Re: Space Science and Mission Support: Software Developers Wanted

Hi Everyone,

Wish I'd caught up to the activity on my post sooner! I'll try to
address a couple major points I noticed in the discussion.

These are *federal civil service" positions, not contracts. The job
doesn't go away when the lander crashes. We don't support one mission,
we support a lot (maybe most) of them (see the list I provided in the
post - it's the tip of the iceberg). Our budget is fairly steady, but
definitely has up and down years - we tighten our belts, but don't
count on downsizing ever happening (it's rare and very difficult to
do). We've been here over 45 years (since 1961, our first building
built here in 1963), so I expect we'll be around a little while
longer. With MRO HiRISE, MER, Mars Science Lab, Phoenix, Cassini, LRO,
Messenger, etc. we are looking at being very busy for several years.
We (the United States Geological Survey), like many universities and
scientific organizations, participate in the planning and science of
NASA and ESA missions by leading instrument teams, planning landing
sites, conducting scientific research, and so forth. We typically
continue working on the mission until the mission ends.

The Moon: yeah, the boss (USGS is DOI, which is Executive Branch) says
he wants to send some guys back to the Moon. For us, the silver lining
is an increase in lunar scientific interest, research, mapping, and
general mission activity. For example, the Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter's camera (LROC) is being run by some of our friends down the
street (okay, 140 miles away in Phoenix), and we're helping write
software that will allow them to process and use the images.

Yes, we are making money doing science - not tons of it, but
definitely making a living (did I mention this is a government job?).
Our work is pretty cool, and we get to work with very exciting people,
including world renowned scientists both on our own team and from the
other institutions that are part of the missions. Some of the unusual
bonuses of the job for many of us have been working in science mission
rooms at JPL during mission operations, getting to see mission
launches, having our names inscribed on spacecraft and landers (or
even just appearing in books), and just simply being part of the team
that's making it happen. And Flagstaff's great - it's Arizona's hidden
secret we have snow here (7000' elevation), even a couple ski resorts!
Hiking, forests, lots of stuff to see and do (AZ is a tourist
destination for a reason)... well, life's pretty good here.
Personally, as a web developer, I know I'm worth more in the private
sector, but I wouldn't trade Google's free lunches and dog friendly
workplace for my job... imho, it'd be a demotion.

deborah

.

Relevant Pages

  • NASA Selects Scientists and Investigations for Robotic Moon Mission (LRO)
    ... NASA SELECTS SCIENTISTS AND INVESTIGATIONS FOR ROBOTIC MOON MISSION ... administrator, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. ...
    (sci.space.news)
  • Re: What Did You Watch? June 29th (Monday)
    ... "Mission to Mars" within the last week, ... Let me make one 'science' observation: ... why would the moon split in 2 long after the Giant Space Turd was gone? ... Nobody takes the opportunity to wipe out a neighboring ...
    (rec.arts.tv)
  • News: Nasa moon mission could include UK astronaut
    ... UK scientists are in talks with Nasa about joining the US space ... The last mission to land on the moon was Apollo 17 in 1972, ... Dr Ball is part of a UK scientific delegation at Nasa's exploration ...
    (sci.space.history)
  • Re: Space travel by humans is not possible now
    ... interest in science. ... He has forgotten the huge popular interest tha the Mars rovers ... than what a single manned mission ought to be able to return. ... Following the last manned mission to the moon, ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Space travel by humans is not possible now
    ... interest in science. ... than what a single manned mission ought to be able to return. ... missions to the moon. ... a gravity well, not as big a gravity well as the Earth, but none the ...
    (sci.space.policy)
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