Aerospace's new CEO, Tanya Pemberton, spoke with SpaceNews about the organization's particular set of skills, and why they're so valuable in today's increasingly fast-moving space industry.
In an interview published during Space Symposium, Pemberton explained that Aerospace's long history with the space industry gives it a unique advantage in data and expertise. For instance, having closely supported launches going back to the Apollo era, Aerospace's data on that domain is voluminous and diverse.
"One thing that has not changed is the space environment is still brutally hard and unforgiving. Aerospace has 65-plus years of experience with that very difficult environment," Pemberton said. "We are now at the forefront of helping to harness what the private sector is bringing to the table so that the government can use these new capabilities."
As she explained, Aerospace has a couple avenues available to help. One is the lab infrastructure that has been built up around the country for decades.
"We have over 150 specialized labs. Industry can bring in their wares, test them and understand how they may respond in the space environment," she said.
This is especially important given the dwindling supply of certain testing facilities across the country. But it's more than just making an appointment to use a vacuum chamber. Pemberton mentioned a new effort called "government furnished expertise" by which she aims to share Aerospace's deep and specific technical talent.
"We’re trying to implement a way for the government to make the expertise, the lab capabilities, all of the domain experience that we have available to the private sector and especially to new entrants that might not yet understand some of the things that they need to worry about in space," she explained.
For example, she continued: "A unique Aerospace capability is tribology. We have some of the world’s best tribologists, who understand how to make bearings and lubricants work. When you think about space and what we have to do with control moment gyros, having those bearings work is very important."