Paige’s Path to Aerospace

When asked how she first became interested in aerospace, Paige Kaufman recalled a vivid childhood memory: watching a group of people on television celebrating a major space exploration achievement. Even as a little girl, she could sense the pride, unity, and purpose radiating from that team.

She remembers thinking what an incredible way to spend a career—working in a field where both individual talent and teamwork truly matter.

“They were so connected and so proud of what they had accomplished,” Paige said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be part of something like that. That’s how I became interested in space.”

From that moment on, she understood that the next step was formal training. Paige went on to earn both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Southern California, building the academic foundation she needed to pursue her dream.

Her dedication paid off. Paige was selected for the LZ Technology – San Jacinto College internship program, giving her the opportunity to work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center on the Integrated Mission Operations Contract—an experience that brought her childhood inspiration full circle.

“I have always been interested in the human side of space exploration,” she shared. “As an intern, I worked on the Environmental and Thermal Operating Systems (ETHOS) team. Our group’s job is to control the ISS’s environment to keep the crew thriving on-station.”

Reflecting on her hands-on contribution, she proudly shared, “I helped write a set of commands called a command script, which makes it easier for members of our team to perform complex operations on console.”

During the internship program, students like Paige are fully immersed in their teams, surrounded by people who share similar goals, personalities, and passions. Paige found that environment energizing.

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