File:Meet Begoñ Vila Instrument Systems Engineer (40750221532) (cropped).jpg

This is Dr. Begoña Vila, an Instrument Systems Engineer for the James Webb Space Telescope at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. She supported Webb's cryogenic testing at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in 2017, she will support testing for the observatory throughout 2018, and she is also helping plan Webb's commissioning. Vila actively engages in Spanish and English media interviews and outreach activities for the Webb program, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) events.

One particular test that Vila oversaw while OTIS was inside Chamber A was the validation of the closed-loop guidance system, which maintains Webb's pointing stability to the high level of precision required for science observations. The closed-loop system uses Webb's Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS), attitude control system and fine steering mirror to make adjustments every 64 milliseconds, if they are needed.

"I enjoyed working with all the teams, and the sense of purpose I felt when planning and executing the test," explained Vila. "To meet the time requirements, we had to run multiple parallel activities...It was a great experience."

Full bio available here: jwst.nasa.gov/meet-vila.html