Lori McDerby receives Innovation Award for support to the Ignition Overpressure Protection and Sound Suppression Team

Lori McDerby receives Innovation Award

Lori McDerby, a Space Launch System (SLS) Imagery Integration Lead for ESSCA, was honored with an Innovation Award by the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) on Nov. 12, 2024, for the SLS Imagery Team support to the Ignition Overpressure Protection and Sound Suppression (IOP/SS) Team during the Artemis II Integrated Systems Verification and Validation Test 2 (ISVV-2) campaign performed at KSC. 

The SLS Imagery Team (both Imagery Integration and Imagery Analysis) integrated the tasks, provided feedback during and post testing, and completed the SLS Imagery analysis for the SLS Induced Environment teams’ assessment of the Artemis II ISVV-2 campaign in support of the NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) IOP/SS Team. 

The SLS team recommended imagery improvements for Artemis II and partnered with the IOP/SS team in the implementation of the improvements. The improvements included adding a structural barrier to protect the launch cameras, camera splash shields, camera pedestals, and rainbird beaks to name a few. 

Bill Chardavoyne, the NASA IOP/SS System Lead, sent Lori and her teammates a message of con-gratulations via e-mail: “I want to extend my congratulations to each of you that are receiving this esteemed agency-level award in support of the Artemis Program. This isn’t simply an acknowledgment of hard work or participation; this award celebrates those who went above and beyond, delivering impactful innovative solutions that made a tangible difference in our program.” 

The SLS Imagery and the SLS Induced Environment teams’ assessment contributed to the IOP/SS Teams’ key achievements: 

Recertifying IOP/SS for Artemis II: Successfully met all flow rate and coverage requirements, eliminating the need for the waiver IOP/SS had on Artemis I. The increase in water flow rates and coverage will enhance vehicle protection during initial ascent. 

Artemis II Critical Launch Protection Measures: Developed solutions to shield launch imagery and prevent Hydrogen Burn-Off Igniter systems from premature water obscurement (i.e., camera housing enhancements, Rainbird modifications, and improved imagery capabilities). 

Rainbird Prototype Nozzles Development and Flow Tests: Designed and tested the Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2) Rainbird prototype nozzles during ISVV-2 to mitigate the on-pad shutdown water deluge risk. The team’s results provided a remarkable $5-8M cost avoidance for ML2. 

“I am honored the SLS team members were included in this recognition,” said Lori. “So many talented individuals contributed to the test campaign, it was truly a great collaborative effort and fantastic experience.”

Pictures is the Space Launch Systems (SLS) Rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The ISVV-2 Test was performed at KSC.