Class of 2007 alumnus Kevin Tseng briskly stepped down the metal staircase onto the SpaceX production floor, surrounded by the bustling figures of technicians working on their newest space endeavor. As Tseng strode towards a colleague, he smiled with pride as he recognized the parts that he designed.
“I grew up loving everything about space,” Tseng said. “I loved reading about space exploration and watching events such as space shuttle launches, and that’s what inspired me to pursue aerospace.”
Tseng attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was on an aerospace-based student engineering team called Rocket Project and studied composites as an undergraduate research assistant under the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
“I was not the most active student by any means in high school,” Tseng said. “I was extremely studious and felt I was a great student, but in hindsight I wish I participated in more activities. It is something I did more of in college, and those became some of the most memorable times.”
Tseng joined SpaceX in November 2012, becoming Lead Dragon Composites Technician in the Dragon Composites Production team, then becoming a Structures Design Engineer in December 2014.
Recently, SpaceX has been working on the Mars Transportation Infrastructure plan, focusing on interplanetary transportation to help the colonization of Mars.
“I’ve always wondered if I would one day witness humans explore the stars and fantasized about what life would be like,” Tseng said. “Mars is a long shot from interstellar travel, but the idea of establishing civilization on another celestial body is a major leap in that direction. Working for a company that is pioneering this effort is something I feel is special.”
Tseng has worked on SpaceX projects including Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Cargo Dragon. His current responsibilities include producing 3D models and parts for SpaceX’s latest endeavor, the Crew Dragon vehicle.
“In hindsight, the biggest piece of advice I could give to aspiring students is to partake in hands-on activities as much as possible,” Tseng said. “There’s nothing more valuable in the industry than experience. Textbooks and lectures can only get you so far. It’s the application of that knowledge that will get you places.”
TCHS School Newspaper