Meet Abbey Carlson: Former Intern Turned Space and Launch Engineer

 

Hired as a stress analyst in July 2020, Abbey supports the Space and Launch program. “While my original passion was aviation, I’ve grown to have a huge appreciation for the entirety of the aerospace industry,” Abbey said. That’s understandable, as her role is to verify the structural integrity of secondary components for the Space Launch System, the world’s most powerful rocket.

Entering the workforce in 2020 was no easy feat. It involved working from home, starting from day one. “It has definitely presented challenges at times, largely from a perspective of missing some of those nonverbal cues you would have in an in-person setting when explaining ideas or concepts,” Abbey said.

"No matter what you’re doing, there’s so much opportunity to learn and grow your knowledge and skill base."

Abbey's advice for new teammates navigating a virtual environment, “especially for other early career folks like myself,” she said, “is not being afraid to pick up the phone and call someone, or ask questions about things you may not fully understand. I’m very grateful for the team I work with and their willingness to answer questions."

Abbey spends her off-work hours in various recreation sports leagues — volleyball, softball and kickball — but is probably best-known for her time spent on the golf course. She’s had a pretty successful amateur career, playing for Vanderbilt University and qualifying for the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur in Augusta, Georgia.