Interview with Software Test Lab (STL) Operator, Barbara Bendowski

What is your role on the mission?
My role in the Stardust-NExT mission is as one of the Spacecraft Test Lab (STL) operators. I participate in the testing of command products in a simulated spacecraft environment the ground before the command is radiated to the spacecraft. I also have a secondary role as a Real-Time Operator. This means that once a command product is approved to be sent to the spacecraft I am one of the people certified to actually radiate "send" the command to the spacecraft.

What excites you most about the SD-NExT Mission?
The uniqueness of the SD-NExT mission is probably what excites me the most. This mission has a very unique mission objective and it is very excited to be a part of a mission that is doing things that are very rarely done.

Who inspired you growing up?
This is an easy question for me to answer, my father. My father is a mechanical engineer and as a child he made an significant effort to share aspects of his job with me. He had a great passion for the work he did and being in an environment like that was inspirational. When I made the decision to pursue a career in the space industry I never once heard him say, "Do you think you can do that?" Instead all I heard was, "What can I do to help you achieve your goal?" Being in a environment where there is never any doubt that you can achieve what you set out to do is inspiring on a daily basis.

Is this the only mission you’ve worked on?
I have worked on the Genesis Spacecraft and the Phoenix Mars Lander. I am currently working on the Mars Odyssey Spacecraft as a Real Time Operator and as a Systems Engineer and a Real Time Operator for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.