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East LA & Academic Probation to NASA Flight Engineer for ISS & Moon to Mars—Irene Chan |Ep43
Description
From the streets of East Los Angeles, raised by a single mother as a first-generation American, to becoming a Flight Planning Engineer supporting NASA’s International Space Station and Moon to Mars programs — Irene Chan’s story is proof that your background doesn’t define your ceiling.
With over 20 years in aerospace, Irene shares her powerful non-traditional path: falling in love with flight, facing academic probation and job termination, and pushing through with resilience, mentorship, and curiosity.
In this inspiring episode, she reveals:
- What a Flight Planning Engineer actually does on real space missions
- How love became her unexpected motivation into engineering
- Overcoming barriers as someone from an underserved community in STEM
- The excitement and complexity of working with international partners on Moon to Mars
- Practical advice for young people who feel “NASA isn’t for someone like me”
This conversation is for dreamers, first-gen students, and anyone needing proof that persistence beats perfection.
Irene Chan is a NASA Flight Planning Engineer with deep experience in space operations and mission coordination.
Timestamps below ⬇️
#NASA #WomenInSTEM #SpaceEngineering #InspiringJourney #MoonToMars #FirstGenSuccess
Connect with Irene Chan
Website:https://ireneschan.com/
LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/ireneschan
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ireneschan
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Chapters
0:00 - Intro: Welcome Irene Chan
1:45 - From East LA to Aerospace: A Love Story
6:30 - Not Knowing What Engineering Was – What Drew Her In
11:20 - Academic Probation, Job Termination & Pushing Through Failure
18:45 - The Role of Community & Mentorship
25:10 - What Does a NASA Flight Planning Engineer Actually Do?
31:50 - Misconceptions About Space Mission Planning
37:40 - Coordinating with International Partners on ISS
44:15 - What Excites Her Most About Moon to Mars Program
50:30 - Barriers Faced Entering Aerospace from Underserved Backgrounds
57:10 - Unique Strengths Non-Traditional Students Bring to STEM
1:03:45 - Message to Young People Who Think “NASA Isn’t For Me”
1:10:20 - Practical Steps from STEM Dreams to Real Careers
1:17:50 - Biggest Failure & Lessons Learned
1:24:30 - Continuing Growth After 20+ Years in Aerospace
1:30:15 - What Success Means Now
1:35:40 - Rapid Fire Questions
1:40:20 - Outro & Final Words