Preparing for the Research Mission

By Montse Zeron

As May comes to an end, I want to reflect on how my research project has unfolded during the last couple of weeks. These days, I pretty much live and breathe space (more than usual) as I try to familiarize myself with the topic as much as possible–I have never read so many scientific articles in my life. I’ve subscribed to physics newsletters and began to read journals in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. While I’m still trying to read as much as I can about the intersection between space exploration and international relations, most of my research focus at the moment is centered on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). A big part of my time is spent reading what I can find on Webb; everything from progress reports, proposals, mission overviews, and articles to watching documentaries and interviews.

'The James Webb Space Telescope' by Dustin Yellin for Quanta Magazine

Most of my days consist of drafting and replying to a multitude of emails; considering that a big part of my research project will rely on the oral history interviews I intend to conduct, I need to be in constant communication with those individuals to schedule the interviews and arrange the necessary travel. The biggest issues I’ve encountered so far all relate to slow/lack of communications with many of the people I intend to interview. While a little frustrating, this is something that is expected and understood given the nature of their work; most of the intended interviewees I’ve emailed hold high-ranking positions in government agencies, academic/research institutions, science operations centers, flight centers, etc. The best things I’ve learned from this process is to be proactive and understanding–there is a balance between giving people some space while also acknowledging they might’ve missed your initial email and need a reminder. Most of the time, they are excited to participate and just haven’t had the time to reply to the hundreds of emails they get every day.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.

In June, I will be traveling to the Washington D.C. area to interview scientists/science administrators involved in the James Webb Space Telescope. During my time there, I will visit relevant archives while also spending some time getting to know the city.

The recorder I will use to conduct oral history interviews

As I prepare for my upcoming interviews, I’m getting familiarized with the tape recorder I will be using. I’ve had to practice using the different track buttons, adjusting input levels/signals, enabling the different tracks, knowing the file structures, adjusting the microphones, etc. While it’s proving to be a little more challenging than I expected, I’ve enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone and figuring out all of the functions and settings.