Kristen Facciol – Training supervisor, International Space Station and Gateway robotics
- Job title: Training supervisor, International Space Station and Gateway robotics
- Employer: Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
- Studies: B.ASc., Aerospace Engineering
Can you briefly explain your job?:
I am in the process of building a new team responsible for robotics training for the International Space Station (ISS) and eventually Gateway. Currently, our team conducts lessons for astronauts from all international partner agencies (NASA, ESA, JAXA, and Roscosmos) as well as flight controllers from NASA. We are also working on the development of an entirely new training program that will deliver courses for all those involved in operations of Canadarm3 on Gateway.
What is unique about your job?
I have been fortunate to have had many unique experiences throughout my time at the CSA. I was previously operating the robotic systems on the ISS, as well as training astronauts and flight controllers how to operate Canadarm2 and Dextre. I now get to support science investigations that are teaching us about the physical effects of long-duration spaceflight. These different opportunities have allowed me to experience what it is like to work on projects both inside and outside of the ISS. I am looking ahead to our future missions and leading the development of a training program for Canadarm3.
What tasks do you perform most often at work?
The majority of my role focuses on ensuring we have the resources in place for the team to perform robotics training effectively, as well as teaching and evaluating students and instructors. This includes developing and improving products and processes, overseeing training and development of personnel, and monitoring preparedness for course conducts from both a facilities and personnel perspective. I also participate as a representative for the CSA on various international boards.
How does what you do affect people's lives?
Our participation in the ISS and Gateway gives us the opportunity to engage in utilization opportunities (being able to perform science in space). The science we have done and continue to do on the ISS is teaching us about how our bodies may be affected by a more sedentary lifestyle or what may happen to us as we age. This allows us to investigate ways to mitigate these effects and improve our quality of life. Operating in a remote environment like the ISS will also allow us to learn how we can implement these same approaches and concepts to provide care to those in remote communities around the world. In the future, being able to conduct science on Gateway will give us further insight into what is required to prepare for longer-duration missions so that we can continue to explore further.
Which professional accomplishment are you the most proud of or something that you really like about your work?
Moving to Montreal and joining the CSA was one of my proudest moments, and a transition that opened up several new doors for me. This eventually led to the opportunity to train at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) and operate as part of the Mission Control Team. Working at NASA and being able to represent Canada at JSC was an opportunity I never thought I would have. It sometimes still seems like it was all a dream.
How did you get to where you are today? Did you have to overcome any challenges to get where you are?
Although I always had an interest in STEM fields, it was never clear to me what I wanted to be when I grew up or what options even existed to me. For a while, I wanted to be a pediatrician, but it wasn't until it came time to select a university and program that I started to consider engineering. The transition into university was difficult: I struggled to adapt and almost failed out of the program in my first year. As I progressed, I started to get a better idea of what I enjoyed, which also helped determine what I was good at.
I kept looking for opportunities to learn and challenge myself while also doing things I enjoyed, which all led to the many steps I have taken in my career along the way. Throughout my career, I have always made sure to build good relationships, perform my best, and keep an open mind about new doors that may open in the future.
Who or what has helped you the most throughout your career?
I have always had a desire to improve myself and push my own limits as well as the limits set by others. This mentality, combined with incredibly supportive family and friends, has absolutely helped me progress in my career.
Think back to a teacher or an informal educator (like a parent, youth leader, or librarian) who had a positive impact on your life. What did she/he do to influence or support you?
Engineering wasn't really a consideration of mine until my high school algebra teacher (who had studied chemical engineering herself) mentioned I should apply. That was definitely the first step in this journey, and although it was a big and uncertain one, it's one that I am happy I took. She knew my abilities and reassured me that I was capable of pursuing that path, and I'm very grateful for that.
What motivates you?
My greatest motivation is my daughter because I want to be my absolute best self for her. Finding the balance between working and having a family is challenging, but it has been helpful to apply what I have learned in each of those worlds to the other. In the workplace, I take a lot of ownership for my professional reputation and the quality of my work, so ensuring I am always delivering to the best of my abilities is also a strong motivator.
How do you stay updated on industry trends and incorporate new knowledge into your work?
A lot has changed since I started in the space sector . There is so much more interest and participation, which has given us access to a significant amount of readily accessible information on a variety of platforms. The pandemic also brought about a big change in the way conferences are run, now often allowing for virtual participation. Gathering the information is the first step, but then spending the time to assess and see how it can benefit the way I do my work is the more important one. It's a matter of looking at the available tools (whether knowledge, process, or product) and learning when it's best to utilize them.
What skills or qualities do you believe are essential for someone in your role, and how do you continuously develop them?
Adapting into a supervisory role came with the need to develop many skills that I hadn't often used before. It is important to have a high-level understanding of the technical items being worked by the team, and to maintain big-picture awareness in order to make well-informed (and sometimes difficult) decisions. At the same time, it is also critical to do this with empathy and compassion because the team is more about the people than its accomplishments. Fortunately, there are opportunities to put these skills into practice on a daily basis.
What advice would you give young people interested in a space career?
No matter what type of career you choose to pursue, find something that makes you happy and gives you a feeling of purpose, but also challenges you. This will always drive you to improve and help ensure that you won't let anything get in the way of your own success. I also often like to remind myself and others to “get comfortable with being uncomfortable” because I truly feel that getting to a point of complacency is one of the biggest hindrances to success and good performance.
What are your main passions or hobbies outside of work?
These days I am very much focused on being a mom and absolutely loving it. I am so happy that I'm able to offer my daughter experiences that will allow her to learn and evolve, while also learning from her. It has been a blast to share my passions of music (whether creating our own or watching it live), travel, and playing sports, and I can't wait to see what we get up to next.