Jeff Somers never thought he would see someone land on the moon in his lifetime. Now, NASA's lunar return and Artemis mission are within the 1998 Rose-Hulman electrical engineering graduate's orbit. 

Somers, the Mobility Test Team Lead at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, is the engineering lead on the Ground Test Unit, a prototype designed to allow simulation of lunar rover concepts for the Artemis mission. The uncrewed Artemis I launched in 2022, and in the coming years, Artemis III will carry the first woman and the first person of color to land on the moon.

"The Ground Test Unit is a development vehicle that we can use to see how rovers will work on the moon," Somers said. "It is an asset that we can use to understand how to evaluate rover designs and develop test criteria and give us a chance to practice on a vehicle."

It's a bit of a divergence from his usual role in the Human Physiology, Performance, Protection and Operations (H-3PO) Laboratory - Somers stepped into the new project as part of NASA's rotation program that allows people to explore different parts of the organization.

"I've had to put my electrical engineering knowledge back to the test," he laughed. "I still really love electrical engineering, but I got into biomedical engineering, which I love in a different way."

After graduating from Rose-Hulman, Somers earned his master's in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 2000, where he worked in the lab of a neurologist. The lab worked closely with NASA researching the vestibular system, including causes of motion sickness. Somers amazed himself when he accepted a job at a NASA contractor after graduation, working on a team that invented glasses to reduce the risk of motion sickness.

Somers spent several years working closely with SpaceX and Boeing on their respective Crew Dragon and Starliner vehicles as part of the Commercial Crew Program to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).  His lab also worked on exercise physiology in space, creating exercise equipment for astronauts on the space station to counteract the physical changes that accompany space travel. Due to the constraints of the ISS, the heavy equipment presents an engineering challenge. 

"I liken it to if you were asked to do jumping jacks in a rowboat in the middle of the lake and not make waves in the lake," he explained. 

As part of his role in the (H-3PO) Laboratory, Somers's team developed an Exploration Atmosphere to help astronauts prepare for extravehicular activity during Artemis missions. If a lunar lander were to use Earth atmosphere in the cabin, astronauts would need to breathe 100% oxygen for up to seven hours before exiting to the lunar surface, or risk decompression sickness (the bends). The Exploration Atmosphere cuts that time to just 20 minutes. 

Somers also specializes in spacesuit physiology and injury biomechanics, publishing articles, including NASA Tech Memos, about safety tests and specifications to reduce the risk of injury.

"One of things we had to come up with that was really interesting was how do you define what probability of injuries is okay?" Somers said. "Zero isn't a real answer. We can never design to 0% risk of injury." 

Now, Somers says that NASA is developing more simultaneous projects than ever before, creating unique opportunities for innovation in the space industry. 

"I didn't think I'd ever work [at NASA], growing up in the Midwest," he grinned. "I'm a huge space nerd. I love space. The first few months I just couldn't believe that I worked here." 

He carries that joy and childlike wonder with him now, reinvigorated by the eager faces of visitors touring the Johnson Space Center and walking directly over his desk. 

He also carries one of NASA's most prestigious awards. Named after PEANUTS creator Charles Schulz' fascination with NASA and selected by a team of astronauts, the Silver Snoopy is presented to fewer than 1% of NASA employees for their outstanding service to a spaceflight crew. Recipients receive a silver Snoopy lapel pin, adorned with his own spacesuit, that flew in space and a letter certifying Snoopy’s flight. Somers earned the award in 2013 for his work in spaceflight injury biomechanics.

His proudest career accomplishment, though, has been his work in improving the safety of the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicles, the launches of both of which were broadcast on live television.

"Those vehicles have aspects that I personally changed and fought for," he said. "There are aspects of both vehicles that I made safer personally."

Somers’ work on the Commercial Crew Program earned Somers the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal, which is awarded for significant advancements that demonstrate results and are far above others in quality, scope, or impact, according to NASA’s website.

His expertise is shaping both history and discovery, landing astronauts both safely on the moon and back on Earth. The initial small steps Somers took at Rose-Hulman are creating giant leaps across the night sky, soaring with Snoopy across the vast expanse of space.