Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2024) Plenary SPeaker

Dayna Ise

Director,

Mars Campaign Office,

Moon2Mars Program

NASA HQ

Dayna Ise is director of the Mars Campaign Office.

Named to the position in October 2023, she manages a portfolio responsible for the formulation and demonstration of advanced exploration systems to enable human missions to Mars, using a combination of unique in-house activities, public-private partnerships, and international partnerships. MCO is focused on infusing new technologies into current and future major flight programs: International Space Station (ISS), Human Landing System (HLS), Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP), Gateway, Orion, the Lunar Surface Habitat (LSH), and the Mars Transit Habitat (TH) which will be tested at Gateway in cislunar space before it begins its journey to Mars.

Prior to her current role, she was the deputy manager of the Science and Technology Office at Marshall Space Flight Center. In this capacity, she assisted in leading the organization responsible for projects and programs in support of the Science Mission Directorate and Space Technology Mission Directorate. This includes the Planetary Missions Program Office, the Technology Demonstration Missions Program Office, deep space and planetary exploration, fundamental research in heliophysics, astrophysics, and Earth science, and technology development.

Ise was previously project manager for Space Nuclear Propulsion at Marshall Space Flight Center. Prior to that role, she was division chief in the Systems Development, Integration, and Test Division; Program Executive for Technology Demonstration Missions at NASA Headquarters; and deputy launch vehicle manager for the Commercial Crew Program. She graduated from University of Alabama in Huntsville and has worked at NASA/MSFC for 23 years.