How Challenger Center Launched a 24-Year-Old into Her NASA Dream Job

At just 24 years old, Jessica Grapentine already has her dream job as a Biomedical Flight Controller for the International Space Station (ISS) program. She monitors and facilitates the medical operations and systems from the ground to keep the ISS crew safe and healthy. And Jessica’s journey to NASA’s Johnson Space Center began just 10 minutes from her childhood home in Paramus, NJ, at a Challenger Learning Center.

A Summer Camp That Sparked a Lifelong Mission

Although she has been fascinated with space since she was in diapers, Jessica’s passion truly blossomed in 5th grade as a summer camper at Buehler Challenger & Science Center. “Having a place to go and connect with others who loved space as much as I did was instrumental in keeping that love alive when I didn’t have many other outlets for it,” she said.

Every summer, Jessica returned to camp—first as a camper, then as a Junior Commander, helping to lead the same simulated missions that once inspired her. “Volunteering at camp helped me discover that I loved mission operations,” she recalled. “It helped me choose where I wanted my career to go in the space industry!” 

From Volunteer to Spaceflight

Jessica’s passion continued to flourish. She sought opportunities to deepen her knowledge,  attending both the Virginia Space Flight Academy in Wallops Island, VA and Space Camp in Huntsville, AL. Her focused path led Jessica to earn a bachelor’s degree in Spaceflight Operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Her ambition and hard work paid off in college. Her capstone paper from her Space Policy & Law class allowed her to attend and present at the 2022 International Astronautical Congress in Paris. That experience not only expanded her professional network but also directly led to the discovery of the job posting for her current role with NASA. “I’ve been here since June 2023 and have loved every minute of being so heavily involved in real-time space operations,” she told us. 

Since then, she has earned her backroom flight controller certification and is on track to complete her front room Biomedical Engineering certification by this summer. “It’s been a whirlwind getting here,” she said, “and I’m so proud and grateful to have gotten my dream job so young.”

With all these fantastic experiences, Jessica still credits her time with Challenger Center for setting her on her path and setting her up for success. “My time there helped me realize my passion for space,” she said. “It was a crucial step in my pursuit of this passion as a full-time career.”