Episode 3: Structures, Standards, and Space Stations with Alejandra Barragan

TRANSCRIPT In this episode, hosts Anusha Abdulla and Iqra Abdullah talk with Alejandra, a Senior Quality Engineer at Axiom Space currently on-site at Thales Alenia Space in Italy. afety of hardware humans will use to orbit the Earth. In this episode, we discuss: The Production Floor "Crash Course": Learning to gain respect in male-dominated industries by "driving the forklift" and showing you can do the job. The Human Factor: Why Alejandra moved from heavy industry to a Master’s in Bioengineering at Rice University to work on projects that directly better human life. Life in Italy: Navigating cultural differences, language barriers, and the unique role of being the "customer spy" on a global manufacturing team. Spaceflight Windows: The terrifying and rewarding responsibility of signing off on the glass and acrylic panels that protect astronauts from space debris. A New Definition of Success: Why "scaling the organizational ladder" isn't the only way to win in your career. Note: As Alejandra joined us live from Italy, the audio quality reflects the international connection. A full transcript is provided in the link below for easy following. Resources: Full Transcript Alejandra Barragán Axiom Space Join the Village