From NEPA to NASA: Greater Nanticoke Area alumnus has role on Artemis air operations team

Key Points:

• Michael Bernatovich, a Northeast Pennsylvania native and NASA Johnson Space Center veteran, serves as the debris tool operator for the Artemis II mission, guiding helicopter pilots to safely capture imagery of the Orion capsule during splashdown by avoiding debris zones.
• Bernatovich developed the Sasquatch software to track debris during parachute testing, which was later adapted for real missions like Artemis I and II to enhance recovery operations and engineering analysis.
• He credits his early interest in aerospace engineering to a high school physics teacher and furthered his expertise through aerospace studies and NASA co-op roles, eventually contributing to parachute development and mission operations.
• Beyond Artemis II, Bernatovich is deputy lead for NASA’s integrated testing and facilities team, overseeing Earth-based tests to prepare systems for human spaceflight as part of NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program.
• Passionate about NASA’s lunar exploration goals, Bernatovich emphasizes perseverance and dedication in achieving challenging dreams, inspired by his family’s support and the legacy of his late brother.