![]() She was awarded the coveted Silver Snoopy Award for her work, which was presented by late astronaut Laurel Clark.Īfter completing the SSRMS project, Fritz transitioned to the Engineering Directorate, where she began managing the operations of robotic test and training facilities inside Building 9. This was a challenge with a tight budget and firm schedule, but Fritz took it on and was very successful in completing the project on schedule and within cost. She was also assigned as the project manager for delivery of a new underwater ISS Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to support robotics crew training operations. She also managed the design for numerous International Space Station (ISS) mock-ups for use in astronaut training, and would dive often to inspect the mock-ups prior to astronauts use. As the WETF transitioned to the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) and from the SLSD to the Mission Operations Directorate in the late ’90s, Fritz continued her work as an NBL test director. “If you put your mind to it, you can do it.”Īnd that is exactly what she did. “Growing up in a large family taught me to be competitive by nature and to never, ever give up,” Fritz said. Fritz set the goal to succeed in those demanding physical challenges and, after learning to swim and SCUBA dive, that was enough to push her toward future excellence. This would eventually lead her to donning the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) to experience the physiological constraints of maneuvering underwater in a pressurized spacesuit. ![]() To Fritz’s surprise, the test director position that included directing a test team underwater to support astronaut training and hardware development also came with demanding physical requirements, including SCUBA diver certification. She joined JSC in 1990, working in the previous Space and Life Sciences Directorate (SLSD) at the Weightless Environment Training Facility (WETF) as a test director and robotic subsystem manager. “I ended up spending several years there, and it was truly an amazing experience to be able to crawl through the confined spaces on the submarines while installing the life support systems,” Fritz said.Īfter the space shuttle Challenger disaster, Fritz knew right away she wanted to work for NASA and offer her skills to support the Space Shuttle Program (SSP). She was eventually hired full time as an engineer in training, and was sent on a one-year detail from NAVSEA to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California, where she was responsible for the overhaul of life support systems on nuclear submarines. Starting out as an engineering co-op student in Arlington Virginia at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Fritz was responsible for laying out crew quarter accommodations, as well as sizing diesel engines for aircraft carriers. “Your attitude determines your altitude,” Fritz said. Her parents instilled in her the value of education and the necessity of being a team player. She grew up in the inner city of Houston as one of 13 siblings. “Those words that were spoken really inspired me, and it was embodied in my mind,” Fritz said.įritz works as a senior project manager in the Software, Robotics and Simulation Division at JSC, and has now spent 33 years in federal service. During the field trip, there was a speaker at the Historic Mission Control Center that told the class to study math and science-and one day they may work for NASA. If you enjoy the stability of multi-year projects, being valued for the expertise your experience contributes to a project and appreciate the deep resources Jacobs can provide to support your success, Jacobs is where you belong.For Women’s History Month, Johnson Space Center is honoring a few women employees whose character, courage and commitment have helped shape them into the people they are today.įor Carolyn Fritz, the first inclination toward a NASA career started when she was in third grade and visited Johnson Space Center on a field trip. Our North PM/CM healthcare practice has been winning project after project and as a result, we’re looking to add healthcare PM/CM professionals to the Jacobs family. We’re also proud to be ENR Ranked #1 globally for engineering design and construction for all healthcare facilities including hospitals. Locations: Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, District of Columbia, and MassachusettsĪs a global leader and ENR Ranked #1 for Program Management and Construction Management services, the Jacobs PM/CM team works seamlessly with clients to meet their goals and deliver projects which enhance the communities we live and work in.
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