From punch-cards computing in the ‘70s to overseeing 20 space missions for NASA

Maria So's grandmother named her after Chang’e, the Chinese goddess of the moon — perhaps foreshadowing her future career in space research.

“I think it’s funny that I was given that name so long ago, before I even knew my destiny,” she says.

Now retired after an illustrious career at NASA, So, MSc’80, attributes much of her career success to her master’s in computer science from the University of Calgary.

As an international student in the late 1970s, So pursued her master’s degree under Dr. Harry Baecker, PhD, in a department still in its infancy (having recently spun off from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in 1975).

“I expected computer science to become a big field. I could sense that a lot of things would rely on it,” says So. “The curriculum was already excellent. The courses gave me a very deep and broad view of computer science, including programming, which I was really excited about.”

At that time, computers were much larger than what we’re used to today.

“We were still using punch cards and paper printouts,” So says, recalling her work as a programming tutor in the department. “Students came in with their homework and would run it on the shared computer in the Math Sciences building.”

She looks back fondly on her student life.

“One of the other graduate students in my cohort taught me how to drive in the campus parking lots on the weekends, and I got along well with two other international students,” says So. “We were all here because we were excited about studying computer science.”

So also took the opportunity to expand outward and explore work-integrated learning.

“The department really cared about you and tried to help you find opportunities,” she recalls. “In the summer, I interned downtown as a programmer, which gave me valuable IT experience.”

An inspiring and illustrious career

As an intern, So received industry work experience as the university built a talent pipeline with the downtown core. “It was a win-win situation for all of us," she says.

This early experience led So to her storied career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the U.S.

“I was hired at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a database programmer and administrator since my master’s thesis was in database management,” she says. “The knowledge I gained at the University of Calgary and gave me a strong start to my career.”

She was eventually assigned to the Hubble Space Telescope project as one of its technical managers (Hubble Project Database Manager).

“Hubble’s commands are operational instructions uploaded daily from the ground to control the spacecraft’s physical systems and manage its scientific observations,” explains So. “Those commands tell it how to observe different stars and galaxies, which instruments to use, and how to maintain connections to its solar arrays, flight systems and ground systems.

“I oversaw every command in the database, and my team was responsible for certifying and verifying all of them before launch. There were 36,000 commands in total,” she adds with a big smile.

Over her career, So served as the spacecraft safety and mission assurance technical authority for four satellite launches. She was the branch chief for mission systems engineering, overseeing more than 20 space missions. She later became the deputy director for the Earth and Space Science Directorate, one of the largest science research organizations in the United States. She received numerous NASA achievement awards and retired as a senior executive, the highest rank in the U.S. civil service.

From meeting astronauts and celebrities (including Star Trek icon Nichelle Nichols) to being featured in NASA’s own publication, So has built a life inspiring others — especially upcoming generations of minorities and women.

According to So, the future is always bright for students, and a degree teaches far more than technical skills.

“I didn’t just learn computer science at the University of Calgary. I also spent time with undergraduate students, understanding their needs and helping them solve their problems,” she says. “That education — and the hands‑on experience — gave me a real head start in my career.

“I’ve always followed my heart and kept my mind open to new possibilities. And, if something doesn’t work out, that’s perfectly okay — try again. Life is full of surprises and excitement, and you never know in what incredible places you’ll end up or what meaningful work you’ll discover along the way.”