Begoña Vila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Begoña Vila
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born |
María Begoña Vila Costas
1963 (age 61–62) Vigo, Spain
|
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
| Occupation | Astrophysicist, systems engineer |
| Employer | NASA |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards |
|
María Begoña Vila Costas (born in 1963) is a Spanish scientist who studies space. She is an astrophysicist, which means she studies stars, galaxies, and the universe. She specializes in looking at spiral galaxies, which are shaped like giant pinwheels. Begoña also works as a systems engineer at NASA, the famous American space agency. She lives in Washington, D.C.
Begoña Vila is a very important part of the team working on the James Webb Space Telescope. This amazing telescope is like a super-powerful successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. She is the main engineer for a special camera and sensor on the Webb telescope called the Fine Guidance Sensor and Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (FGS-NIRISS). She also made sure all the instruments were tested in very cold conditions before they were put onto the telescope. Now, she is also working on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Contents
Becoming a Space Scientist
Begoña Vila studied Astrophysics at the University of Santiago de Compostela and the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics in Spain. This was from 1981 to 1986. She then earned her doctorate degree in Astrophysics in 1989. She did this at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester in England.
Working with Telescopes
Designing Space Instruments
Starting in 2006, Begoña worked on designing and building the FGS-NIRISS instrument. This instrument is a key part of the James Webb Space Telescope. She worked at a Canadian company, guided by the Canadian Space Agency.
When the instrument was finished in 2012, it had its first cold test. After seeing her great work, NASA decided to hire her. She joined NASA through an outside company as a systems engineer for the instrument.
Leading the FGS Team
Since 2013, Begoña has been the "FGS lead systems engineer." This means she is in charge of all the tests for this important sensor. She also oversees how it works in space, what it can and cannot do, and its computer programs.
She also helps coordinate all the science instruments on the telescope. These instruments are grouped together in something called the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM). She makes sure they all work together during their cold tests.
Awards and Recognition
Begoña Vila has received several important awards for her work:
- In 2016, NASA gave her the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal. This award was for her "outstanding leadership and achievement" in designing and developing the FGS-NIRISS.
- In 2017, she won the María Josefa Wonenburger Planells Award for her scientific work.
- In 2022, the King and Queen of Spain named her an Honorary Ambassador of the Spain Brand. This was for her achievements in Science and Innovation.
- In 2023, she received the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal. This was for her amazing work in developing and getting the Webb telescope's Fine Guidance Sensor ready. This sensor helps the telescope point very accurately.
- Also in 2023, she was named one of the 100 most influential women in Spain by Forbes magazine.
See also
In Spanish: Begoña Vila para niños
