Conversation with Launch Engineer
Mullika Pandit is a graduate of Mason High School (Class of 2020) who currently works at SpaceX as a Launch Engineer after receiving her BS in Aerospace Engineering from University of Texas at Austin. While at Mason, she played on the High School Varsity Golf Team for 4 years. Sayali Inamdar, also a graduate of Mason High School (Class of 2015), conducted an interview with Mullika about her journey so far and lessons learned.
Sayali practices as a Clinical Psychologist in Chicago and has known Mullika for many years.
During High School, how were you able to balance education and sports?
Well, balancing is always something that's hard to do in any stage in your life. I think as you get older, it becomes even harder because you have more things that you have to figure out. And I'm still trying to balance things now that I'm adding more and more things to my life. First time job, first time being an adult, it's really tough, but I think something really easy was that my family was my support system. They made sure that I had what I needed.
You pursued golf and followed in your dad's footsteps pretty quickly. What was it that initially sparked your interest in golf?
Dad introduced me to a sport for a lifetime and I really enjoyed it. I loved going out to
the driving range. He taught himself how to play and improve and then he taught that to me. I think we're very like-minded in who we are as people. We both think the same way, and I think that's what makes us both really like golf. Beyond the basics of mechanics, golf is really a thinking game, more than people realize.
And do you remember your hole in one?
It was at my very first competitive golf tournament. It was crazy. I was 13 and playing a Par 3 tee shot over water to a tight pin location on a very sloping green. I remember it so well. When I told my Dad after the round, he had a bittersweet reaction. He was happy for me but then he was
also sad that I got a hole in one before he did (he is still searching for his first!).
How has playing competitive golf while growing up helped your professional life?
Something that my dad taught me was how to play the game right. So, instead of trying to hit it really far, he taught me to hit smart. When in trouble, instead of getting anxious or angry, I was taught to pause and regroup so that I could get my head back into the game. That really crossed over to my professional life. I have found that keeping an open mind and working towards a plan are key skills, especially when dealing with setbacks which are inevitable.
What sparked your interest in engineering Initially?
I’ve been a STEM girl. Those were always my favorite subjects in school. I always like asking questions. I'm not someone who likes to think very abstract or likes to interpret different meanings of things. I've always really liked problem solving and thinking about different ways to go about solving a technical problem. So I guess it made sense that engineering was the path forward.
Then tell me about your journey from that to finding your niche with aerospace engineering.
I really started liking space after I watched Interstellar. That is kind of a “basic” answer, but that movie changed my life. It was awesome. It was so well done, and I think it shows the challenges and questions that we have about space, and space travel, in such a digestible way. So that was what sparked my interest in space.
Once I was on campus at UT, I joined some student groups that helped me figure out what exactly I wanted to do within aerospace. Texas Rocket Engineering Lab (TREL) showed me how rockets are made, how they are designed, and how you build them the way you want them. I really like space and even though space is super harsh, it’s quite predictable. I like that it's just this monumental challenge.
So since then, two big internships and now working full time. How have those transitions been?
I think It's been great. I like being in new environments, trying new things, and being surrounded by new people. That's part of the reason why I wanted to go to school in Texas, and why I took internships far away. Both of my internships really helped me. First, I got to grow into an adult, figure out the balance of how to work, take care of myself, and live alone.
What is your current role At SpaceX?
So I am a launch engineer at SpaceX. I work at one of their launchpads in CA. They have one active launchpad currently, and that is where they only launch Falcon 9 rockets. It's the only rocket that reuses its first stage and lands itself back down. So, my job is to work on upgrading or building new systems that are related to fuel systems. Currently, there's only one launchpad and we want to build a second one. We want that second one to be able to launch not only the Falcon 9 rocket, but the Falcon Heavy rocket, which can take heavier stuff.
Any advice to the young Mullikas out there, just starting their journey in the aerospace world?
First, ask questions all the time. I think I used to be really shy about asking questions. You know, for fear of looking like I didn't know what I was talking about or I shouldn't have been there. Don't be afraid to speak up. Your ideas are good. I think that is something I really learned. Don't be shy about sharing your ideas and pushing back on some things. Just trust in your abilities, work hard, play hard and you'll be good.
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