Deborah Amato
Aerospace Engineer
Goddard Space Flight Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Maryland
Joined NASA as a co-op student in 1993; became a full-time employee in 1994
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"As an aerospace engineer at Goddard, my job essentially involves mechanical design, hardware fabrication, test planning, and instrument integration. I translate what scientists want into a working instrument.
"Right now, I’m working on developing the imagery grids for HESSI, the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager. HESSI is a solar observing instrument that will fly on a Small Explorer spacecraft, hopefully during the Solar Maximum in 2000, and will study the Sun’s high-energy characterization of the grids. I also carry out environmental testing to ensure that the instrument will survive its launch loads.
"It’s been my goal to work at NASA since I was a teenager. I like working here because I get to work on things that no one else is doing. This is cutting-edge technology, and I’m working with scientists who are at the forefront of solar physics. The work here is less profit-oriented than in private industry (even though funding constraints do exist). Also, NASA paid my graduate study tuition through its Part-Time Graduate Study Program. Goddard also offers a lot of extra activities, which are a great addition to my work life. I’ve participated in softball, aerobics, and volleyball, which have been a lot of fun." |
