NASA engineer helps shuttle return to flight

Marta Metelko
Headquarters, Washington April 20, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-1642)

Betty Humphery
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
(Phone: 256/544-0034)

RELEASE: 05-103

NASA ENGINEER HELPS RETURN THE SHUTTLE SAFELY TO FLIGHT

As a mining engineer in Colombia, Alberto Duarte never dreamed he'd
someday work for NASA. Today, as a member of the Safety and Engineering Risk
Review Panel at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville,
Ala., Duarte is part of a team of NASA engineers responsible for safely
returning the Shuttle to space.

"One of our most important tasks is to ensure the hardware and software is
ready to support the crew in safe flight and for mission success," Duarte
said. "The safety of the mission is our top priority."

Duarte and other NASA representatives are responsible for the review and
approval of Space Shuttle main propulsion system safety reports and systems
performance analysis, as well as engineering changes as a result of NASA's
Return to Flight Program. These reports and analyses provide comprehensive
identification, controls and acceptance rationale of the functions and
performance of the Shuttle main propulsion system and component parts,
basically the nuts and bolts of the system.

A native of Bogota, Colombia, Duarte graduated from the National University
of Colombia in Bogota in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in chemical
engineering. After working for several years in Colombia, Duarte set his
sights on the United States.

In 1981, he took a position in the Systems Safety Office at Martin Marietta
Aerospace in New Orleans, where he was introduced to the Space Shuttle and
the world of space exploration. He was a lead engineer at the Mission
Assembly Facility, working on the design, fabrication and testing of the
External Tank for the Space Shuttle.

In 1986, Duarte's newfound love of space, and of his adopted country, led
him to become a U.S. citizen. A year later, he moved to Huntsville to work
as a lead engineer for the Systems Safety, Reliability and Quality
Engineering Office of Boeing Aerospace. As part of the Shuttle support
contract, his job entailed systems component analysis for the Solid Rocket
Booster and Space Shuttle Main Engine projects.

In 1988, Duarte joined NASA as a lead systems safety engineer for the Space
Shuttle Main Engine in MSFC's Safety and Mission Assurance Office.
Throughout his NASA career, Duarte has held numerous managerial and
leadership positions, including manager of the Systems Safety, Reliability
and Quality Engineering Office for the advanced solid rocket motor in Iuka,
Miss.

He served as advanced development program manager for the Space
Transportation Main Engine Program Office from 1992 to 1994, and as
propulsion chief engineer for the X-33 flight demonstrator project from 1994
to 1999. He returned to the Space Transportation Directorate at MSFC in
January 2000, serving as a special assistant to the director. In 2003, he
was named manager of the Integration Office in the Space Transportation
Directorate, providing management and operational support across the
organization.

Duarte earned a master's degree in chemical engineering in 1994 from Tulane
University in News Orleans. In 2003, he received a master's degree in
systems engineering and engineering management from the University of
Alabama in Huntsville.

He enjoys volunteering through his church for several local and overseas
mission tasks. He also volunteers as a translator for Huntsville Hospital
and for Huntsville Municipal Court. He also teaches free Spanish lessons to
anyone who wants to learn the language. He enjoys writing about his personal
experiences in America, sending some of his articles to El Tiempo, the
leading newspaper in Bogota, reaching 285,000 readers. "What I see and
experience with my family here in the United States, I enjoy sharing with
others," Duarte said.

Duarte is focused on making sure NASA achieves its goals. "What we do today
sets the foundation for the future of space exploration," he said. "We're
paving the way for those generations of explorers to come and inspiring them
to move forward with the Vision for Space Exploration."

Media interested in interviewing Duarte should contact the MSFC Public
Affairs Office at: 256/544-0034.

For the latest information on NASA's Return to Flight efforts on the
Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight

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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info