From Mines to NASA

Interested in aerospace? Ever wanted to know what living on the International Space Station is like? Penny Pettigrew, ISS Payload Communications Manager at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and Mines graduate, will return to Mines this Friday, April 25 to talk to students about her career at NASA as well as her journey to NASA.

Pettigrew will give two talks on April 25. The first talk entitled “I’m Not an Astronaut, but I Get to Play One at Work” will take place at 12:00 p.m. in Coolbaugh 209. Pettigrew will focus heavily on her experience and responsibilities at NASA. She will offer her insight into and experience with International Space Station, Microgravity Science, and supporting the astronauts who live and work on the ISS in real time. This talk is geared toward anyone interested in learning more about what happens on the ISS.

At 4:00 p.m. on April 25 in Brown Building W250, Pettigrew will give a second talk entitled “From Mines to NASA: The Hurdles and Triumphs of Following a Dream.” Pettigrew will offer insight into the challenges and triumphs she has incurred balancing a NASA career with being a mom. Pettigrew is currently living out her dreams as a Rocket Scientist and a mom to her 8-year old daughter Aspen. This talk is geared toward those interested in hearing about balancing a job in a STEM field with having a family.

Equality Through Awareness, ETA, is sponsoring both talks. ETA focuses on promoting diversity in physics and other science fields. The club meets once a week to discuss issues involving diversity and brings in speakers once a month to present on various topics relating to diversity.