Date of Conferral

6-16-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Edoardo Naggiar

Abstract

The decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS) represents a significant organizational transition. Despite parallels with previous National Aeronautics and Space Administration program closures, research has not fully examined the human impact of such mission-driven disruptions. Employees face uncertainties regarding job roles, the relevance of specialized skills, and the future within a rapidly commercializing space sector. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how aerospace employees perceive and navigate the psychological and professional challenges associated with the ISS decommissioning. Bridges’ transition model and affective events theory grounded this study. The participants were 12 current aerospace employees who were professionally involved with the ISS program. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Seven themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (a) career drivers and aspirations, (b) professional and personal identity, (c) emotional experience and well-being, (d) organizational climate and alignment, (e) job security and stability, (f) commercial space sector appeal, and (g) space mission purpose and innovation. Findings support the need for transparent leadership, career realignment, and institutional knowledge preservation. Aerospace leaders can implement these identified strategies to enhance understanding of employee adaptation in mission-critical sectors and offer guidance for managing emotionally complex transitions. The implications for positive social change include the potential for aerospace leaders to use psychologically supportive transition strategies that promote resilience, retain talent, and sustain purpose-driven cultures amid organizational transformation in the evolving aerospace landscape.

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