Meet the Expert: Vera Demchenko, Systems Verification & Test Engineer with Lockheed Martin's Orion Program. Vera Demchenko is a Systems Test and Verification Engineer on Lockheed Martin's Orion Program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and beyond. In this role, Vera ensures that the Orion spacecraft is properly tested and verified for system integrity before it is deemed safe for flight. Before working on the human spaceflight program, Vera studied astrophysics and planetary science at CU Boulder, where she also developed a love for hiking, public speaking, and philosophy. She used to work at the Fiske Planetarium which enabled her to engage in astronomy outreach and present her own lectures to a wide range of audience. Vera is a proud cat mom and a space Lego set collector.