Laboratory Director Tawnya Plummer Laughinghouse to Lead NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative
January 8, 2025
Washington, D.C. – NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has appointed Tawnya Plummer Laughinghouse as the director of the agency’s new Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII).
LSII is a strategic initiative that will develop and demonstrate new technologies and capabilities for sustainable exploration of the Moon. This initiative will lay the groundwork for future human missions to the lunar surface and support long-term scientific and technological research.
“Tawnya Plummer Laughinghouse is a highly accomplished scientist and leader with a proven track record of success,” said Nelson. “Her wealth of experience in space exploration and technology development makes her the ideal person to lead LSII and advance our efforts to explore the Moon in a sustainable way.”
As director of LSII, Laughinghouse will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for the initiative. She will also lead the development of partnerships with academia, industry, and international organizations.
“I am honored to have been selected to lead LSII,” said Laughinghouse. “The Moon is a treasure trove of scientific knowledge and resources, and I am excited to work with the LSII team to unlock its potential. We will build on the success of Artemis and develop the technologies and capabilities needed for sustainable lunar exploration.”
Laughinghouse is a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her research focuses on developing novel spacecraft technologies, including inflatable structures, advanced propulsion systems, and autonomous navigation systems.
She has served on numerous NASA advisory committees and panels, including the NASA Engineering and Safety Center Advisory Council and the NASA Space Technology Advisory Council. She is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Laughinghouse holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the California Institute of Technology and a master’s degree and doctorate in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.
LSII is part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2025 and establish a sustainable human presence there. LSII will play a critical role in developing the technologies and capabilities needed to achieve these goals.
The Artemis program is an international partnership that includes the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, and Russia. Together, these partners are working to advance space exploration and create new opportunities for scientific discovery and economic development.
For more information about LSII, visit:
Laboratory Director Tawnya Plummer Laughinghouse
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