Awards
2008 summit award® recipients
THE EARLY ACCOMPLISHMENT AWARD
ms. laura m. lucier, p.eng.
This award is presented to Members of APEGGA in recognition
of exceptional achievement in the early years of a professional career as an
engineer, geologist or geophysicist.
Ms. Laura Lucier, P.Eng., began her impressive career as an undergraduate studying mechanical engineering at the University of Calgary. As captain of the fourth-year Mini Baja student team, she excelled in all aspects of the program. After graduating on the Dean's List in 1999 with a Bachelor's degree, Ms. Lucier embarked on her Master's degree studies in aerospace engineering at McGill University, graduating in 2001.
In 2002 Ms. Lucier joined the Canadian Space Agency and was sent to NASA's
Johnson Space Center as part of Canada's role in the International Space Station
program. She is one of only nine Canadian Flight Controllers and one of only
two Canadians, and the first Canadian woman, working at the front-room level,
the highest level in the robotics discipline. This is a highly competitive field
in a high-stress environment that requires life or death decisions and years
of studying and testing before being trusted to do the job. During every shuttle
mission, and during space station operations between missions, Ms. Lucier works
in the Mission Control Center providing expertise in mechanical, software, video,
electrical and thermal systems. She has received several awards, including a
NASA Flight Controller Award, three NASA Group Achievement Awards and a NASA
Spaceflight Awareness Team Award.
In addition to her duties in the Mission Control Center, Ms. Lucier serves as
the training coordinator for her group. In this role, she is responsible for
developing the curriculum for robotics flight controller training and for setting
the standards for robotics flight controller certification.
Over the past four years, Ms. Lucier has dedicated herself to the planning
and design of the STS-118/13A.1 shuttle mission. As the lead robotics mission
designer, she was responsible for developing safe and efficient robotics task
choreography for the robotic arm and for training the crew members for the flight.
The mission was completed in August 2007 and robotics activities included the
installation of two new components of the space station and support of three
spacewalks. Ms. Lucier is now the lead robotics officer for the 15A mission,
scheduled for December 2008, the objective of which is to install the last major
space station component. She is also preparing for the greatest challenge of
her career, the 2009 launch of the H-II Transfer Vehicle, where the robotic arm
will be used to capture and berth the vehicle at the space station.
Honours, Awards and Distinctions
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Canadian Space Agency Director’s Award (2007)
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NASA Flight Controller Award (2007)
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NASA Group Achievement Award (three in 2007)
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NASA Spaceflight Awareness Team Award (2005)
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Graduate of the Last Decade, University of Calgary Alumni Association (2004)
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Featured, MacLean’s annual Top 30 Under 30 (2003)
Professional Affiliations and Activities
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Volunteer Student Advisor, NASA’s Microgravity University program (2007-present)
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Email Mentor, SCIberMENTOR (2004-present)
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Member, APEGGA (1999-present)