• Question: what is the hardest project you have worked on?

    Asked by 555satm27 to Hollie, Helen on 11 Mar 2018. This question was also asked by 658satm27.
    • Photo: Hollie Heard

      Hollie Heard answered on 11 Mar 2018:

      Every project has its own unique problems to be solved and it can lots of different factors that make them ‘hard’ such as things not working as you’d planned, budgets changing, or being pushed for time. The hardest project I’ve ever worked on has been my doctorate based on the development of optimised processes for producing tantalum films by a process called chemical vapour deposition, (we call it CVD for short), that have a particular set of properties to be used for corrosion resistance. What’s made it ‘hard’ has been lots of problems with equipment not working and needing to be fixed, teaching myself statistical analysis tools, having to write a thesis, and trying to get everything done in time! Even though this may well be one of the hardest and most challenging things I ever do, it has also been one of the best. I’ve learnt so much about so many different things and developed really good working relationships and skills in lots of areas that I know will help me in the future. The hardest things we do in any part of life whether it be studying, working, or anywhere, are often those that can teach us the most so the important thing is to always try to do your best even when things get tough! Is there a particularly hard project you’ve ever had to work?

    • Photo: Helen O'Brien

      Helen O'Brien answered on 14 Mar 2018:

      Solar Orbiter is definitely the hardest. There was one point where we thought we had our design finalised and the sensors then did something completely unexpected at cold temperatures. We really had to brainstorm as a team to work out what was going on and fix the problem. We also had to meet a really tight deadline, and so were all working really hard and long hours.
      But we did fix it, and in the end it is always better to know where your design has limitation than to not know – better to find out whilst the spacecraft is still on the ground, rather that once it is in space.

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