Profile
Katie Hassell
Curriculum Vitae
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Education:
A levels in Chemistry, Mathematcs and Physics, I read Physics at The University of Warwick and (after a few years doing other stuff) then Aerospace Engineering
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Qualifications:
BSc in Physics and MSc in Aerospace Engineering
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Work History:
After many part time jobs in pubs, I worked in a patent office, drafting patents and trade marks. Unluckily, I lost my job, but then worked for my local county council in the call centre, as a PA, in legal services and in data protection for Social Care. As an engineer, this is my first job, I’ve worked on EarthCARE, Lisa Pathfinder, Solar Orbiter and my current project is Plato.
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Current Job:
Spacecraft Thermal Engineer
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Employer:
Airbus Defence and Space
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My work
Not too hot, not too cold, just right
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Read more
There are two main reasons to keep spacecraft at the right tempeterature:
so that everything works as best it can, e.g. If you want to take a picture, batteries don’t opperate well below -10 degrees C, so you need to keep them above that.
to keep everything pointing correctly. If you cool a metal, it contracts, if you heat it, it expands, having both hot and cold areas means different parts of the structure have moved different amounts, putting, for example, a telescope on those points, as temperatures change where the telescope points changes.In my job, I create computer models to help understand how heat moves around a spacecraft and how a spacecraft interacts thermally with its environment. I then work to apply that knowledge to the points above.
I work with lots of different disciples, to understand the materials we use, where power is applied, how much electricity I can use for heaters, what orbit the spacecraft will be in, how much fuel is used at each stage of a mission (amongst everything else!)
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My Typical Day
Working with others and mostly on a computer
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Read more
As I create computer models, most of my time is spent creating a model of the spacecraft I am currently working on. To make sure I create an accurate model, I work with people from all disciplines. From them I will find out lots of information I can use in model. Depending on what I want to find out, I may or may not use all that information – there are so many different things going on in a spacecraft, it would take too long to simulate everything, so I work out what is important and how I am going to represent that on my model.
Of course, when I have done all this work, I also write reports, so what we have learnt is not lost and we can be sure that everything is working as best it can.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Quirky, silly, northern
What was your favourite subject at school?
I really loved physics and chemistry, and history, art, English literature – it’s so hard to choose!
What did you want to be after you left school?
I had no idea, I was happy to see what happened next
Were you ever in trouble at school?
For not putting in enough effort at games/ PE.
What is the most fun thing you've done?
Having a day out with my best friend, in our homemade dresses (making the dresses was awesome too)
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