Last Space Talk of 2021 was Memorable!

The last Space Talk of the year was a life changing experience for many students, with the space engineer Patricia Feingold as a special guest

(Record of the last day of our Space Talk, which will forever be in our memory – this photo will be exposed in our Space Science Laboratory in the USA)

For the curious, the surprise of who would be the special guest of the Space Talk that happened on November 26th, was revealed on Instagram: Patricia Feingold, from Maxar Space in the USA! The information only increased the anxiety of students who signed up to participate in the activity, but since those who “believe always achieve”, the long-awaited day finally arrived.
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 To the sound of “Do I wanna Know”, by the American band Artic Monkeys, the students were welcomed at the event, which began at 2 pm (GMT). Throughout her story, Patrícia brought to debate the issue of female presence in the universe of space exploration, aiming to break the paradigms that say that women have no space in the aerospace market.

To show that it is possible to achieve a prominent position in the sector, the guest presented the reality of her work routine. “I'm part of a team of 40-odd engineers and our role is to work in the 'dynamics and control' area, that is, we create algorithms to control the positioning of the satellites”, she explained. The engineering leader also took the opportunity to add the importance of innovating when seeking to enter the market.

In addition to the gender theme, Patrícia sought to bring to the participants the differentiated look that the company she works for has towards environmental issues. “In Brazil, we are engaged in a part of analyzing the impacts of reforestation in the Amazon Forest”, she pointed out, with the aim of presenting new areas of activity and interest that are within the aerospace universe. “Studying English is not easy, but I must tell you: the sky is not the limit, it’s the destination” she affirmed.

Green field. At the end of the video call, the guest spoke about the benefits of New Space and the opportunities and doors it opens for future space explorers. “Your generation has the power to transform the human species”, she told the students. “It's revolutionary,” she concluded. To end the mutual exchange experience with the students, she left a single tip: “Stay curious, don't hold back!”.

If the news of the end of the virtual meetings brought a feeling of nostalgia to this year's Space Talk participants, the news of an in-person event in March 2022 has already brought new expectations to the students. To participate in next years edition, it is necessary to pay attention to the Science Days social networks, as the announcement of the opening of registrations will be made through the project's platforms and online groups.

To learn more about the foundation and its activities, please access:  http://www.michaelisfoundation.org/
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 - Luma Keily
MFGE International Correspondent