Europa

"Cassini is such a fantastic mission. It not only acquired a wealth of data that led to numerous discoveries, but also raised a new generation of planetary scientists, including myself."

"I'm an integration and test engineer for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission."

"Math is going to be the basis for all the science and engineering that you will have to do in the future."

"Remain open to opportunities that present themselves and then embrace them and continue to learn and grow."

"In our line of work, Earth is another planet, the one we know best."

"There is no substitute for persistence. You must get all the training you need, and you must do well at it... that's a given."

“I'm the Mission Operations Manager for SunRISE. I'm also a systems engineer for Europa Clipper.”

While serendipity has a role in being in the right place at the right time, a person can do a lot to maximize the chances of that happening.

"As an ocean worlds research scientist at JPL, I study how planetary ice shells change through time, move material around, interact with deep planetary oceans, and influence the habitability of ocean worlds."

"The most exciting moments are the 'aha moments' when a scientific problem that you've been wrestling with suddenly falls into place and begins to make sense."

Don't be afraid to push yourself and learn new skills, yet don't be afraid to ask for help and collaborate.

"Science and math are part natural gifts and part practice. You don't have to be a genius to be successful."

"Flight missions are particularly exciting to me because I feel like I am on the front lines of exploration."

Just be committed, be passionate about it, and you will find a way to be involved in space exploration.

"By studying and immersing yourself in what really inspires you, you bring unique perspective to the field. It is this diversity of thought that fosters creative solutions to difficult problems."

Engineering can be daunting initially and requires a lot of work. But if you work hard, it will all pay off in the end and you’ll have one of the coolest jobs in the world, in my opinion.

"My job is partly to have fun conducting science, and partly to support NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission."

“It’s hard to say no when interesting things come up.”

"Modeling satiated my creative and exploratory sides, but getting my education and pursuing engineering helped me become mentally stronger, more rational, and generally more content with my life."

"There will be times when you don't think you are doing the right thing, but don't make any hasty decisions. Just hang on in there."

"I’m responsible for tailoring and implementing process requirements for missions assigned to JPL by NASA."

Remember, I started before there were any spacecraft!

"Be tenacious. If you know you want to do something, go and find someone who will help you do it."

"Always try different things, and be open to an evolution of your interests."

"I design high-level concepts for how we’ll launch and fly our spacecraft."

"My first personal connection with outer space occurred during the arrival of Voyager 2 at Neptune."

"As the project manager for NASA’s Europa Clipper, I am responsible for the overall technical, cost, schedule, and team management of the mission."

No human had ever seen this landscape before. And for a period of maybe 20 minutes, half hour, we were the only ones to see this alien world.

"Space exploration projects require so many different skill sets that you would be surprised to learn how many different ways there are to contribute to a mission."

Don't be afraid to try new areas. I was in the Earth sciences remote sensing area for 15 years before venturing out.

I'm really excited to be a part of the spacecraft that will be learning about a place where scientists think there could be some form of life.

"Get a good grounding in one area and then look to broaden as you gain experience."

"My job is to be the top advocate for planetary science in the federal government."

"Get lots of good chemistry, physics and math background in college."

Eric pioneered the use of stereo HDTV, IMAX, and digital cinema technology for the visualization of planetary surfaces and atmospheres.

"It’s important to do the best that you can in whatever field you go into and be passionate about it."

Just because it isn't always easy doesn't mean you can't do it and do it well.

"I am an Ocean Worlds Planetary Scientist, which means that my work is focused on studying our solar system’s dwarf planets and the moons of the giant planets."

"When I was a little girl Sputnik was launched, and I was instantly drawn into the whole miracle of spaceflight and exploring the cosmos."

"Follow what you're passionate about, and it'll eventually lead you to your happiness – your true happiness, your true joy in life."

Look for ways to help to make things happen.

"Be open to many possibilities! I started out interested in studying planets, but it took me a while to pivot to planetary science."

Having a dream is a must. Having a plan is an excellent idea, but you also have to be willing to jump at unexpected opportunities.

The words I truly believe have helped me succeed the most are 'please' and 'thank you.'

Don't worry about your exact path, but keep in mind where you want to end up.

Study lots of math. Math is the language of science.

I never had this overwhelming fascination with space — rather, I just slowly gravitated toward it.

"The great thing about being at NASA is that there are jobs for all types—whether it's engineering, science, finance, communication, law."

I study volcanoes—how they erupt, and why—and what they tell us about the interior not only of the Earth, but other planets and satellites across the solar system.

The wonder I had as a child for understanding the natural world around me still motivates me today.

There is way too much exploring to be done for a 40-hour week.

"Be open to working on topics outside your primary focus. Being flexible helps you figure out what it is you enjoy doing."

Most of my heroes have succeeded against the odds in some way.