September 2, 2015
Alumna Angela Reeves, BS ASE ’08 (shown below standing in the Cupola mock-up located in the Space Station Training Facility at NASA-JSC), was recognized by NASA Johnson Space Center’s Software, Robotics, and Simulation Division for configuring and running the Cupola mock-up in the Space Station Training Facility (SSTF). Reeves received the Superior Assistance Award due to her “technical excellence and commitment to service,” in which she provided the real-time troubleshooting and simulations graphic configuration support for the mock-up outside normal work hours.
The work was conducted for a Public Affairs Office filming event of astronaut personnel in the SSTF Cupola. Reeves was called for support to the SSTF mock-up because of her abilities in integrating and testing.
“I was already thrilled to get the opportunity to support an astronaut so getting recognized for my efforts with an award was an added bonus,” she said.
Reeves has worked for six years at METECS, a contractor for NASA-JSC, where she works as a dynamics simulation engineer. In this position she primarily works with modeling and simulating robotic and mechanical systems, like the Space Station Remote Manipulator System.
Recently, Reeves transitioned from model development to systems engineering, integration and testing for these systems. She now leads and performs the integration and testing for the 21st Century Training Systems Robotics and Dynamics Teams.
“The thing I enjoy most about my work is integrating software together,” Reeves said. “It is like solving a complex puzzle and allows me to work with a wide variety of people.”
The education Reeves received in aerospace engineering at UT Austin prepared her as a dynamics simulation engineer by teaching her how to integrate the equations of motion.
Reeves took her first steps towards her career at NASA-JSC during her involvement in an ASE undergraduate project that was presented to JSC engineers. The team utilized the animation software in the UT Visualization lab and with JSC’s simulation software Trick, the team modeled, simulated and animated a six-degree of “freedom rendezvous scenario,” she said.
Reeves’ recommendation to women who are pursuing a career in aerospace engineering is to do the work they are passionate about in an environment in which they are a minority. Women, she said, should not feel pressured to volunteer for certain job responsibilities that are stereotyped to be their forte.
“Do not worry about fitting a stereotype or overcoming a stereotype,” Reeves said. “Just be yourself. I have found that the aerospace industry is a great place for women to work, so I highly encourage any women who are interested to join the industry.”
