Name: Sarah Baldwin

Maiden name: Lindsey

Purdue degree: BSAAE '10

Why did you choose to study aeronautics and astronautics?

Math was always one of my favorite subjects in school, but I also really enjoyed being creative through art, music, writing, and puzzles. I chose engineering because I liked the idea of being able to combine creativity with math and science to solve real world problems. I’ve always been fascinated with space, but was unsure of the actual opportunities I’d be able to find working in the space industry so I didn’t initially plan to study AAE. However, throughout my freshman year in engineering, I met students in the AAE department and realized that not only is working in the space program within reach of the students here, but also that Purdue provides some of the best opportunities to get your foot in the door. I changed my plans and decided to go into the AAE department just in time to start the sophomore classes and I’ve never looked back.

Favorite Purdue AAE class or experience:

My favorite experiences were always when the astronaut alumni would visit. I love the connection the school has to the space program, and meeting those astronauts really helped us to focus on the end goal of all of our hard work. I especially loved hearing Jim Lovell speak to us and tell us stories of his career. My absolute favorite moment though was when Neil Armstrong, after having attended the opening of Armstrong Hall, kicked off “Shout” at the football game. Seeing him smile and wave the Purdue flag made me so proud to be a Boilermaker.

What organizations or activities were you involved in at Purdue? What did you gain from that involvement?

While I was at Purdue, I was involved with Purdue Space Day (executive board member in ’09), Invisible Children, SWE, and Global Connect. Each of these activities was a great learning experience that helped me learn management skills, learn to meet deadlines with multiple concurrent projects, and broaden my horizons through new experiences. Through SWE and Space Day, I found that I really enjoyed doing STEM outreach events, so I continue to do them now by mentoring a high school rocket project and visiting local classrooms to talk about STEM.

What are you doing currently?

I am a senior engineer at Aerojet Rocketdyne working RS-68 Launch Operations and making sure every launch we have is successful. My job begins with testing the engine and ends with final data review after the vehicle has launched. It is really fun because I get to do a lot of different things involving hardware, software, leading investigations, and testing. So far in my career I’ve worked 22 rocket launches, providing on-console engineering support during the launch countdown and each one has been just as much fun as the one before it. I’m as close as you can get when the rocket lifts off and I love hearing the sound of those engines roaring!

What are your ultimate career goals?

For most of my career I’ve worked on launching satellites, which has been really rewarding, but my favorite launch I supported was EFT-1 where we launched the Orion capsule on its first test flight. I would love to eventually work human spaceflight and be a part of the teams that push the envelope of human exploration.

How is your Purdue AAE degree helping you achieve your goals?

We joke around in the space industry that you can’t throw a rock more than five feet without hitting a Purdue engineer. Purdue has such a strong presence in every aspect of the space industry and it’s due to the high quality of the AAE program. Purdue not only taught me all the technical skills I needed to succeed, but it also trained me to think critically through any issue and solve all kinds of different problems. In my job, I’m continuously challenged to learn new things and having a Purdue engineering foundation enables me to do that.

What advice do you have for current AAE students?

Just keep swimming! The classes require a lot of hard work, but it’s definitely worth it! When you graduate with a Purdue AAE degree, you’re prepared to go out into the world and do some pretty amazing things.

What do you do in your free time?

I love to travel and explore new places. I really enjoy immersing myself in different cultures and trying to learn new languages. It sometimes feels like I’m in a constant state of planning our next adventure, and I love it. On the weekends, I spend my time hiking, surfing, and playing violin with a local LA orchestra.