U.S. Coast Guard Ignites Valley Girl Into Action

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1980s classic.

I was your typical San Fernando “valley girl.” I lived for the sun, the beach, the boys, and “like OMG” to party. When I was 20 I moved into my dad’s house after a falling out with my mom. As a second year student in college, my life revolved around which night club my friends and I were going to rave at for the weekend.

Then my world changed, forever.

I was sitting at our kitchen table one sunny afternoon when my dad walked in and said those defining words. He said, “Nancy, what do you want to do with your life?” When silence filled the room, my father spoke again. “You have a choice, you can either join the U.S. Coast Guard or find an internship.” My mouth fell open.

Space Shuttle Main Engine

Somehow I landed a writing internship at Rocketdyne, an aerospace company located in Canoga Park, CA. At the time, Rocketdyne built the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME). I wrote stories about their employees from machinists to corporate executives to an engineer who was trying out for the U.S. Olympic diving team. Not only were the employees interesting, but I found the product fascinating. It was a critical time for the Space Exploration Program. In 1986 everyone watched in horror as the Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its flight.

During the two years that followed Rocketdyne prepared for the Space Shuttle Discovery, known as the “Return To Flight” mission. The media swarmed the test site each time Rocketdyne would ignite the SSME. I was eager to join when my boss asked me to tag along . It was like watching a volcano erupt. For me, it was an epic experience.

Since then, I’ve been writing off and on for the past 20 years. I’ve veered off course a few times, but always seem to come back.

So here I am. After another long break, I’m back again. I guess it’s either this or making that phone call to the U.S. Coast Guard.

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Filed under Canoga Park, Career, Employee Communications, Journalist, Rocketdyne, San Fernando Valley, Science, Space Exploration, Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, Space Shuttle Main Engines, Writing