I am Artemis: Dr. Erin Reed
During ground testing, one of the most important yet underappreciated tasks is keeping a spacecraft clean from contaminants to ensure tests are accurate, and it is a task Dr. Erin Reed takes immense pride in.
Erin is a thermal vacuum test conductor at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, where she has been instrumental in many NASA and commercial spacecraft tests. During simulated environmental testing of the Artemis I spacecraft, Erin had the responsibility of instituting and maintaining a strict contamination control program to ensure the spacecraft and facility remained safe and operational before, during, and after testing.
“I’m excited about this next NASA vehicle and the possibilities of where it can take us and what we can learn about the universe,” said Reed. “It’s great to the international partnerships that are helping make Artemis come to life, and I’m proud to play a part in NASA’s exploration vehicle amidst all the excitement of commercial crew.”
She holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia.
For more information about NASA’s space environment simulation facilities, take a virtual tour of the Space Environments Complex (SEC): https://www.nasa.gov/specials/sec360/
Image Credit: NASA / Bridget Caswell