The two-week simulation took place in one of the most Mars-like environments.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Have you ever dreamed of going to Mars? Florida Tech graduate Andy Greco (Class of 2010) has already achieved that goal and didn't even have to leave Earth. In July 2023, Greco has been selected as the lead engineer for Expedition 15 to the Mars Society's Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada.
When Greco first received the email seeking members to join the team, he didn't think there was any chance he would be selected, but he decided to take the plunge.
“At first I rejected it because I thought, 'Well, that's a job for someone with more experience,' but then I said, 'Why not? I'll apply and see what happens,'” Greco said.
After several weeks of interviews, Greco was officially selected and would embark on a two-week journey to simulate one of the most Mars-like environments on Earth, just 900 miles from the North Pole.
“We used all of the analog tools — the spacesuit and the rover — because we wanted to understand what the real challenges would be for astronauts doing this on Mars,” Greco says.
“We used all of the analog tools — the spacesuit and the rover — because we wanted to understand what the real challenges are that astronauts would face doing this on Mars.”
The goal, he said, is to develop solutions to those unique problems by encountering obstacles on Earth before they leave the planet.
“Even though we had 24-hour daylight, it still seemed like not enough time to get everything done,” Greco says. “We were working 16-, 18-hour days and didn't even realize it, because we lost the visual cue of the sun setting and rising to tell us, 'It's time to go to bed.'”
After his exploration of the research station, Greco is even more determined to one day visit Mars.
When he's not dreaming about space, Greco works as the 737 Max liaison engineering team leader at Boeing in Seattle. In this role, he oversees 22 team members and assists mechanics and quality inspectors in assembling the plane.
Greco was named Boeing Designated Expert (BDE) for fuel systems in January.
“My scope of work covers the entire airplane, from nose to tail, so I get to work on a variety of technical topics that interest me at the time,” Greco says.
Greco's pride in the Panthers continues as he pursues an online master's in space systems at Florida Institute of Technology. He expects to graduate in the spring of 2025.
When asked what advice he would give to students graduating and entering the workforce, Greco replies, “Dive into your alumni network. We're here and we want to hear your stories.”
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