems and controls engineering from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and a Master of Science in systems engineering from Virginia Tech.
Hometown: I am originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Go Steelers!), but grew up right on Lake Erie outside of Cleveland. I currently live in Merritt Island, Florida.
Family: I am blessed with my wonderful husband, Brian, of 15 years, who is also a NASA engineer. We have two beautiful daughters, Julia and Lily, and a loveable Border Collie puppy named Winnie.
Hobbies: My family and I love to visit America’s incredible national parks. In the last four years, we have enjoyed visiting Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Glacier, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and the Grand Canyon. I love exploring the world with my girls! I also lead the Baptism Ministry and teach the Baptism preparation class each month at our parish.
Fun fact: We love making popcorn and enjoying family movie or game night! I’m known to quote movie lines randomly and am guilty of doing this often around the office. I also interviewed for the astronaut corps at Johnson Space Center in Houston in 2009, having just found out I was pregnant with my first child.