NASA ISS Chief Takes on Commercial Spaceflight Ops

Robyn Gatens, director for the International Space Station for Space Operations, will also become acting director for National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Commercial Spaceflight Division.

Gatens’ NASA career has spanned nearly 40 years during which she has led development and management of life support systems for human spaceflight missions.

Gatens told GovCIO Media & Research that her immediate priority will be leading NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy to enable a long-term private-sector commercial low-Earth orbit space economy. Gatens said she will lead a collaborative effort between the ISS and the division as they establish objectives for a new generation of commercial flight.

“Our vision with this strategy is leading the next generation of human presence in low-Earth orbit to advance microgravity science, technology and exploration,” said Gatens. “It contains our high-level goals and objectives that will drive NASA’s plans and requirements for commercial low-Earth orbit destinations.”

The agency plans to involve industry partners to develop solutions around these destinations and services, she added.

“It is critical that we have a strategy that provides continuity without a gap in human presence in low-Earth orbit,” said Gatens. “I’m also working with our many international space agency partners to ensure we plan for a future in low-Earth orbit that includes their goals and objectives and enables us to continue to collaborate and explore together.”

Gatens said she’s also very excited about some of the future initiatives surrounding the International Space Station.

“We are working on initiatives including a future institute that will continue the role the International Space Station National Lab plays, but adapted for a post-International Space Station National Lab multi-platform low-Earth orbit ecosystem,” said Gatens. “We’re also looking at ways we can begin to send some of our research to these new platforms as a way to demonstrate their capabilities as soon as they are ready.”