Jump to content

Recommended Posts

  • Publishers
Posted
Environmental Portrait of Systems Engineer Douglas T. Wong for Faces of NASA Project. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford

“When I was around 16 or 17, I came across this book by Arthur C. Clarke called Space Odyssey 2001. That was actually the first science fiction book that I’ve ever read. I was just so captured by what he had written because the things that he wrote about weren’t [happening] in the far-off future, but in the year 2001. In the book, he talks about a lot about space stations, and space shuttles that go up to the space station, and vehicles that go to the Moon or the Moon base, and all that. I mean, these are terms that you hear now all the time, right? And Arthur C. Clarke actually envisioned it at that time. So that was interesting to me. I hoped that someday I could work on something like that.

“In terms of my education, I was actually going to go into the space engineering, but then someone advised me that mechanical engineering would give me a broader background. So I followed the advice, and it was the right thing to do. I ended up learning a lot of things, not just mechanical engineering but also a lot about electrical engineering and systems engineering at the same time.

“…Then an opportunity came with NASA. It was at that time that they started talking about the space station. Ronald Reagan at that time was the President, and he proposed this initiative to develop the space station. At that time, he called the space station ‘Freedom.’

“I thought, ‘Wow, what an exciting concept; it would be great if I could work on that.’

“And of course, one thing led to another, and [I ended up working on the International Space Station.] So you never know what you’re going to end up doing.

“I believe in synchronicity sometimes. The things that you do, one way or another, lead to your final destination. Some invisible forces push you in that direction. When you look back, you realize that everything fits together.”

— Douglas Wong, Systems Engineer, ISS CRS Visiting Vehicle Safety & Mission Assurance Integration Focal, NASA’s Johnson Space Center

Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford
Interviewer: NASA/Thalia Patrinos

Check out some of our other Faces of NASA. 

View the full article

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Similar Topics

    • By NASA
      Credit: NASA NASA has awarded ASCEND Aerospace & Technology of Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Contract for Organizing Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems (COSMOS), to provide services at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
      The COSMOS is a single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract valued at $1.8 billion that begins its five-year base period no earlier than Dec. 1, with two option periods that could extend until 2034. The Aerodyne Company of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Jacobs Technology Company of Tullahoma, Tennessee, are joint venture partners.
      Work performed under the contract will support NASA’s Flight Operation Directorate including the Orion and Space Launch System Programs, the International Space Station, Commercial Crew Program, and the Artemis campaign. Services include Mission Control Center systems, training systems, mockup environments, and training for astronauts, instructors, and flight controllers.
      For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
      https://www.nasa.gov
      -end-
      Tiernan Doyle
      Headquarters, Washington
      202-358-1600
      tiernan.doyle@nasa.gov
      Chelsey Ballarte
      Johnson Space Center, Houston
      281-483-5111
      chelsey.n.ballarte@nasa.gov
      Share
      Details
      Last Updated Aug 28, 2025 LocationNASA Headquarters Related Terms
      Johnson Space Center Artemis Commercial Crew International Space Station (ISS) ISS Research Johnson Flight Operations Space Launch System (SLS) View the full article
    • By Space Force
      Space Systems Command activated a new Systems Delta to support the BMC3I Program Executive Office portfolio. This activation synchronizes acquisition efforts for critical space system capabilities and works together with Mission Deltas to improve mission readiness.

      View the full article
    • By Space Force
      Space Systems Command and United Launch Alliance's launch teams successfully completed the inaugural launch of a Vulcan Centaur rocket, carrying the U.S. Space Force-106 mission into geosynchronous Earth orbit.

      View the full article
    • By Space Force
      Space Systems Command and United Launch Alliance's launch teams successfully completed the inaugural launch of a Vulcan Centaur rocket, carrying the U.S. Space Force-106 mission into geosynchronous Earth orbit.

      View the full article
    • By Space Force
      Space Systems Command has activated two new System Deltas within the mission area of the Space Force Program Executive Officer for Space Sensing.

      View the full article
  • Check out these Videos

×
×
  • Create New...