Tuesday, August 1, 2000
SHARAD DIXIT
Chief Engineer, Raytheon ITSS at NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center, MD
Born and raised in Mumbai, I graduated with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from M. S. University, Baroda. Soon after, I got a job offer from Telco, India.
However a strong desire to see the world beyond where I grew up and my idea of gaining some experience in the work industry made me decide on going west before joing my father and brother in our family-owned nonferrous business.
It was not an easy decision to make, to leave my family and friends behind. Yet, I made that decision to join the University of Maryland where I was accepted to a graduate course in mechanical engineering. Within 5 days, I got my passport, visa, Reserve Bank of India permit to transfer funds, a flight ticket and a new wardrobe.
I arrived at the university, Aug. 27, 1982 with 1 year of tuition money and 6 months of survival money (rent, food, etc). In 1987, I graduated with a masters in Mechanical Engineering. My first job landed me as a contract employee at NASA. I have worked there ever since on several missions.
A notable project that I have worked on is the Cassini mission to Saturn, where I was responsible for developing many instrument sensor designs for two different instruments on the mission, one on the Orbiter and other on the probe which will land on Titan. Cassini was launched in 1997 and is expected to reach Saturn in 2004.
Another was that of being a lead engineer on CHARGE for the Comet Lander and Sample Return mission Champollion (ST4). I was responsible for spacecraft accommodation, scheduling and costing for the mechanical subsystems, design/development, risk management/mitigation and planning for integration and testing of the instrument.
My work has been recognized through numerous awards. In 1998, I was given the NASA Outstanding Performance in Engineering award. In 1997, the Outstanding Contribution Award for Huygens Probe/Cassini by the European Space Agency (ESA).
My affiliation with NASA has provided me with a very satisfying and challenging job career. The freedom to innovate and think “outside the box ” has been refreshing and exciting. Although, a time might come, when I might be willing to take on challenges outside NASA, maybe in the dot.com arena !
I feel that my life has been enriched by the influence of a few people and what they believe in. My mother always encouraged me to not be afraid of the “new” and my father believed in giving whatever you tried your one hundred percent.
Well, when I’m not sending someone or something off to the deep space, I spend time with my wonderful wife and two children and if they let me, I also enjoy watching the Redskins play.
