Engineer Woman Award 2026 goes to: Annemarie Lohse

As Major Spacecraft Delivery Lead, Annemarie Lohse is responsible for key subsystems of the European Service Module (ESM) for NASA’s Orion spacecraft. The ESM is a critical component of future crewed lunar missions, providing essential functions such as oxygen and water supply for the crew, thermal regulation as well as structural and power systems for the spacecraft.

In her role, Lohse holds end-to-end responsibility for the Thermal Control, Consumables Storage and Structural subsystems. She oversees core elements of the life support systems for four astronauts operating under the extreme conditions of space. At the same time, she manages complex interfaces within an international project environment and coordinates collaboration between industry partners and space agencies such as NASA and ESA.

“Annemarie Lohse combines deep technical expertise with the ability to reliably deliver highly complex systems in an international setting,” says Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Managing Board of Deutsche Messe AG. “She represents experienced women engineers whose work significantly shapes the technological advancement of their industries.”

Lohse holds a Master’s degree in Space Systems and previously worked on the Ariane 6 programme. Her technical focus lies in RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety), ensuring the highest safety standards in human spaceflight. Her career path – from reliability expert to technical lead for critical subsystems of a crewed spacecraft – highlights both the breadth and depth of her expertise.

In addition to her technical responsibilities, she also leads multinational teams and promotes an open communication culture. She actively fosters exchange between operational units and management, contributing to the stability and performance of complex project structures. The laudatory speech was delivered by Dr. Kathrin Rüschenschmidt, Director Projects and Services DACH, Control Systems & Software at Emerson.

About the Engineer Woman Award

Femworx at Hannover Messe places women from across the STEM spectrum at center stage, from emerging talents to experienced leaders. The Engineer Woman Award is an integral part of this career congress and specifically recognizes women under 30 who stand out through exceptional achievements and innovative projects early in their careers. In addition, the award honors experienced women in STEM professions whose expertise significantly advances technological development in their industries. Together, these awards highlight outstanding achievements and strengthen the role of women as drivers of technological innovation.

(Source: Deutsche Messe AG)