Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Anton Kiriwas is the senior technical integration manager for NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program, playing a critical role in the Artemis missions to return humans to the Moon after more than fifty years. His journey to NASA began during the Space Shuttle Program with United Launch Alliance before becoming a civil servant and designing electrical systems leading to his current role.
As a launch project engineer, Kiriwas works at the integration console in Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. From this position, he bridges communication between test management and engineering teams, reporting directly to the launch director and making final technical recommendations on issues during launch countdowns.
Kiriwas and his colleagues rigorously prepare through rehearsals and simulations to handle every scenario, aiming for smooth, uneventful launches. When technical issues occur, he leads the team in analyzing requirements, affected systems, and involved parties to troubleshoot and provide “go” or “no-go” recommendations. He emphasizes readiness over haste, cautioning against “launch fever.”
After Artemis II, Kiriwas continues to apply his problem-solving skills and lessons learned to future Artemis missions, contributing to NASA’s ongoing efforts to safely launch spacecraft and crew beyond Earth's orbit.