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 Activities (EVA) Office within the EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program, he leads the team responsible for the spacesuits, equipment and logistics that keep astronauts safe during spacewalks – and ensuring that NASA Artemis is ready for the next era of exploration.
His team is programmatically responsible for the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or EMU, spacesuit. This means that every bolt, bearing and battery astronauts rely on outside the International Space Station ultimately comes under their supervision. He also oversees the EVA Space Operations Contract, which provides engineering and technical support to keep spacesuit systems flight-ready.
Elders’ work directly supports every EVA, or spacewalk, conducted on the station. His team coordinates with astronauts, engineers and the Mission Control Center in Houston to ensure that the suits and equipment work reliably in the most difficult environments. Their work helps ensure that each EVA is conducted safely and successfully.
The elder’s passion for NASA started at an early age.
“When I was little, my parents gave me a book called ‘The Astronauts,'” he said. “It had pictures 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 came true at the age of 16, when he enrolled at the Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama. “It solidified my dream of working at NASA and taught me a little 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 the Johnson Space Center for a week to fly with his experiment on a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. “I’m excited about the opportunity to be part of the team,” he said. “This experience further solidified my dream of one day working for NASA – especially Johnson.”
After graduation, Elder worked with Pratt & Whitney on jet engines. While the experience was invaluable, he knew his heart was in human space flight. “I learned that one of Pratt’s partner companies under the United Technologies umbrella was Hamilton Sundstrand, which was the prime contractor for the spacesuits,” he said. “I took advantage of the opportunity to transfer and eventually my career at NASA began.”
Elder spent his first three years at Johnson performing tool-to-tool fit checks on spacewalking equipment, giving him practical experience with nearly every piece of equipment for which he would eventually be responsible as a hardware manager.
His early years coincided with the shuttle return-to-flight era, when he worked on reinforced carbon-carbon panel repair and thermal protection systems. Those experiences built his technical foundation and prepared him for the leadership roles to come.
Over time, Elder took on more and more complex tasks, 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 testing plan to certify the battery for human space flight at a time when lithium batteries were being scrutinized for safety concerns.
“It was satisfying to finally sign the certification paperwork, but seeing the battery-powered EVA takes a lot of pride,” he said.
This innovation sets 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. He said, “The best thing about NASA is the highly motivated and dedicated workforce.” “When I first became a team leader, 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 crucial lesson, he said, is learning to have positive intentions. “In a place like NASA, everyone has a deep passion for what they do,” he said. “It’s easy to misconstrue disagreement as conflict, but when you remember that everyone is working toward the same goal, the conversation changes. You focus on solving problems, not winning the argument.”
That mindset has guided Elder through some of NASA’s most complex programs and helped him build lasting partnerships across the agency.
Today, Elder’s work extends beyond the orbiting laboratory. As NASA prepares for the Artemis mission to the Moon, their team’s experience maintaining and improving the EMU informs the design of the next generation exploration suit.
“The foundation we’ve built on the space station is critical for the future,” he said. “Each instrument we have refined, each system we have upgraded – it all depends on how we will operate on the lunar surface and ultimately on Mars.”
Elder believes that the key to future success lies in perseverance. He advises the next generation to never stop dreaming. “My path was not straight 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 them.”
When he’s not supporting those missions, Elder’s creativity takes shape in his workshop. “In my spare time, I like to do woodworking,” he said. “Making something useful out of a pile of rough-cut boards brings me peace and gives me a great sense of accomplishment. I love being able to make furniture for my family,” he said after recently designing a desk for his youngest son.
The patience and precision he brings to woodworking defines his approach to exploration – steady progress, meticulous craftsmanship 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 walk on the Moon and go to Mars.”
