Meet the Woman Keeping Orion Flying: Mechanical Tech Lead Rebekah Tolatovicz

Rebekah Tolatovicz is not an astronaut, but she is helping send them to the Moon. As a mechanical technician lead supporting the Orion spacecraft through its main contractor Lockheed Martin, Tolatovicz is one of the many skilled professionals working behind the scenes to make NASA's Artemis program a reality.

In a featured audio excerpt from NASA's 'I Am Artemis' series, Tolatovicz speaks candidly about her role in assembling and maintaining the spacecraft that will carry the next generation of astronauts into deep space. Her work involves hands-on technical oversight of the physical systems that must perform flawlessly in one of the most unforgiving environments known to humanity.

Tolatovicz represents a growing wave of women taking on critical roles in aerospace engineering and spacecraft manufacturing. Her position at Lockheed Martin places her at the heart of one of the most ambitious human spaceflight programs since the Apollo era, and she brings both technical expertise and personal passion to the job.

The Artemis program aims to return humans to the lunar surface, including the first woman and first person of color to walk on the Moon. Stories like Tolatovicz's highlight the diverse workforce driving that mission forward, from astronauts in training to the technicians who torque every bolt and test every seal on the Orion capsule.

NASA's 'I Am Artemis' series is designed to shine a spotlight on the thousands of individuals across government agencies and private contractors whose contributions are essential but often overlooked. Tolatovicz's story is a reminder that spaceflight is a team effort measured not just in rocket thrust, but in human dedication.