I Am Artemis: Michael Guzman
Listen to this audio clip from Michael Guzman, Artemis II’s lead propulsion systems engineer:
A clue to what Mike Guzman, senior propulsion systems engineer at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, likes most is in his work email signature: a complex chain of equations for a rocket’s thrust, specific impulse and the physics behind cooling liquid oxygen with helium bubbles.
Mike Guzman
Artemis II Main Propulsion Systems Engineer
Born in New York to a family from the Dominican Republic, Guzman moved to Florida where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Florida International University and a master’s degree in space systems from the Florida Institute of Technology. His path to NASA Kennedy began after he was selected for a summer internship in 2013, an opportunity that would ultimately change the course of his career.
During his internship, Guzman came up with the idea of building his own rocket. He bought a textbook and started building a model rocket in his spare time. The dynamism and passion he put into this project did not go unnoticed. Just three days after the miniature rocket launched, he was offered a job and has been working for the US space agency ever since.
Guzman began his work with a model rocket and is now part of the team at Exploration Ground Systems that is launching the rocket that will carry astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years: the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for Artemis II.
Guzman joined the propulsion team in 2019. Early in his role, he focused on the hydrogen systems on Launch Pad 39B, including the large sphere of liquid hydrogen on the platform and the piping that powers the rocket’s propellant. Today, he works on the main propulsion system inside the rocket itself, a role that will put him in the firing room of the Artemis II test flight, at the center of launch operations.
At the heart of Guzman’s work is the “brain book,” a comprehensive binder that contains all the drawings, requirements, procedures and launch criteria an engineer could need. It’s a roadmap to effectiveness. By studying it in advance, Guzman and his colleagues know exactly where to find what they need and how to respond to unexpected problems.
The key to a successful launch is teamwork. On launch day, hundreds of engineers gather in the firing room to monitor every system on the spacecraft. The actions of each console operator influence those of the others, creating a constant interaction where observation, communication and anticipation are key to mission success.
Mike Guzman
Artemis II Main Propulsion Systems Engineer
For Guzman, Artemis II represents the culmination of years of preparation, study and collaboration.
“It’s not something that happens every day, and it’s not something you can participate in every day,” Guzman said. “To see this finally happen, it’s going to be amazing.”
