NASA's first female launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson celebrates Artemis launch by cutting off her tie
Charlie Blackwell-Thompson was named NASA's first female launch director in 2016. But it wasn't until early Wednesday morning that her first mission – Artemis I – would take off from Kennedy Space Center for its journey to the moon.
"For the Artemis Generation, this is for you," Blackwell-Thompson said as the launch was announced as a go.
It was a historic event as the 322-foot-tall Artemis moon rocket finally blasted off after multiple delays. This liftoff, which included the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System rocket, was the first part of a series of "increasingly complex missions" to establish humanity on the moon, according to NASA.
But it was also the first time a female was at the helm of a launch at NASA. Blackwell-Thompson is the go-to at the space agency for developing launch countdown plans, philosophy and launch and scrub turnaround procedures and schedules, according to her NASA biography. Before being promoted to the role in January 2016, she served as the chief of the Test Management Branch.
"For once, I might be speechless," she told her team in the control room after the successful launch. "...This is your moment."
She continued to congratulate her team on being "part of a first."
"It is not by chance that you are here today. ...You have earned your place in the room. You have earned this moment. You have earned your place in history," she said. "...It doesn't come along very often – once in a career maybe, but we are all part of something incredibly special, the first launch of Artemis."
"What have you done today will inspire generations to come. So, thank you for your resilience," she continued. "...the harder the climb, the better the view. We showed the Space Coast tonight what a beautiful view it is, so congratulations."
Blackwell-Thompson then kicked off the celebration with a NASA tradition – cutting her tie. It's a customary practice completed by launch directors, test directors and engineers after their first launch, according to NASA. The necktie is usually cut off shortly after liftoff by a manager at Kennedy Space Center in front of the entire launch team.
Former Space Shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach had the opportunity to conduct the customary practice for Blackwell-Thompson, cutting her tie just a few inches up from the bottom. He also cut her tie in 2008 when she had her first successful launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour as STS-126 NASA Test Director.
And this isn't the only tradition NASA continued, a spokesperson told CBS News. Another post-launch custom at the Kennedy Space Center is eating beans. This tradition has been around since 1981 when former Test Director Chief Norm Carlson brought a "small crock pot of northern beans for his hungry staff." It's so well-loved that team members have even made signs saying "beans are go" to hold up after a successful liftoff.
Kennedy Test and Operations Support Contract Specialist Jared Frankle shared a photo of the tradition, complete with cornbread.
This year, there were enough beans to feed 200 people, a NASA spokesperson told CBS News.
"This popular tradition wafted the aroma of launch success through air ducts, into the elevators, out the automatic doors and into the parking lot," NASA says.
