NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image above:Robin Hardy is testing a Foam and Composite energy absorber completed at the Impact Dynamics Research Facility (gantry) for potential use as a NASCAR soft wall. Credit: Sean Smith

Robin Hardy’s lifelong dream was to work for NASA. In 1988, Hardy accomplished that dream and began her career at Langley as a student in NASA’s cooperative education program. Since then, she has been working at Langley for almost 20 years.

Hardy currently works at NASA’s Impact Dynamics Research Facility (gantry) as a test engineer, designing and conducting tests to support the Orion project.

She enjoys working at NASA and at the gantry because she has the opportunity to be involved in space exploration – the facet of NASA that first drew her interest. Another favorite part of working at Langley is her co-workers.

“It’s a great team of people,” said Hardy. “There are a lot of talented people that are always willing to help.”

Outside of her career at Langley, Hardy likes acting, reading, swimming and spending time with her family.

“I love watching my children learn and grow to be people that can do a lot of different things,” said Hardy. “Right now they are on a swim team. I love to watch them swim.”

Her fondest memory involved sharing her experiences at work with her children by showing them video footage of a crash test involving an aircraft hitting the ground and plowing into a wall.

“It was a very dynamic, exciting test with a bunch of cheers,” said Hardy. After my kids and I watched it, my eight-year-old said, ‘That’s cool! I want to work for NASA when I grow up.’”

Hardy has two other children, ages two and six, who are also catching some of her passion for NASA’s missions.

“It’s neat to think they might actually follow in my footsteps,” said Hardy about her children.

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Emily Sturgill
The Researcher News