Prof. Mei-Lin Chen
Professor of Aerospace Engineering
MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
About
Professor Mei-Lin Chen designs next-generation spacecraft propulsion systems and has contributed to three NASA missions. She is also the founder of SkyReach, a nonprofit that provides free aerospace engineering workshops to girls in underserved communities. She believes that representation in space exploration starts with representation in the classroom.
“Every rocket that has ever launched started as an idea someone thought was impossible. Dream big, then learn the math and science to make it real.”
Interview
How did you become interested in aerospace engineering?
I grew up watching shuttle launches on TV and building model rockets with my dad. When I was 14, I attended a space camp and met a female astronaut for the first time. That moment changed everything for me — I realized that women could not only dream about space but actually build the vehicles that go there. I decided then that I wanted to design spacecraft.
What has been your proudest achievement?
Professionally, seeing a propulsion system I helped design actually operate in space was surreal. But honestly, my proudest moments are when a girl from one of my SkyReach workshops tells me she's decided to study engineering. One student from our very first cohort is now a graduate student in my department at MIT. That kind of impact is what keeps me going.
What barriers do women face in aerospace, and what's changing?
Aerospace has historically been very male-dominated. Women make up only about 15% of the aerospace workforce. The barriers include unconscious bias, lack of mentorship, and sometimes outright discouragement. But things are changing — organizations like Women in Aerospace, the Society of Women Engineers, and programs at NASA are actively working to recruit and retain women. More importantly, young women today have more visible role models than ever before.
What resources do you recommend for students interested in aerospace?
NASA's website has incredible free educational resources, including interactive simulations and design challenges. Kerbal Space Program is a fun game that actually teaches orbital mechanics. For serious students, I recommend looking into FIRST Robotics teams, Science Olympiad, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics student chapters. And of course, take as much math and physics as you can — they're the foundation of everything in aerospace.