A Journey From Backyard Stargazing to NASA Leadership: The Inspiring Story of Christina Zeringue
Christina Zeringue’s fascination with space began when she was just ten years old. On a memorable Christmas night, she peered through her brand-new telescope, gazing upon the Moon and planets. This moment sparked a lifelong passion for astronomy and set her on a path that would eventually lead her to a pivotal role at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Her journey from a backyard stargazer to a key leader in NASA serves as an inspiring tale of curiosity and dedication.
Zeringue recalls, “I became fascinated with astronomy and learning about stars and constellations, the solar system and planetary orbits, solar and lunar eclipses, and challenging myself to find stars and nebula at different distances from Earth. I was able to do and learn so much just from my own yard.” Her early explorations into the cosmos were largely self-taught, driven by an insatiable curiosity and the desire to understand the universe.
Her passion was further fueled by her interest in the Hubble Space Telescope, a project that captured the imagination of many aspiring astronomers around the world. The telescope, launched aboard a space shuttle powered by engines tested at NASA Stennis, provided breathtaking images and data that expanded our understanding of the universe.
Driven by her desire to contribute to space exploration, Zeringue pursued an academic path that would eventually lead her to NASA. She graduated from the University of New Orleans and soon after found herself at NASA Stennis, where she has spent 28 productive years, with half of that time as a contractor and the other half as a NASA employee. Her journey from a student of the stars to a key figure in NASA’s operations is a testament to her dedication and expertise.
In her current role as the chief safety and mission assurance officer at NASA Stennis, Zeringue is responsible for ensuring the safety and success of all activities at the site. This includes overseeing rocket propulsion testing as well as the operation of NASA Stennis Federal City. This unique facility houses over 50 federal, state, academic, public, and private aerospace, technology, and research organizations, all collaborating to advance their individual missions.
Discussing her responsibilities, Zeringue shared, “I have a broad range of responsibilities, which allows me to work with many talented people, pushes me to learn and develop new skills, and keeps my work interesting every day.” Her role challenges her to constantly innovate and collaborate with experts from various fields, ensuring that every mission undertaken at NASA Stennis meets the highest safety and quality standards.
Zeringue’s work has been instrumental in supporting NASA’s ambitious Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon. Her contributions to the testing of the RS-25 engines and the Green Run testing of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) core stage played a crucial role in the successful launch of Artemis I. This mission marked a significant milestone in humanity’s quest to explore lunar and other extraterrestrial terrains.
The path to ensuring mission success and safety is not always straightforward. Zeringue often encounters engineering and safety challenges that require creative problem-solving. “We work together to understand new problems, determine the best course of action, and create new processes and ways to handle every challenge,” she explained. This collaborative approach is vital in an environment where precision and safety are paramount.
Zeringue’s career at NASA Stennis began as a contractor where she served as a test article engineer for the Space Shuttle Main Engine Program. Her role evolved to include responsibilities as a quality systems manager, where she oversaw the quality engineering and configuration management of various engine systems. These included the space shuttle main engine, the RS-68 engine used in Delta IV rockets, and the J-2X upper stage engine.
In 2011, Zeringue transitioned to a direct position with NASA, initially working as a facility systems safety engineer. She later became the chief of the operations support division within the NASA Stennis Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate. Each role has added to her wealth of experience and has been instrumental in her professional growth.
One of Zeringue’s proudest moments came early in her career during a final inspection of a new high-pressure fuel turbopump. She discovered a piece of contamination lodged behind the turbine shroud, which had been missed in previous inspections. Her keen observation led to the part being returned for disassembly, averting a potential hazard in its next flight. “While our post-test inspections can sometimes become routine, that day still stands out to me as a way that I really knew I directly contributed to the safety of our astronauts,” she reflected.
From her first telescope-assisted gaze at the stars to her current role at NASA, each step in Zeringue’s journey has been marked by a blend of curiosity, expertise, and a commitment to safety and excellence. Her advice to anyone considering a career with NASA is simple yet profound: “Stay curious, invest in your own development, share your expertise with others, and try something new every day.”
Christina Zeringue’s story is a powerful reminder of how passion and perseverance can lead to groundbreaking achievements and contributions to humanity’s understanding of space. Her work continues to inspire future generations of explorers, scientists, and engineers who look to the stars with the same wonder and determination that she possessed as a young girl with a telescope in her backyard.
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