FROM THE NEST | SUMMER 2026 | 19 porting the vehicle and providing what Riddle describes as something close to life support. At T-zero, what Riddle calls “first motion,ˮ the rocket begins to rise and the umbilical connections must be released cleanly and precisely. “Once it starts moving, thatʼs it,ˮ he said. “You canʼt stop it. Everything has to work exactly as designed.ˮ The work leading up to that moment is defined by repetition and rigor: testing, retesting and constant monitoring. In the hours before the Artemis launch, Riddle and his colleagues were stationed at their systems, watching data streams, listening to communications from the control room and keeping a close eye on every signal. Even with years of preparation, uncertainty is ever-present. That responsibility is shared across thousands of engineers, technicians and specialists working across NASA centers and partner organizations, all contributing to a single launch. When the rocket finally lifted off, Riddle said the moment carried less celebration than expected. “It was an overwhelming relief,ˮ he said. Even amid the pressure and responsibility of his work, Riddle hasnʼt lost sight of the creative spark that first drew him to engineering. He still plays guitar and still sees connections between music, problem-solving and the work he does today. Communication and Navigation Systems in Aerospace At Lehigh, Mancinelli majored in electrical engineering, a demanding field that challenged her to push herself academically. By senior year, she had earned a place in the Presidentʼs Scholars program, which gave her the opportunity to pursue a second degree in finance. She took advantage, growing both her technical expertise and her understanding of business. That momentum carried her into an internship with Lockheed Martin, where she was drawn to the breadth of possibilities the company offered. Before she graduated, she had already secured a full-time role. Mancinelli began her career in Lockheedʼs Engineering Leadership Development Program, rotating through a range of roles across the organization. Weekly sessions with company fellows offered insight into real-world challenges and leadership lessons, while the rotations allowed her to explore, adapt and grow her skill set. Over the next 23 years, Mancinelli steadily took on greater responsibility. Today, as vice president of global communications and navigation at Lockheed Martin, no two days look exactly the same, but her approach remains consistent: ask questions, set a clear vision and trust the people around her. “When I think back, the most rewarding moments of my career involved accomplishing tasks that were the hardest and most stressful,ˮ she said. “Through trusting my gut, motivating my team, building strong bonds and pushing through those things you thought were impossible. I learned the most in those moments.ˮ Mancinelli credits her husband, Dean Mancinelli ʼ84, a fellow engineering graduate, for being a solid support system. She is focused not only on whatʼs ahead, but on who she can bring with her. She prioritizes mentorship, and the advice she shares reflects the mindset that shaped her own journey. “Be curious, challenge yourself and donʼt be afraid of failure,ˮ she said. “Thereʼs no single path to success. I always tried new things, volunteered for opportunities outside my role and took chances. Iʼd encourage others to do the same.ˮ She noted that in April, Lockheed Martin achieved a major accomplishment in support of the Artemis II mission. “Iʼm incredibly inspired and proud of the impact our teams are making—how far we have come and how we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible each and every day.ˮ A Lehigh Legacy in Aerospace Former NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Terry Hart ʼ68 Hʼ88 Pʼ27 joined Lehighʼs faculty in 2004 and recently founded the universityʼs masterʼs in aerospace engineering program. Hart, teaching full professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, flew aboard STS 41-C Challenger, NASAʼs 11th Space Shuttle mission, launched from Kennedy Space Center in April 1984. During the mission, the crew logged 168 hours in orbit and became the first astronauts to repair a satellite from the shuttle. Hart also helped complete the shuttle programʼs first rendezvous mission and operated the Remote Manipulator System that retrieved the Solar Maximum Satellite for repairs. More than four decades later, Hart continues to share his expertise and appeared on CNN, CBS News and NewsNation during coverage of the Artemis II lunar flyby. His experience as a former astronaut and aerospace expert helps connect Lehighʼs history in human spaceflight to a new generation of alumni helping shape the future of space exploration. “[Exploration] is what makes us human, curiosity, wondering why things are the way they are,ˮ Hart said. “When historians look back on this time, they might conclude that the best thing that came out of the space program was that sense of oneness that people have when they see how perishable the Earth is. We have to take good care of the planet, and we have to take good care of each other.ˮ SCAN TO WATCH A VIDEO OF LEHIGHʼS STUDENT ROCKETRY CLUB Christina Mancinelli ʼ03 ʼ04 CHRISTA NEU
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