Hello NHSS members and friends,

Join the North Houston Space Society on Saturday, September 12, for a presentation by George Salazar, a retired NASA engineer with more than 40 years of experience in human spaceflight.

Please note this month’s meeting time and location:

Saturday, September 12, 2026
1:00–3:00 p.m.
Houston Saengerbund
1703 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX
In the Heights

Featured Presentation

Challenges Certifying Human–Computer Interfaces (HCI) for Deep Space Missions

What does it take to ensure that the displays, controls, and computer interfaces astronauts depend on are ready for missions to the Moon and beyond?

George will introduce NASA’s human-rating certification process and trace the evolution of astronaut interfaces from Apollo to Artemis. He’ll explore the challenges of certifying modern hardware and autonomous systems for deep-space missions, including how to test human performance under the physical and psychological demands of spaceflight.

The presentation will also look ahead to how digital twins—virtual representations of systems—might help evaluate future mission scenarios beyond those tested during certification on Earth.

About the Speaker

George Salazar’s NASA career included serving as the Human–Computer Interface Technical Discipline Lead, overseeing astronaut interfaces for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as the Commercial Crew Program’s Displays and Controls Subsystem Manager, and managing human–computer interfaces for the Artemis lunar lander program.

A licensed professional engineer with degrees in electrical engineering and systems engineering, George holds several patents and has received numerous honors, including the NASA Silver Achievement Medal.

Join us to connect with fellow space enthusiasts and explore the human side of deep-space exploration.

We look forward to seeing you on September 12!

North Houston Space Society