#WOMENINSPACE features two astonishing women in their fields of aerospace engineering, Hayat El Fazani & Erin Austen. I had the opportunity to ask both of them a few questions about their involvement in the world of space. Enjoy!
Hayat El Fazani is currently in her 4th year, PhDc Aerospace Engineering. Her research is focused on the airworthiness and certification challenges of the application of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology in the aerospace industry. Hayat enjoys listening to the world news, learning about new technology, cooking & baking (which Erin can vouch for)!
Erin Austen is currently in her final year of MASc Aerospace Engineering. Her research is focused on developing a process for assessing the traversability of a planetary rover for a given path, based on the terrain data from driving and other data from visual terrain maps. Erin spends her spare time doing Muay Thai (Kickboxing). Q: What brought you to love space?
Hayat:
In my childhood, I used to love traveling with family to neighboring countries. The first time I flew on an aircraft, I was 5 years old. I was fascinated with everything about flying; who build this big
aircraft? How a huge aircraft is able to fly at high altitudes? How do the engines work? What was the
magic of flight?
From a young age, Hayat has always been curious about the functioning mechanisms behind the
many objects we use in our daily lives. At school, physics and math have always been the subjects
that she found most intriguing and excelled in. This has strongly pushed her toward pursuing a career
in engineering.
My education started with an undergraduate program in aeronautical engineering in the College of
Engineering at the University of Tripoli. During my five undergraduate years, I acquired a strong
background in aeronautical and mechanical engineering subjects and my courses of study focused on
both the analytical and technical approaches such as aircraft structure, design, aerodynamics, aircraft
propulsion, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.
Erin:
Although it might be cheesy, Star Trek was a huge influence growing up. Both my dad and I were big on it. I really like the messages it tells; utopia in the theme of exploration, being able to boldly go where no one has gone before and the technology to get there. Looking up at the night sky, you can’t help but wonder about the stars and planets, and the answers to those big questions.
It wasn’t until Erin saw a flyer for CaNoRock, a joint program on sounding rockets between universities in Canada and Norway that she fully realized she could be involved in space.
Q: Tell us a bit about your research project.
Erin:
Planetary exploration rovers are arguably the best way of exploring the surface of other terrestrial planets, prior to sending humans. As robots, they are safer and less expensive to send as they do not require the various levels of support a human does, nor do they get tired. In the course of investigating the surface, a rover must be able to drive over the different terrains it may encounter
along its path to reach its intended target. In addition to avoiding large obstacles, it is important to
avoid areas where the rover might have difficulty driving forward or worse, become stuck.
Understanding how the rover moves and especially, how it interacts with the terrain, is vital in
prolonging its mission life. This knowledge allows the mission operators or path planning algorithm to
make smarter choices in selecting the route by not merely picking the most efficient path, but also
the safest.
Erin’s goal: Trying to build a computer model to mathematically describe how the rover moves and
then pairing it with a slip model to best describes how the rover interacts with the specific terrain.
There are different factors that affect a rover’s performance such as soft terrain where the wheel
could get stuck or a high slope that cannot be effectively climbed. After all, if a rover gets stuck on a
mission, the mission has ended becomes limited to sampling the area immediately around it until the
power runs out.
Hayat:
I started my research by reading a lot about Additive Manufacturing technology. It is such an innovation that is receiving increased attention because it can deliver a lot of great opportunities for
novel product design and manufacturing. However, the lack of knowledge about certification and AM
material behavior has pushed me to work on this interesting research.
Also, Additive manufacturing technology is providing different advantages in terms of its
fundamentals and working principles. In other words, it is greatly impacting the world ofmanufacturing aircraft parts by reducing the time it takes to manufacture parts in comparison with
traditional manufacturing (traditionally welded or cut). Another big advantage is being able to
manufacture aircraft parts that reduce the weight by 50%! Therefore, aircraft with AM parts will
consume less fuel, which is a global economic and environmental benefit. Additive manufacturing has
the potential to reduce both costs and production time.
With all these advantages, I feel that as an aerospace engineer I am responsible to help to certify
components made by this technology for the next aircraft generation. My research process went very well; I spend most of my time working in the labs on my research experimental (testing AM parts).
Hayat’s goal: To accelerate the certification's standards and procedures for Additive Manufacturing technology in aerospace applications. Highlighting her role as an aerospace engineer, safety is the
biggest concern in this process. Taking her challenge even further, every AM part made by a different
3D printer is different.
Q: How has sharing this project been for you both?
Hayat:
I really enjoyed attending both events. NASA event was a great opportunity for me to meet with a
NASA team and talk to people who worked on Mars projects. I found it easy to just start introducing
myself and sharing my research experience and how the recent revolution of Additive Manufacturing would greatly impact the aerospace industry in many ways.
I also had a nice discussion with NASA team about how Additive Manufacturing technology brought great benefits for space stations in particular. For example, NASA has developed AM systems to use in
the International Space Station. When a tool was broken, AM technology was able to remanufacture the damaged tool immediately without waiting for resupply from Earth, saving time and money. The network-night event for engineering was more about career opportunities and how to get in touch with people who work in the industry.
Hayat is very passionate and as an international student, it’s always good to meet new people and get connections, as well as learn from people who have experience in the same field.
Erin:
The event was definitely unlike other academic events, since not everyone you speak with is familiar
to a high degree with your particular area, so it forces you to get better at sharing your research
project. It also can be a bit stressful because it becomes a lot harder to talk when people have a title
attached to their name and are leaders in your industry. Hayat and I were of a small number of women present. It’s a big issue thing that women in STEM still face and because you’re so few, you don’t want to misspeak or misrepresent an entire group. That can be nerve-wracking.
Q: What has been your proudest accomplishment throughout this journey?
Hayat:
Deciding to go back and do my masters after working in the industry for 12 years. One of Hayat’s friends had invited her to her sister's wedding party. Upon reuniting with her old classmates and friends, Hayat found herself the only one without a Masters degree. With a newfound motivation, she made her decision that same night to go back to university studies. Her first semester back was not easy, but it went well. More than well actually, Hayat ranked having the highest GPA (a 3.87) in that faculty of engineering! After completing her Masters, she got a scholarship to do her PhD at Carleton University.
Q: What advice would you give to girls looking to enter space related fields?
Erin:
Explore everything you can. Try to make more informed choices and find out what your passion really is. Don’t necessarily look for the jazzy job of the moment.
There are many different ways to get yourself into a field you’re passionate about, for Erin it was space. Solving complex puzzles and problems had always been fun – engineering is all about solving problems – this led Erin to mechanical engineering and subsequently graduate studies in aerospace engineering. There are so many different paths you can take as long as you have that interest.
It’s not just black and white. You can take your program and always connect it to your passion. There’s always a way to make it happen. No one can decide your future. Don’t give up because of one professor or classmate. Surround yourself with good people who’ll make your journey worthwhile.
Hayat:
My advice to young girls is to look for what fields they are passionate about. To always observe your environment to find what connects you with what you deeply like to do. I think this is the key, follow your passion and do what makes you happy. Also, keep asking why? The best way to learn is to ask!
There are not many women in engineering! I think the reason why women aren't entering the fields of aerospace is due to not seeing many role models. Whether it’s in the media or how society is advertising engineering, representation is a big part of it. It would be nice to see these changes happening in elementary schools by inviting female engineers in the industry.
Not only is there a large discrepancy of representation of female engineers in schools and universities but it’s very high in the workplace as well. Not many women who graduate engineering programs work in engineering fields. Action is needed to achieve a balance between males and females in engineering.
Q: Where can we learn more?
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/mars-rovers/en/ ~ Learn more about all of NASA's Mars rovers (including the upcoming Mars2020) and the importance of sending rovers to Mars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=_-Zhfd4DdP4 ~ More on Hayat & her projects.
Connect with both Hayat & Erin:
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