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Local resident built Mars Rovers
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Many Tehachapi residents enjoy the view of the cosmos our mountain location provides each night, but not many residents can claim to have a piece of their handiwork floating around in space. 

David Rooney, a 15-year resident of Tehachapi and 21-year employee of Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL), helped to supervise the manufacturing and assembly of the structures and the wheels for the two Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

The names of these incredible pieces of technology, built to explore the outer regions of space, seem to appropriately describe the qualities embodied by Rooney.

“I started out as just a machinist who had taken a few classes,” Rooney said. Originally hired as the shop’s only machinist at JPL’s Edwards Air Force Base location, Rooney has progressed from a “hands-on” machinist who spent 10 years “cranking the handles,” to his current position of business analyst for JPL’s Pasadena location. 

Rooney was able to complete his bachelor’s degree in business management while working fulltime at the lab. He now helps businesses integrate systems for fabrication, manufacture and assembly of space craft and various other technical applications.

Rooney credits his early years of working alone in the shops with giving him the confidence to figure things out “on his own,” which is a key skill for a manager who has to oversee anywhere from five  to 15 engineers for a project lasting more than two years. Rooney cites the importance of “getting the best out of everybody you’re working with,” as his main focus during such a “very fast paced” environment. 

Many of the facets of a project as colossal as the Mars Rovers are done in piece work and sent for outsourcing, but Rooney said the experience provides an excellent “opportunity to learn.”

Since the closing of the Edwards location, Rooney has commuted to Pasadena four days a week, over the past 10 years. As a father of seven, with his children’s ages ranging from 6 to 27, Rooney is quick to discount the inconvenience of the two-hour commute. “I never missed a thing,” says Rooney, referring to attendance of assorted sports, academic and miscellaneous extracurricular activities.

Rooney’s wife of 28 years, Mary, is quick to confirm her husband’s contribution to boosting the confidence and esteem of not just his own children, but “even kids from the other teams.”

When Rooney’s son Brandon was competing for the THS track team, Rooney’s arrival at school events was always much anticipated by all the young athletes.

“The kids would just light up when they’d see him coming,” Mary said.

Tehachapi resident Suzette Snider said Rooney and his son Brandon were instrumental in encouraging her son to improve and to “always do his best.”

Joshua, 16, is a sophomore at THS and still runs cross-country and other track events. “It’s because of him (Rooney)” said Snider, “that Josh is still running.” Snider said that Rooney not only took her son “under his wing,” but encouraged all of the kids, “not just his own. I could never say enough nice things about him.”

Rooney’s son Brandon graduated from THS, and received a track scholarship to Iowa State last year. Rooney’s two older daughters are currently working as teachers.

Mary says that the Rooney children grew up thinking it was “just normal” that their dad built machines that cruised around the surface of another planet. The neighborhood children, however are more easily impressed. “My kid’s friends always sing the rocket scientist song,” in praise of Rooney’s accomplishments.

When asked to provide advice to young people, whether they are hoping to break into high technology careers, become athletes, teachers, or even artists, Rooney keeps it simple: “Go to college.” Emphasizing the importance of education, Rooney projects a spirit of universal perseverance and personal integrity.

Since the completion of the MER’s, Rooney’s new position has not been nearly as fast- paced, but he looks forward to the possibility of working on the upcoming Mars Sample Lander project, which would utilize rovers and landers with the capability to return geological samples to earth.

According to JPL, the first launch of the MSL’s are scheduled for 2014. Rooney looks ahead to future projects with a combination of optimism and an open mind.  Concerning the future, he said, “who knows where I’ll fit.”

“It’s exciting,” said Rooney, when asked about the equipment he helped to send to a distant planet. “It’s a big relief to know that they (The Rovers) got there, and that they work.”

The Rovers were originally launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in June of 2003. The Rovers were designed to be “robotic geologists,” whose mission it was to recover data that would give scientists more knowledge of Mars’ environment and the possibility that conditions on Mars may once have supported some type of life forms.

Although humble about his contribution to the MER project, Rooney’s building of the structure and wheels that carry the rovers is a lot like his influence on Tehachapi’s local youth. Perhaps many others may be responsible for all the circuitry, wiring and data, but the framework remains a solid foundation for success; for space traveling vehicles as well as for family and community.

When asked about the various items he may have been asked to manufacture while working “in the shops” during his early days with JPL, Rooney responded with honest humility, “it’s just work, I just made what they asked for.” One truly enduring thing Rooney has clearly built in this community, is a vehicle to brighten the spirit of our youth, and to drive them towards opportunity and stellar achievement.

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