Robotics Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Ashley Stroupe devoured all things space-related during her childhood. Her higher education path literally led to the stars; astronomy was her first choice as an undergraduate, but the solitude of that profession lost out to the lure of robotics, where she saw an opportunity to help build and operate spacecraft that would one day visit the planets she studied through telescopes.
Right before the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity made history in 2004, Ashley joined the team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The lab buzzed with anticipation. Last-minute meetings filled restless hours as the world prepared to focus on the dramatic rover landings.
Ashley cheered with others on the mission team at the historic rover landings. And while the rovers were getting their bearings on Mars, Ashley was getting used to working in an oversized sandbox.
Deep in the corners of an old building that dates back to the beginnings of was part of JPL, toddler robots train for possible future missions. Intended to precede humans to Mars, these teams carry and integrate structural components, simulating remote habitat construction.
"We want to send robots ahead of astronauts to build a safe habitat that's already there when they arrive," Ashley said. "Especially for Mars, if you have to wait six months for a rescue, you want to make sure it's safe when you go."
Rovers need a very specific set of instructions so Ashley and her colleagues must anticipate everything.
"A robot doesn't make assumptions," Ashley explained. "The real challenge is figuring out how to translate what we want it to do into step-by-step instructions, then run the commands and see what it does. It's what I imagine it would be like to watch a child take its first step or go off to school. You get personal satisfaction from having caused that."
As the twin Mars rovers stretched their exploration long beyond their planned lifetimes, rover team members were called to work on different missions and Ashley switched from prototypes to working rovers on Mars.
Initially, Ashley was among a team of experts who interpreted data sent back by the rovers - analyzing the machines' movements and activities. Soon she was asked to actually drive the rovers. Ashley accepted and driving school began.
As with any driver's ed class, you don't just hop into the driver's seat at JPL. Ashley shadowed a team of eight expert rover drivers. Skilled drivers handed down knowledge to the rookies, including certain tricks and styles suited to the distinct personalities and unique environments of each rover.
"It's like trying to drive a car by writing a computer program," Ashley said. "We have to tell it to turn a certain amount, drive a defined distance, take a picture or use its autonavigation function that allows it to reach goals on its own - all while ensuring its safety."
Training with robotics experts at Carnegie Mellon University, Ashley was well prepared to take on the hefty job of handling the rovers. Still, realizing the enormity of actually controlling a rover on Mars was awe-inspiring .
She was more surprised to learn that she was the first woman to drive a rover on Mars. After all, nearly half of the rover team is made up of women. Still, the title makes her proud and she hopes it will be inspiring to other people who want to log firsts in their fields.
" It's such a rare opportunity for me as an engineer to work with scientists and engineers and feel like I'm making a real, significant contribution to forwarding science and our understanding of our solar system and universe. It's incredibly rewarding," she beamed. "And whether anybody ever knows my name or not, they'll see my tracks - I guess I have made my mark on Mars!"
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