Engineering Tomorrow

Live Event

Astrodynamics

Exploring Space & Developing Launch Vehicles

March 11, 2026|12–1pm EST

How do astronauts become astronauts?

Open up the possibility of other worlds for your students with a presentation by an active astronaut. The presenter will talk about their career path and how they got interested in engineering. They’ll also discuss current missions and what it takes to put people on the moon.

After the presentation, students will have the opportunity to ask questions of current college students studying the field.

Keynote Speaker

Janelle Wellons

Lead Mission Operations Engineer,

ispace

Schedule

12–12:45pm Presentation: Janelle Wellons
12:45–1pm Q&A Session

Our live events bring engineering, math, and science to life by giving students the chance to hear from professional engineers.

Meet our keynote speaker

Janelle Wellons

When Janelle Wellons graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, she had no idea that it would spark the beginning of an almost decade-long career operating science instruments and spacecraft at the Moon, Saturn, and our own planet Earth.

She is currently the Lead Mission Operations Engineer at ispace, inc., leading the team responsible for routine and critical space operations for the companies’ lunar lander missions. Additionally, she has served as Flight Director and Deputy Mission Director for two missions and has over 100 hours on-console in the Mission Control Center. Previously, Janelle worked at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the Earth observing MAIA, Sentinel-6, and SWOT missions as well as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Cassini mission to Saturn.

Speaking to students and professionals about pursuing careers in space has been a constant throughout her career and she has been grateful to share her message at schools and through organizations such as PBS SciGirls, Nike, Lego, MIT Alumni, the Smithsonian, Taipei City Government, the International Astronautical Congress and more. Her volunteer work has extended to serving on the subsidiary board of the Glendale-Pasadena YWCA and acting as a STEM consultant, mentor, and advisor for multiple educational and philanthropic organizations bringing STEM to communities traditionally underrepresented in the field.