Pioneers In Science: Aprille J. Ericsson

TL;DR

A rocket scientist shares her journey at NASA, solving problems and designing systems for spacecraft, and discusses future goals and the importance of diversity.

Transcript

I like building things, making things, fixing things. I'm big on thinking it and you will achieve it. I have a funny little clip I call it my theme video, you know every superhero needs a theme song right? Seeing all the different instruments and missions that I've been a part of, I've solved huge problems it's never something that I started out ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏛️ The speaker's passion for building, making, and fixing things has driven her career in solving problems and designing systems at NASA.
• 👾 She emphasizes the crucial role of accurate mapping and measurements in space exploration and highlights the significance of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in mapping the moon.
• 🙂 The upcoming James Webb Space Telescope is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the universe by collecting data from different frequencies of light.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some of the roles the speaker has had at NASA?

The speaker has worked on attitude control systems, instrument management, and played a role in various phases of missions.

Q: What is the speaker's favorite project at NASA?

The speaker's favorite project is the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, as it allows for the creation of accurate three-dimensional maps of the moon.

Q: What is the significance of the James Webb Space Telescope?

The James Webb Space Telescope is the next generation telescope that aims to provide advanced data and insights into space, building upon the success of the Hubble telescope.

Q: How does the speaker emphasize the importance of diversity?

The speaker believes that diverse ideas spark innovation, and collaboration is crucial in solving the challenges of living on Earth and exploring other environments in space.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker discusses her experience at NASA, starting with attitude control systems for spacecraft and later moving into instrument management.

• She shares her passion for mathematics and her love for the Caped Crusader.

• The speaker highlights her work on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, emphasizing the importance of accurate mapping and collecting data from different frequencies of light.