I trained SpaceX astronauts for a NASA mission. Being responsible for their safety was stressful, but preparing my friends for space was an honor.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Laura Crabtree, a former SpaceX employee and current CEO and cofounder of aerospace-software firm Epsilon3. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Out of the 20 employees in the mission operations team, I was the only trainer. My role involved writing, training, preparing astronauts, testing software, analyzing data, and more. One week, the training would be focused on the spacecraft's power system, another week it would be on launch escapes, and the next I'd train the crew on emergencies.
I tried out the trainings and simulators myself — I couldn't have sent my friends to space in the vehicle if I wasn't comfortable flying in it.I developed close friendships with the crew, and it was an honor to see my friends fly to space while helping the US launch humans again.
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