Women of NASA Langley Profiles
Lana P. Hicks-Olson
![[Lana P. Hicks-Olson's photo (8/01)]](larc-lph.jpg)
I am a Mechanical Engineering Technician at NASA
Langley Research Center (LaRC) in Hampton, Virginia. I work in Fabrication
Division and we support engineers and researchers in the area of glass,
metals, and stereolithography (rapid prototyping). I help fabricate their
ideas into reality. As a member of a team, I produce the parts
and pieces that constitute a working model. I use math and science as tools
in my job daily. I frequently have to check the Engineers’ design to sure
that a part hasn’t been designed too large or small for it’s mating piece.
In my job I use micrometers, rules, dial calipers, height gauges and other
measuring devices to measure models I’ve helped to build within thousandths
of an inch to assure its accuracy. Many jobs require special materials with
different strengths and the ability to withstand high temperatures. These
types of jobs require that I do some further research so I may know exactly
how to deal with their specific material. For example, I might need to know
how much weight an adhesive (glue) will hold or to what temperature a particular
kind of glass can be heated before it starts to change its shape. In some
cases, I need to know the grain structure of a metal to know what temperature
it needs to be melted at before it is poured into a mold. I guess that’s
one of the amazing things about my job here at NASA
LaRC. The things that I used to take for granted in the world around
me have taken on a new perspective. Who would have ever thought that I would
care about the melting point of a metal!
![[Lana with a model (8/01)]](larc-lphwmodel.jpg)
When I come to work in the mornings I’m excited because I’m always working
on something different – this is the part that I love about my job as a
NASA technician. A job may be similar but it’s never the same! On an average
day, I might program a milling machine and machine out slots into a ceramic
rod. Or I may have to grind that rod to within ±0.005 otherwise it won’t
fit. Once I’ve finished that job there may be another job waiting to be
programmed and sent down to the rapid prototyping machine. This machine
uses a phenolic (light sensitive resin that is activated by a laser light)
to build a designed part, layer by layer as small as 0.006 0.030 thickness.
Some other days, I might be cleaning a wax part that has been built in a
machine similar to the Stereolithography machine called the Thermojet. It
builds parts and models by a similar method (layer by layer) but uses wax
instead of a resin. There are other days when one of my co-workers and I
have to “suit-up” so that we can pour molten (heated liquid) metal into
a mold. Or I might have to put on special glasses to protect my eyes and
repair a broken glass instrument. That means turning on gases, lighting
torches, and doing some scientific glass blowing. Frequently we may have
one of the researchers come in and want to do tests on a special oxygen
pump that he/she has been working on. We might fire up a furnace to 2200-degrees
Fahrenheit and see if the device that they have designed will convert carbon
monoxide into oxygen so that one day a fireman wearing a mask with this
device could save someone’s life! Ho-hum what a day! Maybe I will be asked
to lead a tour group through the shop and tell them what we do here in the
Fabrication Division. Then again, it might be the day that I go to a local
elementary school and tutor a child who is struggling with math. Before
I know it I’m finished with my workday, driving home and thinking about
coming back to work again tomorrow.
I liked science and did well in all my science related classes in high school
and early college years but I was scared to death of math. I just couldn’t
seem to compete. My brain would turn into “flubber” during math class. I
tell friends today that my Algebra teacher would be shocked if she knew
what career I chose. I was still scared of math when I started classes at
Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, VA. Nevertheless, I kept telling
myself that I could do it. I took a self-paced class the first semester
and did quite well at it. Still, I had difficulty later on when it came
time to apply math to chemistry and physics. Shear determination brought
me through the math classes that I was required to take for my curriculum.
Though not at the top of my class in the mathematics area, I persevered
and earned grades good enough to allow me to graduate with a cumulative
3.067 (B) grade average in my chosen field of Mechanical Engineering Technology.
When I became a full-time employee at NASA
LaRC I began to apply the math I had learned. It was then when I could
see a direct application of trigonometry and geometry. It began to become
clearer and less scary. I still struggle in some areas but I’m no longer
afraid of it. I know I can ask someone who is better at it than I am. Now
I actually enjoy the challenge of a mathematical problem.
I was never pressured not to go into a math and science based field. I was
predominately surrounded by positive people. When I was a little girl my
dad would work on his car. I would help him by holding a flashlight, finding
tools, or pumping his brakes (now that’s a thing of the past). He said to
me more than one time, “I’m going to make a mechanic out of you yet!” Since
then I have had many expressions of surprise when I’ve told someone that
I am an Engineering Technician at NASA
LaRC. They generally say, “WOW, that must be an interesting job” and
I always, say, “Yes, it definitely is!”
When I was in school I wish I could have known that my teachers would not
have been upset with me if I said to them, “I just don’t understand. Could
you explain it to me again?” I wish I had been less reluctant to ask for
help in my math classes. The ages between 11 – 14 were and still are difficult
years. I believe they’re referred to as the “Tween” years. You’re between
elementary school and high school and just don’t fit in anywhere. I wish
I could have had a mentor to say, “Hey, you’re okay. Life is really an exciting
adventure and you can be anything you want to be. Try lots of things! Read,
read, and read, about people who have achieved great things in their life.
They all started just like you…as a child!”
One of the greatest obstacles I had to overcome to get where I am today
(and I certainly don’t encourage this) was that I waited until after I had
my family to return to school. I was one of the oldest members of my graduating
Apprentice school class. It was very difficult juggling home responsibilities,
going to school and working part-time at NASA LaRC. If I had the power to
return to the past I would have finished college before I started a family.
I would encourage all young ladies out there to finish school first, but
if you are already married, with children, don’t let that discourage you.
It’s never too late to pursue knowledge!
In my time away from work I enjoy gardening and landscaping. I also do some
biking, fishing, and canoeing. Reading is a passion that I just don’t seem
to have enough time for. I volunteer for work with projects such as the
Study Buddy program, the Virginia State Fair NASA exhibit, and the Day of
Caring. I am also active in my church. These are ways I can give back to
my community.
A friend of mine shared this inspirational story about his very young and
very successful boss. (His story encourages me to find more time for reading).
Basically his boss started his own company some years ago and it had grown
into a successful corporation. When asked how he achieved to be so successful
at such a young age. He said, “Well, I had an interest in the kind of service
that I provide way back when I was a senior in high school. I started reading
about it. I committed myself to reading something related to this business
every day for at least thirty minutes. I stuck to that commitment and by
the time I got to college I was already, somewhat of an expert on the subject.”
How about you? What are you interested in? Read about it, everyday! By the
time you reach college age you’ll be an expert too! Don’t be afraid of things;
especially don’t be afraid to fail. Fear of failure will keep you from experiencing
a lot of interesting things in life. Failure just says, “Hey at least I
wasn’t afraid to try!” You have my wishes for much success in all you do.
AUGUST 2001 |
