NASA STEM Stars: CCP Deputy Program Manager | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Dana Hutcherson, the Deputy Program Manager for the Commercial Crew Program at NASA, shares her passion for STEM and how she pursued a career at NASA.

Key Insights

• 🖐️ Childhood influences and supportive parents and teachers play a significant role in shaping career aspirations.
• 🤗 Involvement in clubs and activities related to STEM subjects can provide valuable hands-on experiences and further ignite interest in the field.
• 🖐️ Pursuing a degree in engineering, such as mechanical engineering, lays the foundation for a career at NASA.
• 👻 Transitioning from one program to another within NASA allows for continuous growth and the opportunity to contribute to different space missions.
• 😊 Persistence, hard work, and being proud of one's achievements are essential traits in pursuing a career in STEM.
• 🧑‍🚀 The Commercial Crew Program aims to restore America's ability to launch astronauts from its soil and is a collaborative effort with companies like Boeing and SpaceX.
• 🗺️ Virtual participation in launches and engaging in STEM activities can provide students with opportunities to explore the exciting world of space travel.

Transcript

stem fans are you ready let's hear it for the world-class nasa stem stars team from nasa centers across the country we present dana hutcherson [Applause] yay welcome stem fans to the 75th episode of nasa stem stars i'm jen hudgins your host for today and i'm coming to you from nasa's kennedy space center in sunny florida our guest today is our very... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Dana Hutcherson become interested in working at NASA?

Hutcherson's interest in rocketry and space science was influenced by her brother, who was passionate about model rocketry. She also had supportive teachers and parents who encouraged her curiosity.

Q: What clubs or activities did Hutcherson participate in to explore her interest in space science?

In high school, Hutcherson was part of the aerospace club, where she had hands-on experiences with bottle rockets. This club allowed her to engage in different aspects of rocketry and space science.

Q: What was Hutcherson's educational background?

Hutcherson attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, studying mechanical engineering. She also participated in co-op programs, alternating between working in a career field as an engineer and attending school.

Q: How did Hutcherson transition from working on the Space Shuttle program to the Commercial Crew Program?

After the retirement of the Space Shuttle program, Hutcherson joined the Commercial Crew Program, which aimed to develop capabilities for launching astronauts to the International Space Station. She has been working in this program since then.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dana Hutcherson discusses her childhood influences and how she developed an interest in rocketry and space science through clubs and teachers.

• She shares her educational background, including studying mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

• Hutcherson talks about her career at NASA, starting with working on the Space Shuttle program and transitioning to the Commercial Crew Program.