The National Space Society invites you to the next Space Forum
Thursday, June 18, 2026, 8:00 pm to 9:15 pm EST
NOTE NEW TIME!
The Space Launch System (SLS):
An Early Career Engineer’s Perspective
With special guest
Brandon Burroughs
Project Manager
Boeing’s Program Management Team
NASA’s Space Launch System
The Space Launch System (SLS) is NASA’s most powerful rocket and the launch vehicle that carried the Artemis II crew on humanity’s first voyage around the Moon in more than 50 years. But what is it like to help build and operate this launch system as an early-career engineer?
Join Brandon Burroughs, Project Manager on Boeing’s Space Launch System team at Kennedy Space Center, for an insider’s look at the rocket powering NASA’s return to deep space. Brandon began working on the SLS program as an intern in 2016 and went on to contribute to the development, integration, and long-term planning of the Boeing Core Stage that forms the backbone of the SLS vehicle. He is also representative of the talented new generation of aerospace professionals helping lead America’s return to the Moon.
In this presentation, Brandon will provide an overview of the SLS program, Boeing’s role in its development, and the work required to prepare the world’s most powerful operational rocket for flight. He will share insights from the Artemis II mission, discuss engineering and operational challenges, and explain how NASA and industry teams work together to achieve mission success.
Beyond the technical story, Brandon will discuss his own career journey, from his early interest in space and engineering to his progression from intern to project manager. He will offer lessons learned, advice for students and young professionals considering aerospace careers, and his perspective on the future of the Artemis program and human exploration beyond Earth orbit.
Whether you are interested in space exploration, large-scale engineering programs, or pursuing a career in aerospace, this forum will provide a unique perspective from an engineer helping shape the next era of lunar exploration. Join us to learn how the next generation of engineers is turning the dream of returning to the Moon into reality. Register for the space forum today!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Brandon Burroughs is a project manager on Boeing’s Program Management team supporting NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) at the Kennedy Space Center. He began working on the SLS program as an intern in 2016 and joined Boeing full-time in 2017 as an SLS systems engineer. He worked at both the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and the Kennedy Space Center, contributing to the development and integration of the Boeing Core Stage used on NASA’s Artemis I mission.
In 2021, Brandon transitioned to Boeing’s In-Space Propulsion business development team, helping identify and shape opportunities in advanced space propulsion technologies. He returned to the SLS program in 2024 and now focuses on long-term planning and operations at Kennedy Space Center.
Brandon’s contributions have earned significant recognition. He is a three-time recipient of NASA’s Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Award and received the prestigious NASA SFA Trailblazer Award in 2020 for exceptional support of human spaceflight. In 2023, he was honored with the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) Modern-Day Technology Leader Award. In 2026, Brandon was part of the Boeing Anti-Vortex Issue Resolution team that received the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement (RNASA) Stellar Award for work critical to the success of the Artemis II mission.
Brandon holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with an aerospace concentration from Tuskegee University and an M.S. in Commercial Enterprise in Space from the Florida Institute of Technology. He is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Register today to reserve your seat and ask your questions. Use the link below.
Register no later than June 18 at 7 pm EST
