Distinguished Mechanical Engineer
BSME, University of Texas at Austin, 1999
MS Space Architecture, University of Houston, 2007
Shatel Bhakta (seh-thul bhuck-tha) is the lead architect on the Lunar Architecture Team for NASA’s Artemis campaign in the Strategy & Architecture office working to realize the Moon to Mars Program. He leads a multidisciplinary team across the agency to develop and refine the lunar architecture and Artemis concepts, which includes its associated mission scoping, concept of operations, trades and analysis, system element conceptualization, and system-of-systems integration. He leads his team on academic, industry, and international engagements to advance the mission.
Bhakta earned his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and his graduate degree in Space Architecture from the University of Houston. With over 26 years of experience in human spaceflight design, development, test and operations, Bhakta started with analysis, testing, and mission support for the Space Station’s active thermal control systems hardware and software where his work earned him numerous commendations including a NASA Spaceflight Awareness award and the coveted astronaut selected Silver Snoopy award. He transitioned over to work on development of the Orion deep space capsule and led the active thermal control system and environmental control and life support subsystems team through their critical design reviews and looks forward to seeing that hardware perform its mission in space on the upcoming Artemis II (2026). He then transitioned to NASA to lead the Gateway thermal team through preliminary design review before taking on his current role.
In his free time, he is a husband and father of three active kids that engage him in robotics, soccer, tennis, and Scouting America activities that currently keep him from watching sci-fi, or reading many good books.
