\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCareer Spotlight: Mechanic (Ages 14-18)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/KSC-20190326-PH_KLS01_0047\/KSC-20190326-PH_KLS01_0047~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1280&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhat does a mechanic do?<\/h2>\n
Machines and engines are all around us. They power everything from cars and boats to airplanes and even rockets. Mechanics are experts who know how machinery works, especially engines, and how to fix them.<\/p>\n
When you think of a mechanic, you might picture someone working on cars. But mechanics can be experts on all kinds of machinery.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nWhat are some of the different types of work mechanics do at NASA?<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt NASA, mechanics perform a variety of functions. For example, aerospace mechanics maintain the airplanes studied at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. These might include research planes studying the environment or experimental aircraft testing new wing designs.<\/p>\n
At NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, mechanics keep machines like the crawler-transporters<\/a> in top working condition. These massive machines carry rockets from the building where they are assembled to the launch pad.<\/p>\nMechanics at the agency\u2019s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans ensure the fleet of barges<\/a> used to carry powerful rocket sections are maintained and ready to use. These large ships have been used for decades to carry rocket parts to various NASA centers for testing and launches.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhat does a mechanic do?<\/h2>\n
Machines and engines are all around us. They power everything from cars and boats to airplanes and even rockets. Mechanics are experts who know how machinery works, especially engines, and how to fix them.<\/p>\n
When you think of a mechanic, you might picture someone working on cars. But mechanics can be experts on all kinds of machinery.<\/p>\n At NASA, mechanics perform a variety of functions. For example, aerospace mechanics maintain the airplanes studied at NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. These might include research planes studying the environment or experimental aircraft testing new wing designs.<\/p>\n At NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, mechanics keep machines like the crawler-transporters<\/a> in top working condition. These massive machines carry rockets from the building where they are assembled to the launch pad.<\/p>\n Mechanics at the agency\u2019s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans ensure the fleet of barges<\/a> used to carry powerful rocket sections are maintained and ready to use. These large ships have been used for decades to carry rocket parts to various NASA centers for testing and launches.<\/p>\nWhat are some of the different types of work mechanics do at NASA?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Aerojet](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/s17-021_ssc-20170321-s00111_rs-25_engine_controller.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/a><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/rebekah-tolatovicz.jpg?w=2048\")
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