Dream Jobs: Thermal systems engineer

TOP: Shonte Tucker (center) worked on the European Space Agency's Herschel mission. NASA.

Shonte Tucker is a senior thermal systems engineer at NASA'S Jet Propulsion Laboratory

in Pasadena, California.

Where are you from?

I am from Altadena, California. (Altadena is a neighboring city of Pasadena.)

Describe the first time you made a personal connection with outer space.

As a child l attended 4-H camp, and while there I remember looking at the moon and the

constellations.

How did you end up working in the space program?

My mother has been with Lockheed Martin for 40 years (in October 2011). When I was

growing up she would talk about the amazing aircraft designed and built by Lockheed

Martin and she would always bring home pictures, mugs and other things touting the

amazing technology developed by Lockheed Martin. So given that exposure (or perhaps

By NASA.gov on 01.04.17

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This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1

indoctrination) at home, coupled with tours of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), my fate

was sealed early on. By the fifth grade, my first long-term goal was set – I was on a mission

to become a mechanical engineer and work at JPL.

Who inspired you?

My mom greatly inspired me, as well as several JPL mentor/tutors I met while in high

school. I am so grateful to all of them. Upon graduation, I asked one of the tutors what I

could do to repay him and he said, "Do the same thing for someone else." I really took it to

heart and have been very involved in the community ever since.

What is a senior thermal systems engineer?

My role as a senior thermal systems engineer is to ensure that the spacecraft and its

payload remain within safe operating and survival temperature limits. I utilize a host of

thermal analysis tools to determine the best approach for maintaining the temperature of

the spacecraft and its payload. Thermal systems engineers use temperature sensors, thin

film heaters, multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets, and other thermal control technologies

like heat pipes to maintain safe operating and survival temperatures for spacecraft and

payload components.

Tell us about a favorite moment so far in your career.

The launch of the Dawn spacecraft on September 27, 2007, was by far my favorite moment

so far in my career. I had the honor of being the thermal mission operations team lead for

the Dawn spacecraft. The mission operations role was new to me and the thermal

complexity of the spacecraft made the job extremely challenging. The learning curve was

steep and the pace of the project was very fast. The launch and check-out period

presented some thermal challenges, however, they were met and the spacecraft is

performing well.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to take the same careerpath as you?

My advice is:

-Take heat transfer and thermodynamics classes as an undergraduate in college

-In graduate school pick a research project that allows you to exercise basic heat transfer

principles

-Take all graduate courses in heat transfer, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics/

dynamics that are offered

-Join student engineering organizations (Engineering Council, AIAA, ASME, NSBE, SHPE,

AISES, SWE, etc.)

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2

What do you do for fun?

I really enjoy hanging out with my daughter Lauren and my husband Mike. I also enjoy

playing basketball, going to spinning class and watching football. Go Steelers!!!

If you were talking to a student interested in science and math orengineering, what advice would you give them?

Take as many math and science classes in high school as you can.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3

Quiz

1 Which of the following sentences from the article shows Shonte's most memorable experience

in her career?

(A) When I was growing up she would talk about the amazing aircraft designed

and built by Lockheed Martin and she would always bring home pictures,

mugs and other things touting the amazing technology developed by

Lockheed Martin.

(B) My role as a senior thermal systems engineer is to ensure that the

spacecraft and its payload remain within safe operating and survival

temperature limits.

(C) The mission operations role was new to me and the thermal complexity of

the spacecraft made the job extremely challenging.

(D) Join student engineering organizations (Engineering Council, AIAA, ASME,

NSBE, SHPE, AISES, SWE, etc.)

2 Which of the following aspects of Shonte's experiences and career is NOT thoroughly

discussed in the article?

(A) her involvement in the community as a mentor

(B) her exposure to the engineering profession as a youth

(C) the job description of a thermal systems engineer

(D) suggested college courses to take for someone interested in her career path

3 Which of the following options BEST describes the overall structure of the article?

(A) The article lists Shonte's career achievements in chronological order.

(B) The article is a step-by-step guide for students who want to become a

thermal systems engineer.

(C) The article is a transcription of NASA's interview questions and Shonte's

responses.

(D) The article describes in detail the responsibilities of a thermal systems

engineer.

4 Why does the author include the last paragraph in the article?

(A) to encourage more students to enroll in math and sciences courses

(B) to emphasize the importance of math and science in engineering careers

(C) to discourage students from pursuing an engineering career

(D) to offer practical advice on which courses to take in high school

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5

Answer Key

1 Which of the following sentences from the article shows Shonte's most memorable experience

in her career?

(A) When I was growing up she would talk about the amazing aircraft designed

and built by Lockheed Martin and she would always bring home pictures,

mugs and other things touting the amazing technology developed by

Lockheed Martin.

(B) My role as a senior thermal systems engineer is to ensure that the

spacecraft and its payload remain within safe operating and survival

temperature limits.

(C) The mission operations role was new to me and the thermal complexity

of the spacecraft made the job extremely challenging.

(D) Join student engineering organizations (Engineering Council, AIAA, ASME,

NSBE, SHPE, AISES, SWE, etc.)

2 Which of the following aspects of Shonte's experiences and career is NOT thoroughly

discussed in the article?

(A) her involvement in the community as a mentor

(B) her exposure to the engineering profession as a youth

(C) the job description of a thermal systems engineer

(D) suggested college courses to take for someone interested in her career path

3 Which of the following options BEST describes the overall structure of the article?

(A) The article lists Shonte's career achievements in chronological order.

(B) The article is a step-by-step guide for students who want to become a

thermal systems engineer.

(C) The article is a transcription of NASA's interview questions and

Shonte's responses.

(D) The article describes in detail the responsibilities of a thermal systems

engineer.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 6

4 Why does the author include the last paragraph in the article?

(A) to encourage more students to enroll in math and sciences courses

(B) to emphasize the importance of math and science in engineering

careers

(C) to discourage students from pursuing an engineering career

(D) to offer practical advice on which courses to take in high school

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 7