Ready for Launch - the Artemis Lunar Missions

As the nation and the world follow the journey around the moon of the Artemis II Mission, Raider Nation is proud to celebrate the contributions of Edwin Corporan '97, a NASA Senior Launch Applications Engineer at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL.

Edwin served as a Launch Control Systems Engineer (Launch Applications Thread Lead) for the Artemis I Mission - which launched in 2022.

Edwin was profiled in the Fall 2023 issue of the Emblem - below.

He was selected as one of seven Systems Engineers tasked with the effort of upgrading the Kennedy Space Center Launch Control System (LCS) in preparation for the Artemis I mission (EM-1), which launched in November 2022.

The Artemis I mission marked the return to lunar exploration since the conclusion of the Apollo program five decades ago. The mission also showcased the SLS rocket, the most powerful launch vehicle ever built in the history of NASA. The SLS rocket is also being used for Artemis II,

The Emblem, Fall 2023

Edwin Corporan '97

NASA Senior Launch Applications Engineer

Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL

Raider Nation found its way to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida thanks to Edwin Corporan ’97, who serves as a contractor for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), an independent agency of the U.S. Government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics and space research.

Edwin was selected as one of seven Systems Engineers tasked with the effort of upgrading the Kennedy Space Center Launch Control System (LCS) in preparation for the Artemis I mission (EM-1). The Artemis I mission marked the return to lunar exploration since the conclusion of the Apollo program five decades ago. The mission also showcased the SLS rocket, the most powerful launch vehicle ever built in the history of NASA.

"It was truly a dream come true being part of such a historic event as SLS launched successfully on Nov 16, 2022 from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B in Florida," said Edwin. "I'm very thankful to God for the unforgettable experience. I know it will make a great story to tell my grandchildren someday."

Working as a Launch Control Systems Engineer (Launch Applications Thread Lead) for the Artemis I Mission, Edwin was in charge of performing engineering analysis tasks and managing requirements to prepare the Kennedy Space Center Launch Control System Launch Applications for the Artemis I mission.

"Launch Applications are the heart and soul of the Kennedy Space Center Launch Control System," said Edwin. "They deal primarily with the Command and Control (C&C) of the various systems that heavily interact with the KSC Launch Control System, as well as performing diagnostics and receiving telemetry before and during launch from various systems. These include the SLS rocket, the Orion Capsule, the Mobile Launcher, among many others.”

Edwin’s fascination with space exploration started at a very young age.

"When I was a little boy in the Dominican Republic watching shows like Lost in Space (Perdidos en El Espacio), I was dreaming what it would be like to be in space," said Edwin. "I remember clearly after migrating to the U.S. (Lawrence, MA) at the age of ten (I did not speak English) and seeing a soft drink tv commercial that showed the Space Shuttle launching from Cape Canaveral, FL, with this mesmerizing song (Space Oddity) playing in the background. It was after watching these iconic unforgettable images for the first time on tv that I begin dreaming that someday I would have the opportunity to work at NASA and be part of the space program."

Edwin’s dreams were ignited as a student at Central Catholic! From his math, science and English classes that prepared him to succeed as an engineering student in college, all the way to Religious Studies that encouraged Edwin's faith in God when he had to navigate through life’s challenges. 

"I was very blessed with all the teachers and coaches I had at Central, they were all very helpful,” said Edwin. "Mr. Christopher Sullivan '81 (current CCHS President) was a great mentor to me in my time at Central, and Mrs. Kriner's (Mrs. Jodi Linnehan Kriner, Dir. of Innovation and Academic Technologies at CCHS) Computer Applications class was what sparked my curiosity and inspired me to learn more about computers since I was not familiar with them at all."

"I'm very thankful to God for the unforgettable experience. I know it will make a great story to tell my grandchildren someday."

After graduating from CCHS in 1997, Edwin earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts (Lowell, MA).

"For me, I really enjoyed that Central fosters an atmosphere of excellence and faith," said Edwin. "I love challenging myself and doing everything to the best of my ability, and at Central, I was always reminded by my teachers and coaches to live up to those standards. Everything I learned at Central has helped contribute to where I am today."

"Just like the Word of God says: 'Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as if you were doing it for the Lord and not for others, since you know that you will receive from the Lord an inheritance as your reward for you are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24."

Congratulations, Edwin!