Alexandra Walker

7.15 AM

A few mornings a week I make sure to get up a little earlier and take my dog for a quick walk to the end of the street and back. It only takes about 15 minutes and I like starting my day getting a bit of sun and exercise. Once I get home, I get ready for the day and head off to work. My commute to the Nova Systems office only takes about 20-minutes and I will usually listen to some music, an audiobook or a podcast during my drive.

8.30 AM

I head to my desk and spend a few minutes chatting with my workmates who sit around me. I sit next to other graduate engineers who work on a variety of interesting projects. Someone always has something new or interesting that they are working on or we just chat about what we are getting up to after work or over the weekend.

8.35 AM

I start my day with general housekeeping tasks. I check my emails, calendar, messages and Nova’s social feeds to myself upon any company news, communication or project updates. I also take this time to review any research articles and space industry news that may have been released. I try to keep myself informed on what is going on both in Australia and around the world in space. I take this time to respond to any emails, schedule tasks for my week and follow up on any interesting research or information that has been posted.

8.45 AM

For my first task of the day, I am modelling a satellite launch in STK. STK is a digital mission engineering tool that enables me to generate a model of what a real-world mission might look like well before launch day. Software tools like STK can be used to model, simulate, analyse and test the launch system as well as visualise iterations or changes made throughout its design and mission planning phase. The STK results include data, reports, graphs and animations that can be used later in the evaluation of the launch, operation and disposal of launch vehicles, satellites and missiles.

I’m a graduate engineer and my primary role in the launch support services team is to analyse and understand the data that is being entered and manipulated within software like STK. It’s important to verify that the software tools we use to model and simulate the launch are generating a true representation of the mission outcomes.

9.20 AM

Its coffee van time! We have a coffee van that comes to the office every day at 9:20am. A couple days a week I’ll head down and grab a coffee at this time with the rest of the graduate engineers. I head back upstairs and continue to work on my model in STK.

12.30 PM

I head downstairs for lunch with the other graduate engineers. Most days we try to take lunch together. Nova always has fresh fruit and yoghurt available so I usually grab a piece of fruit. Even though its winter we decide to sit outside to eat today.

12.30 PM

I head downstairs for lunch with the other graduate engineers. Most days we try to take lunch together. Nova always has fresh fruit and yoghurt available so I usually grab a piece of fruit. Even though it's winter we decide to sit outside to eat today.

5.00 PM

I head home for the day. Tonight I’m heading out to dinner with a friend and then to the gym. I like to mix up my evening activities. I’m currently taking a painting class with my sister and playing mixed touch football with a small group of Novans.