Many people all over the world are busy in the field of science and technology all the time. Some of them are famous and some of them do their work quietly. Among such silent people is Dr. Mansoor Ahmed who is 35 years old. He is affiliated with the US space agency NASA and is the Director of Astrophysics. He was instrumental in the development of the Hubble Telescope sent into space by NASA.
He is now working on the James Webb Telescope as Deputy Project Manager and is demonstrating his skills through Project Lisa, a joint venture between the European Space Agency and NASA. He is also working on several NASA projects. Recently, the correspondent of "Jang" contacted him on the phone in the United States. The details of the conversation with them are given to the readers.
Q: Tell us something for readers to know about elementary education and family background?
A: I was born in Abbottabad, but received my early education in Peshawar, because my father was a military officer. They were exchanged in another city every few years. Eventually we shifted to Peshawar and started our education there. I have been interested in becoming an Air Force pilot since my childhood. I was also selected in PAF College, Lower Topa, Murree. This college selects 60 students for Air Force pilot every year. Unfortunately when I was in matriculation. My eyes became less stressed, due to which I could not get further education in it. During this time my parents shifted to America.
Later, I attended high school in the United States for a year, then did a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from George Washington University. I started my career in the air conditioning industry. At the same time, there was an energy crisis in the United States, because the Arab countries had cut off the supply of oil to the United States and there was a severe shortage of energy in the country. Solar energy can be made usable. I worked on this project for some time. Later I joined NASA and I am still working in Nasahi.
Q: Was there a special reason for choosing the field of science? If you were not involved in this field, in which field would you make your career?
A: There was no particular reason for choosing this field. After the Air Force, if I was interested in working in any field, it was science. Therefore, most of my interest was towards research and inventions.
Q: You have spent a large part of your career in various Hubble Space Telescope programs. Can you give some details about that?
A: I joined NASA shortly before NASA started working on the Hubble Telescope. There are 5 instruments in this telescope that do scientific work, one of which is the work of thermal engineering. I used to do it in my head, I had to check how much temperature I had to control when this telescope was used, because the Hubble Telescope is very delicate.
If the temperature drops above or below half a degree, the risk of damage increases. For a while, I worked in thermal engineering, then I became in charge of the entire Hubble Telescope team and all of it. Work began in my head. When the Hubble Telescope was officially launched, I was made its operations manager. So far Hubble has had 5 service missions and I have headed all of them. It has been almost 28 years since it was sent into space and every 3 years it changes a little bit, which is why it is now Is doing its job well.
Q: How do you think a nation can move forward in science and technology in modern times?
A: If a country has to make progress in the field of science and technology, then the government of that country should pay more attention to it and allocate some budget for it. Because the work of the private sector is prepared by scientists and engineers. This is the job of the government. We have to think about how the whole world is advancing in this field. We should also invest in it and provide modern invention.
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