The Mission Director is played by Bobak Ferdowsi. He is a flight engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.. He became an internet sensation with his Mohawk hairstyle with stars shaved on the sides.
The Staircase project comes from the third book in the series. But chronologically, it fits with the events of the first season.
The rocket used to launch Project Staircase is Atlas V, and the launch complex is a slightly altered version of SLC 41.
In the filming sequence where Saul is taken to the Private jet, a large 747-like aircraft is in the background. The location is Dunsfold Aerodrome. This is the exact same plane that was featured in London Has Fallen (2016) as Air Force One. Notably based on the fact, it only has 2 engines and some fuel pods where the other 2 of 4 engines should be for a 747. This is also the filming site for Top Gear (2002) and you can see the aircraft many repeated times when they are at the Dunsfold Aerodrome location to film. So add it to Filming and Locations.
The private jet is a 1999 Global Express Bombardier. Aside from a luxurious interior and slick custom black paint job, the engines were manufactured by Rolls Royce.