An instrument designed by a University of Georgia graduate is currently on its way back to Earth after the successful completion of NASA's Artemis II mission.
Since the April 1 launch, four NASA astronauts have been aboard the Orion spacecraft, nicknamed Integrity, rigorously testing its integrated systems during the mission. Every breath onboard is carefully monitored by a compact device called the laser air monitoring system. At the heart of this system is a laser spectroscopy instrument created by Jeff Pilgrim, a UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences alumnus who built his career around the idea that lasers can "read" the air.
Laser spectroscopy is a technique that uses lasers to obtain information about objects based on how they respond to light. This information provides insights into objects' chemical and molecular makeups, as well as their physical characteristics.
"The instruments on Integrity represent the culmination of efforts across multiple disciplines over two decades, moving laser spectroscopy forward into the future of human spaceflight," Pilgrim said. "I am grateful that NASA has allowed my company, Vista Photonics, to participate in this mission, where scientific and engineering principles instilled by my multidisciplinary Franklin College education could be applied to protect the crew."
The astronauts have traveled farther from Earth than any humans since the Apollo era. The mission included a close lunar flyby, during which the crew gathered scientific data while testing critical systems for future exploration.
The 10-day mission has demonstrated essential life-support, navigation and communication capabilities needed for upcoming lunar landings. The spacecraft is currently preparing for high-speed reentry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking a pivotal step in NASA's long-term Artemis program.
Pilgrim earned his doctorate in chemistry in 1995 under UGA Regents' Professor Michael Duncan. His work at UGA laid the foundation for a career at the intersection of scientific research and real-world application.
In 2003, he founded Vista Photonics in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to commercialize laser sensing technologies, leading to collaborations with agencies such as NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Navy.
The company's innovations first reached space in 2013 when NASA selected Vista Photonics to develop a multi-gas analyzer for the International Space Station. That analyzer earned the Johnson Space Center Director's Team Award in 2015.
Since then, Vista Photonics has continued developing technology for NASA, the Navy and Artemis missions, earning numerous recognitions. Pilgrim received multiple honors for his work, including the UGA Chemistry Distinguished Alumni Award in 2023 and the NASA Johnson Space Center Crew and Thermal Systems Division Challenge Coin.
With 32 publications and nearly 30 patents worldwide, Pilgrim's work continues to shape the future of optical sensing and space exploration, demonstrating that innovation often begins with a single, persistent spark of curiosity.
NASA also invited Pilgrim and his wife, Melissa, to attend the launch.
"We were both so honored when NASA invited us to attend as their guests," said Melissa, who graduated from the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences in 1992. Melissa is co-owner of Vista Photonics and serves as its chief administrative officer. "The crowd was counting down, and there was applause and awe as we watched the rocket take off. I still cannot believe that we had this opportunity. I couldn't be more excited about our company's accomplishments."
