Northrop Grumman’s hydrotesting team ensures the durability of solid rocket motors which power missions to the moon and beyond.
From Utah to the Moon
Jeremy Baird's Journey in Rocket Assembly
By Kendra Kastelan
Overseeing the assembly of solid rocket motors launching humans to the Moon for the first time in 50 years? No small feat, but for Jeremy Baird, it’s just rocket science.
As the program manager for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket booster assembly and integration, Jeremy led the charge constructing the two solid rocket boosters that provided more than 75% of the SLS rocket’s power on Artemis II, its latest mission to the Moon. His responsibilities included integrating parts, securing supplier deliveries, aligning budgets and schedules, and synchronizing engineering updates.
There is so much knowledge here. Spending time with colleagues across disciplines has taught me that it only takes one conversation to understand what someone can contribute – and in the case of Artemis II, it’s something big.
Jeremy Baird at the roll out of an SLS rocket to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of Artemis II.
From Submarines to Spacecraft
A Utah native, Jeremy’s passion for machines started young. After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in operations management from Utah State University, he joined the Navy as an industrial engineer. There, he refueled and refurbished Los Angeles-class attack submarines, learning how to turn a complex, high-risk process into a repeatable, safe sequence.
Now, Jeremy applies that expertise to solid rocket propulsion, leading a team that provides crucial engineering oversight for the boosters that produce 7.2 million pounds of thrust at launch. For booster assembly and integration at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, his team oversaw engineering, reviewed work instructions, troubleshoots deviations, and ensured every part, bolt and material on the solid rocket boosters met NASA’s exact safety standards.
“Though our base is in Utah, our engineers are critical to vehicle assembly and mission preparations in Florida, beginning with the arrival of the booster segment,” he said. “Our success in stacking the two 177-foot-tall boosters in just three months—drawing on lessons learned from Artemis I—is a testament to our agility, quick response to challenges, and teamwork.”
After two years of hard work, Jeremy and the Northrop Grumman team witnessed their technology successfully take flight with Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed Artemis mission. “It’s a huge responsibility,” Jeremy said. “Every decision we make puts quality and safety first, with the crew as our top priority.”
The SLS rocket, powered by the largest and most powerful solid rocket boosters ever flown on a human spaceflight mission, carrying four astronauts on a historic journey around the Moon and back.
Beyond the Mission
Since joining Northrop Grumman in 2005, Jeremy has worn many hats — engineering, operations, management — gaining deep insights into what it takes to launch massive projects. When asked what he’s been working on lately, Jeremy jokes, ‘Just trying to get man back to the Moon.’
Yet it’s not just the mission, it’s the people alongside him that make the journey truly rewarding. “There is so much knowledge here,” Jeremy said. “Spending time with colleagues across disciplines has taught me that it only takes one conversation to understand what someone can contribute – and in the case of Artemis II, it’s something big.
Summary:
Jeremy Baird leads the assembly of NASA’s solid rocket boosters for Artemis II at Northrop Grumman, playing a key role in powering humanity’s return to the Moon.
Key Takeaways:
- Jeremy’s leadership at Northrop Grumman ensures safe, efficient assembly of the most powerful solid rocket boosters ever flown on human missions.
- His collaborative approach unites multidisciplinary teams across Northrop Grumman, driving the Artemis program’s success as one cohesive enterprise.
Life at Northrop Grumman
Your work at Northrop Grumman makes a difference. Whether you want to design next-generation aircraft, harness digital technologies or build spacecraft that will return humanity to the moon, you’ll contribute to technology that’s transforming the world. Check out our career opportunities to see how you can help define possible.
