A continuation of our Engineering Journeys, calling back to our home base in Stevenage to catch up with Molly Heaps. Molly has been a team member on Biomass for about 4 years and has supported the team in Toulouse during the EVT campaign. She has very kindly offered to be part of the Launch team in Airbus Stevenage, explaining how we built and tested the satellite.
By Chris Lloyd, Airbus Biomass Project Manager
Chris: So, Molly lets jump straight in, what interested you about science and engineering as a child, what has inspired and motivated you?
Molly: I have always had a strong interest in old American muscle cars and engines since I was quite young, so when I saw the school had a go karting team I applied straight away! I sat my test and got my karting drivers license and my interest blossomed even more from there, where I have now competed in 3 NatSKA National Karting Championships where I represented my school and placed top 10. This led me to look for more engineering based job roles, and when it was time for work experience at school I came to Airbus Defence and Space here in Stevenage, I worked in blankets, mat lab and mechanisms for a few days and absolutely loved it! I would’ve applied for the job there and then as the team leader said he’d love to have me however I was too young. So, I waited until I was old enough and applied while I was at school and I’m still very grateful and proud to this day that I got the job. I was drawn to Airbus as it’s such a large company with such a wide scope for me to constantly evolve and learn new things. In the current climate it also is a job I feel secure in as the world will always need satellites
Chris: What was your path to your role on the Biomass Satellite?
Molly: I did a work experience day here when I was at school and absolutely loved it so I applied for the apprenticeship as soon as I was old enough and thankfully was given the place. I then progressed through the apprenticeship going into all different departments along the way and when I reached my Mechanical Satellite AIT placement Biomass was the project I was put on. I loved this placement so much that I extended my placement and applied for the job. Now I work full time in Mechanical Satellite AIT and was put onto Biomass again where I was involved with many of the critical activities such as: Large deployable reflector installation; solar array deployment both in Stevenage and in Toulouse, instrument integration both in Stevenage and then again in Toulouse, as well as alignment activities like aligning thrusters, IMM hinge alignment, levelling of the spacecraft before going into the TVAC chamber. I also had the opportunity to take part in a test campaign in Toulouse which was an amazing opportunity.
Chris: What is the most challenging part of your role, what do you enjoy the most?
Molly: The most challenging part of the role is that every project/spacecraft is different however this is also one of my favourite parts of my job as everyday and every issue is different which means I’m constantly learning.
For example there was a situation where the thrusters needed to be shimmed and aligned, however the alignment engineer had a flight home that day so I stepped up to do my first solo alignment job on the spacecraft under immense pressure, to get us over the line just before shipment. I shadowed the alignment engineer for a few other jobs to gain the knowledge I needed and was confident I could do it, this is something I am also very proud of.
Molly third from right – TVAC final preparations September 2024
Chris: What excites you about the Space Industry and where / what do you hope to be involved in next?
Molly: I find it rewarding that things I’m working on will end up in space, it is also something that may shape the future understanding of our world and how we can protect it! There are huge opportunities that the job provides will help me evolve not only as a person but as an engineer. I also love meeting new people in and out of the company learning about their different backgrounds and routes into the space industry. Every day is different and everyone is willing to help one another. I thoroughly enjoy having the opportunity to work within such a diverse team of professionals.
I hope to be involved with a launch campaign next, I am currently working on the Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover where I hope to be involved with both the test campaign as well as the launch campaign.
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