Stories

Deep in the remote wilderness of northern Labrador, Canada’s easternmost frontier, two KBR flight controllers stepped onto a landscape that looks more like the moon than anywhere else on earth.

Their destination: Kamestastin Crater, a 17-kilometer-wide impact site formed by a meteor strike millions of years ago. For Tess Caswell and Jaclyn Kagey, the expedition was a hands-on geology training mission, a dry run designed to prepare astronauts for NASA’s Artemis III mission. That mission will return humans to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, with a landing targeted for mid-2027.

Flight controllers like Caswell and Kagey, members of KBR’s Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC) III program, guide astronauts from Earth during lunar missions. Under IMOC III, KBR provides mission planning and preparation, astronaut and Mission Control Center flight controller training, real-time flight execution and future exploration vehicle design and development services.

Understanding geology allows them to anticipate what astronauts need, interpret observations and support scientific objectives from Mission Control. That shared understanding is critical, as flight controllers and astronauts have to speak the same scientific language.

“When astronauts understand how different rocks are formed and why they matter, they can focus on collecting the most valuable samples to bring home for scientists to study,” said Caswell, who holds a Ph.D. in geology and serves as Artemis Lead Capsule Communicator for IMOC III flight operations. “Learning the language of lunar geology also helps us anticipate their needs and support the science every step of the way.”

Mission Objectives in Action

Caswell and Kagey were part of a 15-person team that included NASA personnel, astronauts and scientists from Western University in Canada. Over 10 days, the group focused on the mission’s four main objectives: mastering field geology, interpreting impact craters, practicing moonwalks through simulated extravehicular activities and developing teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills in a remote and challenging environment.  

Kamestastin’s rugged terrain, ancient bedrock and towering crater walls offered an ideal lunar analog. The bedrock is unique – formed under intense heat and pressure during the meteor strike, creating impact melt rocks and breccias similar to processes observed on the moon.  

Craters like this are rare on Earth. Plate tectonics and erosion have destroyed most of them.  

“Kamestastin Crater is as close as you can get to walking on the moon without leaving Earth,” Caswell said. “It’s the perfect place to practice not just the science of lunar exploration but the teamwork and problem-solving it takes to make a mission succeed.”  

For Kagey, Artemis III Extravehicular Activity Lead, the trip was an immersive learning experience. She will help oversee future lunar spacewalks for Artemis III from Mission Control, guiding procedures, coordinating with science teams and troubleshooting while astronauts are outside the spacecraft.

“A robot can follow orders and pick up a rock, but only a human has eyes and insight to know which rock is the best choice to collect,” Kagey said. “It takes a human mind to put all the features together and decide which samples to bring home.”  

Demanding Terrain, Rewarding Insights

The fieldwork was both challenging and enlightening. The team arrived by small charter plane, landing on a flat stretch of tundra. They then traveled by boat across Kamestastin Lake, which fills much of the crater, to reach various study sites. That includes Mishta-Minishtik Island, where they mapped terrain, collected samples and studied the region’s striking geological features.  

Steep mountains surrounded them, forming the crater’s rim. They camped on the western shore and caught glimpses of the northern lights at night. During the day, they walked past a hillside that had once been a massive pond of lava produced by the meteor impact. Despite cold, rainy weather and swarms of tiny biting flies, participants stayed focused on learning and collaboration.  

“Watching everyone’s light bulb moment as they realized the complexity of the crater was incredible,” Kagey said. “It reinforces why hands-on experience in the field is so important for mission success.”

As Artemis III continues to take shape, the Kamestastin expedition underscored the vital role of integrated teams. It’s not just astronauts who prepare for lunar missions – flight controllers, scientists and support personnel all play a critical role in returning humans to the moon.

“It’s incredible to see plans on paper come to life,” Kagey said. “We’re on our way to making it happen.”