How It All Started
I grew up with a fascination in knowing how things were put together. That lead to taking things apart around me to see how they ticked. Adding much to my Mom’s frustration.
I became an engineer in part because of Scotty from Star Trek. Growing up watching the lunar missions and TV shows like Lost in Space, Dr. Who, and Star Trek. Those made me want to be a part of getting into space, to meet aliens, to go to different galaxies.
I wanted to be part of making that happen.
When Space Became a Reality
I didn’t start off right away working in the space programs. In fact, I didn’t even think I had the chops to be part of the space program. The people that worked on space programs had to be much smarter than I.
My boss told me that our company was going to try for a program called Measure. NASA programs have consistent name changes and Measure changed into MARS Pathfinder. I was now working on my first Mars program.
Working on an Actual Program
Inflating the impact attenuation bags for landing the Mars Pathfinder Rover was the original project specification we initially bid for. Those are the big inflated bags that enable the rover to bounce on the surface of the planet. We lost that bid, but won a different part of program dealing with the parachute deployment.
Often we are not the prime contractor, but rather a subcontractor, or partner to other companies that have won a bigger scope of the project.
More Responsibility
After awhile I began to be in charge of the programs. The stress levels were high. My expectations of others and myself were high. The product was going to space.
There was the added responsibility for making sure every part of the work product was done and done perfectly. After launch there are no second chances. It either works or fails while the world is watching.