Year: 1980

Where: in New York City, NY

Who: Dr. Aprille Ericsson

Dr. Aprille Ericsson, an accomplished aerospace engineer and scientist, has played a pivotal role at NASA, contributing to groundbreaking missions and advancing the frontiers of space exploration. Born in New York City on April 1, 1963, Ericsson became a trailblazer in engineering, earning a doctorate in mechanical engineering as the first African-American woman to do so at Howard University. Her work includes managing critical scientific instruments such as the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), which measures ice sheet depths and vegetation canopy heights.

Ericsson’s career at NASA has been marked by her involvement in innovative missions, such as managing the ATLAS system and serving as the instrument manager for a proposed mission to collect atmospheric dust from Mars. Her expertise in engineering and leadership has been vital to the success of these projects, which contribute to our understanding of Earth and extraterrestrial environments.

Despite her aspirations of becoming an astronaut being curtailed by health issues, including asthma and a knee condition, Ericsson has channeled her passion into breaking barriers and inspiring others. Her journey began in 1980 when she attended the MIT UNITE program, an engineering outreach initiative for minority students. She later earned her Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering at MIT in 1986 and continued to excel in academia and her professional career. Ericsson’s dedication to STEM education and advocacy has empowered countless young minds, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence and inclusion in aerospace and engineering.

Sources:

Websites:

• U.S. Department of Defense. (n.d.). Aprille Ericsson [Biography]. U.S. Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/3720697/aprille-ericsson/

• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (n.d.). Barbara Ericsson. NASA. https://earth.gsfc.nasa.gov/maniac/ericsson