Mark Elder: Building the Future of Spacewalking for Artemis and Beyond
Mark Elder has spent over 25 years at NASA, making significant contributions to human spaceflight as the International Space Station (ISS) Extravehicular Activity (EVA) hardware manager. Leading a dedicated team within the EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program, Elder is responsible for the design, maintenance, and operation of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuits, tools, and logistics that protect astronauts during spacewalks. His work is crucial not only for the current operations aboard the ISS but also for the upcoming Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon and eventually send them to Mars.
Elder’s journey to NASA began in childhood, sparked by a book about astronauts that ignited his passion for space exploration. His formative experiences, including attending Space Academy and participating in a NASA program during college, solidified his dream of working at the agency. After starting his career at Pratt & Whitney, he transitioned to Hamilton Sundstrand, the prime contractor for spacesuits, where he gained hands-on experience that would serve as the foundation for his future leadership roles. Throughout his career, Elder has overseen critical projects, including the development of the EVA Long Life Battery—the first human-rated lithium battery used in space—demonstrating his commitment to innovation and safety in space exploration.
As Elder reflects on his career, he emphasizes the importance of leadership and teamwork at NASA. He has learned that effective leadership involves listening and fostering a culture of trust and open communication. This approach has allowed him to navigate complex programs and build strong partnerships across the agency. Looking ahead, Elder is focused on leveraging the lessons learned from the ISS to inform the design of next-generation exploration suits for lunar missions. He believes that perseverance and dreaming big are essential for the next generation of explorers, encouraging them to embrace challenges with the same patience and precision he applies in both his professional and personal life, including his passion for woodworking. Elder’s commitment to exploration and innovation underscores the critical role of teamwork and vision in advancing humanity’s presence in space.
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For more than 25 years, Mark Elder has helped make human spaceflight safe and possible. As the International Space Station EVA hardware manager in the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Office within the EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program, he leads the team responsible for the spacesuits, tools, and logistics that keep astronauts protected during spacewalks—and ensures NASA is ready for the next era of
Artemis
exploration.
Mark Elder with NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) spacesuit at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
NASA/Bill Stafford
His team is programmatically responsible for the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or EMU, spacesuit. That means every bolt, bearing, and battery astronauts rely on outside the International Space Station ultimately falls under their watch. He also oversees the EVA Space Operations Contract, which provides engineering and technical support to keep spacesuit systems flight ready.
Elder’s work directly supports every EVA, or spacewalk, conducted at the station. His team coordinates with astronauts, engineers, and the Mission Control Center in Houston to make sure the suits and tools operate reliably in the most unforgiving environment imaginable. Their work helps ensure every EVA is conducted safely and successfully.
Elder’s passion for NASA began at an early age.
“When I was little, my parents gave me a book called ‘The Astronauts,’” he said. “It had drawings of a reusable spacecraft—the space shuttle—and I fell in love with it. From then on, I told everyone I was going to work at NASA.”
That dream took off at age 16, when he attended Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama. “That cemented my dream of someday working at NASA, and it taught me a little bit more about the different roles within the agency,” he said.
While attending Case Western Reserve University as a mechanical engineering student, he learned about a new NASA program that allowed college students to design and build an experiment and then come to Johnson Space Center for a week to fly with their experiment on the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. “I jumped on the chance to be part of the team,” he said. “The experience further cemented my dream of working at NASA one day—Johnson in particular.”
After graduation, Elder worked with Pratt & Whitney on jet engines. While the experience was invaluable, he knew his heart belonged in human spaceflight. “I learned that one of Pratt’s fellow companies under the United Technologies umbrella was Hamilton Sundstrand, which was the prime contractor for the spacesuit,” he said. “I jumped at the chance to transfer, and my career at NASA finally began.”
Elder spent his first three years at Johnson performing tool-to-tool fit checks on spacewalking equipment, giving him hands-on experience with nearly every tool that he would eventually become responsible for as a hardware manager.
Mark Elder stands in front of the Space Shuttle Atlantis before the STS-117 launch on June 8, 2007.
His early years coincided with the shuttle return-to-flight era, when he worked on reinforced carbon-carbon panel repairs and thermal protection systems. Those experiences built his technical foundation and prepared him for the leadership roles to come.
Over time, Elder took on increasingly complex assignments, eventually leading the team that developed the EVA Long Life Battery—the first human-rated lithium battery used in space. His team created a rigorous test plan to certify the battery for human spaceflight at a time when lithium batteries were under scrutiny for safety concerns.
“Finally signing the certification paperwork was satisfying, but watching an EVA powered by the batteries provided a great sense of pride,” he said.
This innovation set the stage for future generations of even safer, higher-capacity batteries that power today’s spacewalking operations and will eventually support lunar surface activities.
Looking back, Elder said some of his greatest lessons came from learning how to lead with purpose. “The great thing about NASA is the highly motivated and dedicated workforce,” he said. “When I first became a team lead, I thought success meant making quick decisions and moving fast. I learned that leadership is really about listening. Strong teams are built on trust and open communication.”
Another defining lesson, he said, has been learning to assume positive intent. “In a place like NASA, everyone is deeply passionate about what they do,” he said. “It’s easy to misinterpret a disagreement as opposition, but when you remember that everyone is working toward the same goal, the conversation changes. You focus on solving problems, not winning arguments.”
That mindset has guided Elder through some of NASA’s most complex programs and helped him build lasting partnerships across the agency.
Mark Elder receives an award at the 2024 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Stellar Awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston.
NASA/Josh Valcarcel
Today, Elder’s work extends beyond the orbiting laboratory. As NASA prepares for Artemis missions to the Moon, his team’s experience maintaining and improving the EMU informs the design of next-generation exploration suits.
“The foundation we’ve built on the space station is critical for the future,” he said. “Every tool we’ve refined, every system we’ve upgraded—it all feeds into how we’ll operate on the lunar surface and eventually on Mars.”
Elder believes that the key to future success lies in perseverance. He advises the next generation to never stop dreaming. “My path wasn’t direct, and it would have been easy for me to give up,” he said. “But dreams have a way of guiding you if you don’t let go of them.”
When he’s not supporting those missions, Elder’s creativity takes shape in his workshop. “In my spare time, I love woodworking,” he said. “Building something useful from a pile of rough-sawn boards helps calm me and gives me a great sense of accomplishment. I love being able to build furniture for my family,” he added, after recently finishing a desk for his youngest son.
The same patience and precision he brings to woodworking defines his approach to exploration—steady progress, careful craftmanship, and attention to detail. “As NASA goes to the Moon and Mars, there will be challenges,” Elder said. “As long as we keep dreaming, we will see the next generation walking on the Moon and heading to Mars.”
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