![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/julia-khodabandeh-i-am-artemis-5.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>Unlike most of her friends in the 80s who covered their walls with posters of bands, Julia Khodabandeh plastered hers with posters of rockets and fighter jets.<\/p>\n
Khodabandeh\u2019s interest in aerospace and aeronautics developed at a young age. Her parents were avid fans of the Apollo Program and were heavily invested in her education. Khodabandeh\u2019s father always encouraged her to tackle math and science problems without fear. She recalls him telling her that \u201cyou can take any problem and break it into smaller pieces.\u201d It\u2019s a philosophy she still uses in solving problems today.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was growing up, my dad would make practice tests the night before my exams,\u201d she said. \u201cIt helped me feel more prepared. The confidence I developed for math and science and my passion for aeronautics and aerospace, led me to a NASA career.\u201d<\/p>\n
The better part of her 24-year career with NASA has been dedicated to solid rocket boosters. Over the past 10 years, she helped develop the twin solid rocket boosters for the agency\u2019s SLS (Space Launch System)<\/a> rocket, which are the largest and most powerful solid propellant boosters ever flown. They stand at 177 feet tall, and individually generate a maximum thrust of 3.6 million pounds. Together, the twin boosters provide more than 75% of the total thrust to launch SLS for NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign to the Moon.<\/p>\n Khodabandeh graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering and a master\u2019s degree in computational fluid dynamics. Early in her career, her work focused on Space Station microgravity material processing furnaces and the Space Shuttle Return-to-Flight Program.\u00a0 She went on to support the Ares rocket solid rocket booster team as part of the Constellation Program preceding SLS. Her work on the Ares booster helped guide her to her current position on SLS.<\/p>\n Khodabandeh is the motor and pyrotechnic team lead for the SLS Booster Element Office. She supports design, development, certification, production, and operation of the solid rocket motors, booster separation motors, and pyrotechnics for the twin boosters on SLS. Most days, she manages schedules and helps resolve issues with the help of her team.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flight hardware and test hardware are all tremendous accomplishments for the team, and behind these accomplishments are hours, weeks, and months of working together to resolve issues and deliver results,\u201d Khodabandeh said. \u201cIt\u2019s the people that make us successful, and teamwork is my favorite part of what we do. Someone once said, \u2018You have to build a successful team before you can build successful hardware.\u2019 I couldn\u2019t agree more!\u201d<\/p>\n In her spare time, Khodabandeh volunteers at a local rescue mission, where she provides aid to women struggling with substance abuse. She also mentors students in the Huntsville community, where she hopes to pass on the confidence her dad instilled in her, inspiring them to one day be a part of NASA and the Artemis Generation.<\/p>\n As the girl who grew up with posters of rockets on her walls, Khodabandeh says she is incredibly excited to be one of the many who are responsible for sending astronauts around the Moon on Artemis II.<\/p>\n \u201cThe incredible success of Artemis I is something that I will never forget,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have demonstrated what we\u2019re capable of, and I can\u2019t wait to see what we accomplish going forward on the Artemis Program.\u201d<\/p>\n NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA\u2019s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.<\/p>\n Read other I am Artemis features.<\/a><\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> Unlike most of her friends in the 80s who covered their walls with posters of bands, Julia Khodabandeh plastered hers with posters of rockets and fighter jets. Khodabandeh\u2019s interest in aerospace and aeronautics developed at a young age. Her parents were avid fans of the Apollo Program and were heavily invested in her education. Khodabandeh\u2019s [\u2026] Continue reading
\nBeth Ridgeway <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"