Mission to Inform: How a NASA Intern Brought Space Science to Life

As a summer intern at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Nora Lowe played a role in supporting NASA’s upcoming flagship mission, the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. This project is a NASA observatory designed to investigate inquiries about dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. Lowe was tasked with assisting in the reporting and publicizing of the telescope’s developmental milestones. Her responsibilities included copywriting stories, social media writing, and editing.

“I was lucky enough to stumble upon NASA Goddard’s Science Journalism, Multimedia, and Social Media Internships through the NASA STEM Gateway website,” Lowe recalled. “The role description explained that interns will gain on-the-job experience with a leading team of writers and multimedia producers to create and share content from NASA’s science missions. It was perfectly suited to my career goals.”

Lowe’s internship was not her first experience with NASA. As a high school sophomore, Lowe applied to a NASA-sponsored competition to name the Mars rover later named Perseverance. She named her submission after an animal known for its resilience and ability to survive environmental extremes, which she felt was fitting for a Mars Rover. While her submission was not chosen, she was grateful for the chance to interact with the agency at a young age.

“It progressed past some rounds of review, but was not selected, which I’m ultimately grateful for, because it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. The engineers ultimately etched the 155 semifinalist essays onto silicon chips to launch up with the rover, so my words ended up on the Red Planet nonetheless! That was my first interaction with NASA, and it was so formative that I vowed it wouldn’t be my last.”

Alt Text: Nora Lowe smiles at the camera in a teal NASA polo and patterned pants. She is seated in a chair positioned to the left of the room, with a television behind her and another on the right, showcasing images of galaxies. Above the right screen, the iconic red NASA worm logo stands out. The room is bathed in deep blue lighting from the ceiling, while a vibrant purple glow radiates from the floor, creating a cosmic ambiance. Image Credit: Nora Lowe
Alt Text: Nora Lowe smiles at the camera in a teal blouse and patterned pants. She is seated in a chair positioned to the left of the room, with a television behind her and another on the right, showcasing images of galaxies. Above the right screen, the iconic red NASA worm logo stands out. The room is bathed in deep blue lighting from the ceiling, while a vibrant purple glow radiates from the floor, creating a cosmic ambiance. Image Credit: Nora Lowe

Navigating the complexities of interviewing subject matter experts proved to be a challenge for Lowe, especially within the NASA environment. Lowe turned to her mentors, Science Writer Ashley Balzer and Social Media Lead Courtney Lee, for help. Their expert guidance played a crucial role in easing Lowe’s nerves and enhancing her ability to engage effectively with NASA’s scientific elite.

“Having one-on-one conversations with acclaimed scientists was honestly intimidating,” Lowe said. “It took careful practice, such as conducting several mock interviews with my mentors to feel more at ease when doing the real thing.”

Benefiting from her practice with her mentors, Lowe reflects on some of her favorite pieces. She produced a piece for “Conversations with Goddard” focused on Melissa Harris, a propulsion engineer working on the Roman telescope. Additionally, she authored several articles highlighting the science within NASA.

“I am especially proud of my article on the handheld spectrometer because of the sheer number of logistics I orchestrated,” she said. “Drafting that article felt like completing a 1,000-piece puzzle. I conducted interviews with seven subjects, the most I’ve done for a single story to date.”

Alt Text: Nora Lowe poses with a group of interns and Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor Katherine Calvin on the rooftop of NASA Headquarters. The Capitol building is visible in the background, providing a distinctive Washington, D.C. backdrop. Image Credit: Nora Lowe
Alt Text: Nora Lowe poses with a group of interns and Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor Katherine Calvin on the rooftop of NASA Headquarters. The Capitol building is visible in the background, providing a distinctive Washington, D.C. backdrop. Image Credit: Nora Lowe

Lowe’s internship served as a pivotal moment for her professional journey. She reflects on the wealth of skills she acquired during her session that paved the way for her to grow as a science writer and a young professional.

“I adopted the concept of ‘familiar novelty,’ as cohort guest speakers and authors Howard Mansfield and Sy Montgomery put it. It’s a delicate balance emphasizing the new and exciting parts of a story while using techniques like analogies to make it understandable or familiar to the reader.”

At NASA, Lowe uncovered a new direction for her future, sparking a passion for government and public work in science communication. Her time at the agency proved transformative, solidifying her career ambitions, and illustrating the profound impact of bridging scientific knowledge with the public.

“This opportunity was a powerful way to solidify my ambitions and aspirations, as well as to demonstrate how working in this field benefits society,” Lowe said. “Everyone deserves to be empowered with an understanding of how the world works, and I admire NASA’s fantastic science writers, who act as vital liaisons between scientists and the general public, for helping make that possible.”

Gracie Glover/NASA Headquarters

From Soccer Fields to Space: A Journey to NASA

Growing up in San Miguel, Mexico, Nestor Cano never thought of interning for NASA. Instead, Cano dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player, spending every moment he could on the field learning new tips and tricks—a theme that would continue through his life. While he came from humble beginnings, Cano’s family was always supportive of his dream and did everything they could to help him achieve it.

Alt Text: A portrait of a young Nestor Cano. He smiles with his hair parted and wearing a red shirt.
Alt Text: A portrait of a young Nestor Cano. He smiles, his hair parted, and wearing a red shirt.

“Part of who I am is due to the great support that I have always had from my mother,” said Cano. “She is the greatest support I have had; even when we were economically limited, she always made sure I was able to do my activities.”

At the age of 14, Cano’s parents decided to send him to live with his grandmother in California with the hopes of creating a better future for him. Cano didn’t speak English when he arrived in the United States, so he was enrolled in an elementary school for six months before graduating to his local high school. It wasn’t until his sophomore year of high school that he started to become confident in his English skills and began getting involved with clubs on campus. After graduation, Cano went back to Mexico to begin trials for professional soccer teams, although ultimately he returned to California with his little sister, for whom he was now responsible.

Alt Text: Nestor Cano as a young student. He poses alongside a certificate of achievement and two ribbons he received. He wears a school uniform with a dark tie and matching sweater.
Alt Text: Nestor Cano as a young student. He poses alongside a certificate of achievement and two ribbons he received. He wears a school uniform with a dark tie and a matching sweater.

“For about a year and a half, I was working two jobs, getting only three to four hours of sleep each night,” Cano shared. “Finally, I asked myself if this was a life I wanted to keep pursuing. That’s when I thought maybe I should go back to school.”

After deciding to return to school, Cano had to find a way to pay for his classes, his sister, and his life, which led him to become a plumber and pipefitter. After committing to his plumbing career, Cano discovered a passion for engineering, pushing him to consider it as his future career. Cano spent five years working and attending college before beginning an engineering internship with the same company. Still, Cano knew he could do more, so he researched engineering schools and internship programs until he found the University of California-Berkeley and NASA.

“I went from being a community college student and an intern working on construction engineering, to being a student at UC Berkeley and an intern at NASA,” said Cano, “After three years working towards the requirements, time to apply had finally came. I worked on the application for over two weeks.”

Cano’s internship project is with the Fluid Mechanics Lab at Ames Research Center, where he works with the Laser Spark Evaluating In-flow project (LASEI). The main goal of this research is to develop an optical method for measuring ambient pressure, density, temperature, and flow angularity in wind tunnels. Essentially, the team’s primary objective is to enhance the visual data that is gathered during wind tunnel testing of aircraft and other components.

Alt Text: Nesto Cano, alongside a diverse team of colleagues, pose atop a red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo.
Alt Text: Nesto Cano, alongside a diverse team of colleagues, poses atop a red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo. Behind them, a sandy volleyball court and hangars make up the background. 

As a Hispanic American, Cano feels this internship demonstrates that his ethnicity and cultural background are not barriers. For him, this experience proves that through hard work and dedication, anyone can pursue their dreams, no matter where they came from.

“This internship has introduced me to the research area of engineering, and I have been learning critical aspects of modeling for prototypes and the iterations required to achieve a great product,” Cano said. “Learning from the best engineers in their respective fields is a unique experience, since they have the knowledge, experience, patience, and skill to teach interns like me.”

Tara Roanhorse/NASA Headquarters

Summer of AI: Intern Uses AI to help NASA Employees

You’ve probably interacted with a pop-up virtual agent while shopping online, making reservations, or navigating customer service. These virtual assistants are also a key resource for the over 18,000 civil servants, contractors, and interns at NASA who have human resource questions every day.

That’s where Johnpaul Lopez comes in. Lopez, a computer science and IT student, is interning for NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as a virtual agent content management intern for the Office of the Chief Human Capitol Officer (OCHCO). His work is integral in embracing and safely integrating AI (Artificial Intelligence) as a platform to serve employees’ needs.

Lopez’s team created a chatbot named NOVA (NASA OCHCO Virtual Agent) designed to help NASA employees get answers to their HR-related questions. It can answer over 60 HR topics, with more to come soon. Every day, Lopez is developing new conversational pathways, revising dialogue flows, conducting AI research, and testing NOVA to make sure its responses are accurate and helpful. Lopez contributes daily to NASA’s goal of incorporating advanced AI-responsive features in the chatbot’s next iteration.

“Joining NASA allows me to be part of the ARTEMIS generation, fostering healthy and exciting relations with fellow interns and mentors I always dreamt to be a part of. Our contributions and mentors pave the path for us to lead the next generation of learners and dreamers,” Lopez shared.

Alt text: In this photo taken in 2014, Lopez poses with two awards. Lopez is in the center of the image wearing a red button-up shirt with a blue lanyard, red tie, and black pants. Credit: Johnpaul Lopez
Alt text: In this photo taken in 2014, Lopez poses with two awards. Lopez is in the center of the image wearing a red button-up shirt with a blue lanyard, red tie, and black pants. Credit: Johnpaul Lopez

Lopez was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, a small town on the eastern coast of the island. As a child, he competed in school science competitions, built with Legos, and watched documentaries. When he was a baby, his parents made the decision to move their family to Florida, leaving everyone and everything they knew behind to provide Lopez with more opportunities. Throughout his life, Lopez has held a passion for technology and public service. Now, as a first-generation college student, he aims to be part of something bigger than himself and help others.

“My family came from Puerto Rico to give me the best educational opportunities and life I can have here in Central Florida. Everything that I am and do is because of them! I’m a culmination of their hopes, dreams, sacrifices, and perseverance through it all, and I strive to bring my dreams to life by delivering the best work I can,” said Lopez.

Alt text: Lopez poses with four of his family members celebrating his acceptance as a Summer 2024 NASA intern. The whole family is wearing black NASA t-shirts. In the foreground of the image is a cake with planets on it, a gift bag, and blue balloons. Credit: Johnpaul Lopez
Alt text: Lopez poses with four of his family members celebrating his acceptance as a Summer 2024 NASA intern. The whole family is wearing black NASA t-shirts. In the foreground of the image is a cake with planets on it, a gift bag, and blue balloons. Credit: Johnpaul Lopez

After his internship, Lopez hopes to continue working in a software role and continue advancing in his career while working on his personal side projects. He aims to stay in the STEM community and help others like him know they can intern for NASA too. Lopez wants future interns to know that the work is hard, but it’s worth it, and while everyone’s journeys are different, if you have the right balance of hope, faith, and trust in the process, you can make it, too.

“NASA is more than just rocket science; it’s a collective of individuals from all fields coming together to tell a story reminding society of our spirit of hope and unity,” said Lopez.

Tara Roanhorse/NASA Headquarters

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Her Own Place in Space: Caitlyn McClanahan’s HBCU Journey

“My mom always told me she believed that whatever you wanted to do when you were a child is your destiny—what you’re destined to do in life. And when I was a kid, I had every STEM interest.”

NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan as a young student posing with her younger sister Erin in front of a science fair project, a recreation of the solar system. The two smile holding paper cutouts of stars. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan
Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan as a young student posing with her younger sister Erin in front of a science fair project, a recreation of the solar system. The two smile holding paper cutouts of stars. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan

Meet Caitlyn McClanahan, a Weather Data Processing intern at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Growing up, McClanahan always loved studying the sciences. “I had a robotics phase. I had an astronaut phase. I had a weather phase. I had a paleontology phase. I had a chemistry phase,” she said.

Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan as a young student sitting on a table in a book store smiling with a large history book open upon her lap. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan
Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan as a young student sitting on a table in a book store smiling with a large history book on her lap. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan

However, as a young Black woman living in a Midwestern small town, she often found herself being the only Black woman in predominantly white  spaces. “It causes a lot of people to have anxiety, coming into a space and noticing that this is a very white space, a very male space. I’ve found myself throughout life kind of minimizing myself to try to fit into this space that I believe is too big for me.”

After graduating from high school, McClanahan continued her education at Hampton University. Founded in 1868, it is the oldest Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Virginia. Recounting her first days at Hampton, she was surprised to find that her science courses were  predominantly attended by women.

“In fact, our teacher told us there were four men majoring in chemistry that year, which was considered a lot more than usual,” McClanahan said. “It was such a stark difference to see so many women, especially so many Black women, who looked like me and had the same interest as me. And it was just such an awesome environment to regain that confidence in myself.”

Alt Text: NASA interns including Caitlyn McClanahan meet with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at NASA's Langley Research Center. Bill Nelson smiles as he shakes an intern hand the other looking on smiling at him. Credit: NASA
Alt Text: NASA interns including Caitlyn McClanahan meet with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Bill Nelson smiles as he shakes an intern hand the other looking on smiling at him. Credit: NASA

Located just 15 minutes away from NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton University has long had a rich history supporting the space agency. McClanahan quickly noticed how NASA celebrates Black experts, including Black scientists, such as “Hidden Figures” Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary W. Jackson.

Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan poses with NASA's LOFTID (Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator) within a large hangar at NASA's Langley Research Center. She smiles and wears business casual attire. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan
Alt Text: NASA intern Caitlyn McClanahan poses with NASA’s LOFTID (Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator) within a large hangar at NASA’s Langley Research Center. She smiles and wears business casual attire. Credit: Caitlyn McClanahan

“I feel welcome here,” McClanahan said. “I remember on my first day on-site I was nervous and walking along and a woman came up to me, stopped me, and chatted with me. Her being a Black woman, and one of the first people I talked to here, really made my anxiety crumble away. Since then, I’ve truly felt that NASA is working to reflect the diversity of America, and I am really excited to get to be a part of that.”

Asked to share advice for others who may follow in her footsteps, she said, “It’s easy to feel self-conscious, but remember that a lot of people have doubts and anxiety. They still fight through it and figure it out. Everyone doesn’t do great their first time. In fact, it took me about six applications to land my internship!”

Celebrate HBCU Students With NASA: Social Media Toolkit

This HBCU Week, Sept. 16-20, NASA is celebrating the contributions of its workforce who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We’ve put together this social media toolkit to help celebrate our past, present, and future #HBCU interns!

HBCUs have played a crucial role throughout NASA’s history, educating and empowering many talented members of our workforce. Historic figures such as Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary W. Jackson, and Charles “Charlie” Bolden earned their degrees from HBCUs. Show your HBCU pride with the below graphics and hashtags.

Use #NASAInterns or #ArtemisGeneration for a chance to be amplified from the @NASAInternsaccounts.

The provided alt text (alternative text) in posts makes the graphics more accessible to persons with disabilities.

HBCU Week Social Media Graphics

  1. Earth’s Auroras – Download Here
Alt Text: Earth’s colorful auroras dominate the night sky as seen from orbit. Bright shades of green, yellow, and blue illuminate the image. The background of the image is the darkness of space sprinkled with gleaming stars. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #HBCU Week” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: Earth’s colorful auroras dominate the night sky as seen from orbit. Bright shades of green, yellow, and blue illuminate the image. The background of the image is the darkness of space sprinkled with gleaming stars. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #HBCU Week” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Cityscapes at Night – Download Here
Alt Text: The bright cityscape of North America is seen from orbit with flickers of an aurora in the far distance. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #HBCU Week” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: The bright cityscape of North America is seen from orbit with flickers of an aurora in the far distance. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #HBCU Week” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Earth Zoom Out – Download Here
Alt Text: A bright close up view of South America illuminated from its city lights zooms out to reveal all of the Earth. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #HBCU Week” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: A bright close-up view of South America illuminated by its city lights zooms out to reveal all of the Earth. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #HBCU Week” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee

More Ways to Celebrate HBCU Week With NASA

Check out some of these NASA resources and opportunities this HBCU Week:

The Color of Space: This ongoing NASA+ original series highlights and celebrates the incredible lives and accomplishments of Black NASA astronauts, including astronaut Charles Bolden, who was also the 12th NASA Administrator and an HBCU alumnus.

NASA Internships HBCU Blog: Read the stories of current HBCU interns at NASA. Learn about their contributions to the agency and how their alma maters have supported them to get to where they are today.

HBCU Week Q&A: Join the live Q&A session on the @NASAInternships Instagram account on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. ET. Have your questions answered live by the NASA Internships team!

MITTIC Opportunities: Apply for MITTIC, NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition. This Shark Tank-style competition offers students an opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills and a chance to win money while developing technology to benefit all of humanity.

Evan T. Flatt/NASA Headquarters

100 Don’t-Miss NASA Internship Opportunities to Launch Your Career

Remember: Applications for spring 2025 are due by August 23, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Podcast making, space horticulture, or planetary protection—whatever your interest, there is a NASA internship for you this spring.

Want to share your passion for NASA with the world? Our virtual or in-person audio storytelling internship out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is the perfect fit for you! Got a green-thumb and want to put it to the test? Design methods to grow vegetables in low-gravity with an in-person internship at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. A team at NASA’s Ames Research Center also needs help cleaning NASA-style; we’re seeking an intern to design methods to ensure spacecraft don’t get contaminated with bacteria. Up to the task? Apply to these internships and more at stemgateway.nasa.gov.

With less than a week left to apply for our spring 2025 NASA internships, we’ve assembled this list of 100 don’t-miss opportunities to help launch your career —all of which you can apply to right now.

List of Opportunities:

Opportunity ID # Field
3D Microscope Flight Instrument Maturation and Novel Optical Sensing 19284 Aeronautics
Flight Mechanics Analysis of Magnetohydrodynamics 19437 Aeronautics
Electric Aircraft Hardware Design and Testing – In-Person 19258 Aeronautics
Airfield Project Support-Onsite 19463 Aeronautics
Design and Analysis of Electric Aircraft 19234 Aeronautics
Polymer Aerogels for aeronautic and aerospace applications 19222 Aeronautics
Biological implementation in SAMMS 19449 Biology
Planetary Protection DNA Isolation Study 19206 Biology
Onsite – Microbial Assays for Planetary Protection 19301 Biology
Plant Watering in Low-Gravity (Spring 2025) 19116 Biology
Onsite: Space microbiology hardware design and testing 19302 Biology
Remote sensing of marine debris 19213 Biology
Range and Mission Management Office (RMMO) Business Support Intern 19459 Business
Organizational Development Research and Activities 18976 Business
Project Management Dashboard Development – Spring 2025 19221 Business
Analysis of Inclusion Plan Reviews 19093 Business
Inclusion Plan – best practices 19084 Business
NASA Audio Storytelling Internship 19180 Communications
Sustainability Ambassador – Strategic Communications Support EPFD 19438 Communications
Illustration/Graphic Design Intern 19349 Communications
NASA Archives Description Intern 18891 Communications
Communications and Outreach for Data Science Efforts at NASA 19218 Communications
Electrified Aircraft Interactive Visualization at NASA Graphics Lab 19220 Communications
Ecological Conservation Program Outreach & Communications Intern 19215 Communications
Outreach Support for Scientific Computing Visualization Lab 19217 Communications
NASA Audio Storytelling Internship 19156 Communications
Archives Intern – NASA Johnson Space Center 18889 Communications
JSC Office of Communications Intern within External Relations 19057 Communications
3D Animation Intern 19053 Communications
SPARX Intern 19115 Communications
ASTRO CAMP Collaborative Partners Supporting Hispanic Programs in STEM 19085 Communications (Spanish)
NASA Spanish-language Journalism, Multimedia, Social Media Intern 19182 Communications (Spanish)
2025 Spring Operations Engineer 19307 Engineering
Electrical Test Engineer 19242 Engineering
Engineering Assistant for Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) 19260 Engineering
ONSITE – EPIC Test Engineer 19065 Engineering
JSC Engineering Academy 19227 Engineering
Computational Fluid Dynamics for Urban Air Mobility 19165 IT/Computers
Computational Modeling of Additive Manufacturing Melt Pools 19274 IT/Computers
Validation of Computational Models for Composite Materials and Structures 19107 IT/Computers
Computer Science/Information Assurance Intern 19048 IT/Computers
AR/VR for Science and Engineering 19152 IT/Computers
JWST Exoplanet Spectroscopy Observations 19386 STEM
NESC Loads and Dynamics Technical Discipline Team Apprentice Spring 2025 19390 STEM
Mass Management 19167 STEM
Thermochemistry of Glassy and Molten Silicates 19360 STEM
Composite Radiator Atmosphere Revitalizer 19288 STEM
Design of frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) and antennas for sensing 19120 STEM
Human Landing System (HLS)-GNC Guidance Development and Testing 19137 STEM
Precision Eddy Current Displacement Sensor 19375 STEM
Updating EMTAT Simulink graphical programming language 19174 STEM
Battery Material Intern 19261 STEM
Characterization of a Composite Foldable Antenna Reflector for the Lunar Surface 19368 STEM
MISSE Characterizations 19316 STEM
Machine Learning for Lensless Particle Image Velocimetry 19077 STEM
Magnetic Shape Memory Alloy Actuator for nano-positioning 19376 STEM
New Structural Design Method 19351 STEM
RST Thermal Spacecraft Verification Support 19309 STEM
Advancing the Next-Gen Microshutter Array Technology 19004 STEM
Components & Hardware Systems – GN&C EE/CE/AE Systems Development 19295 STEM
EGS Human Systems Integration Intern 19273 STEM
Lunar Electrostatic and Dust Mitigation Tool 19276 STEM
Method Development for the Conceptual Design of Commercial Supersonic Transports 19293 STEM
SP25 Superconducting 19268 STEM
Biofilm Management in Life Support Systems 19347 STEM
Characterization of high strain composite materials and structures 19371 STEM
Drop Tower Experiments and Construction Spring 2025 19076 STEM
Predicting Thermoelastic Properties of Amorphous and Crystalline Thermoplastics 19170 STEM
Radiation Hardened Display Technology 19271 STEM
Modeling of Chilldown of Cryogenic Transfer Lines 19318 STEM
Thermoplastic Composite Cryotank 19263 STEM
Two Phase Flow Research and Physical Science Web Design Cluster (Spring 2025) 19118 STEM
Develop a verification methodology for fixed-point digital controllers 19374 STEM
Dielectric Energy Storage 19323 STEM
Fast Iterative Thrust Chamber Assembly Tool (FITCAT) 19119 STEM
Human Landing System (HLS)-GNC Deep Space Navigation 19139 STEM
Machine Learning Project for Automated Posture Classification 19279 STEM
Solar Sail Hardware Materials and Testing 19262 STEM
VEC Thermal Analysis and Testing Intern 18855 STEM
Advanced Thermoplastic Composites for Aircraft Manufacturing 19287 STEM
TLT – Robotic Assembly System Design 19230 STEM
CLPS- Astrobotic 19064 STEM
High Temperature Materials and Structures 19245 STEM
Lunar Electrostatic and Dust Mitigation Tool 19275 STEM
Modular Mechanism Control Electronics for Spaceflight Instruments 19373 STEM
Air quality prediction using TEMPO data 19108 Sustainability
Conservation Community Data Needs 19132 Sustainability
Climate Resilience Intern 19286 Sustainability
Water Disinfection Strategies 19164 Sustainability
Satellite & remote sensing data analyst position with NASA GLOBE Clouds 19193 Sustainability
Data mining and analysis for the GLOBE Program 19257 Sustainability
Sustainable Metrics Internship 18940 Sustainability
Wallops Meteorological Systems Enhancement Project 19462 Sustainability
Equity & Environmental Justice Intern 19285 Sustainability
Water Disinfection Strategies 18929 Sustainability
JE – Environmental Management Office (EMO) 18938 Sustainability
Enhancing Climate Resilience at NASA 19311 Sustainability
KSC Energy and Water Conservation and Resiliency 19122 Sustainability
Sustainability & Energy Program Support 19168 Sustainability
Exploring the role of volcanoes on the dynamical response of the atmosphere 19158 Sustainability

 

Stars and Stories: Intern’s Blogging Journey to NASA

In the fall semester of his sophomore year, former intern Stephan Bellamy applied for his internship after developing a blog, Space by Stephan, during a class at Vanderbilt. After writing posts about NASA and contractors such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, he started exploring communications opportunities at NASA. He received a position as a Science Communications intern focused on the Biodiversity Survey of the Cape (BioSCape) program. BioSCape is a collaborative project between NASA, the South African government, and local organizations to preserve biodiversity in the Greater Cape Floristic Regions.

Image Description: Off the coast of South Africa, phytoplankton bloom colored the waters with a swirl of turquoise, blue and white. The phytoplankton illuminate deep blue water in a spiral shape, similar to a galaxy. Image Credit: Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team.
Alt Text: Off the coast of South Africa, phytoplankton bloom colored the waters with a swirl of turquoise, blue, and white. The phytoplankton illuminate deep blue water in a spiral shape, similar to a galaxy. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team.

“I hesitated to apply because I did not have a zeal for ecology,” Bellamy said. “I fell in love with the project and found a new passion for understanding biodiversity.”

Bellamy focused on redesigning the website. He designed graphics, created, and edited videos, researched the science, and enhanced the website.

“Some specific outputs I made include an updated flowchart of all organizational members and projects, graphic highlights of individual science projects, an edited Space Apps challenge video, and a collage of all institutional partners,” he said. “I took on different priorities, but the core of my work stayed the same: communicating the science of BioSCape.”

Alongside his remodel of the website, Bellamy was tasked with telling the story of NASA’s first biodiversity field campaign. To bridge the gap between the project and the public, Bellamy interviewed his leadership team and others to understand and share the human stories behind BioSCape.

“Hearing about everyone’s unique path to the project has been inspiring, and the heart of constructing this piece is recognizing the humanity of a research project like BioSCape,” he said. “I wanted to give the humans of BioSCape the platform to say something that no data or scientific findings can say for them.”

Image Description: The southernmost tip of Africa dominates the image. Shades of green and browns compile to represent landmarks. Around the tip of the continent is white feathering representing a current and the rest is the rich blue of the ocean. Image Credit:  NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Space Systems, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team.
Alt Text: The southernmost tip of Africa dominates the image. Shades of green and browns compile to represent landmarks. Around the tip of the continent is white feathering representing a current and the rest of the image is the rich blue of the ocean. Credit:  NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Space Systems, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team.

Bellamy acknowledges his leadership team as mentors during his internship, with special recognition for his assigned mentor, Keith Gaddis. Gaddis’ trust and flexibility, alongside the leadership team’s constructive feedback and tasks, has propelled Bellamy’s creativity and independence.

Bellamy aspires to be a full-time author. He credits his internship with opening his eyes to new possibilities for his passion for writing.

“I see myself writing sci-fi novels and other creative works, maybe screenwriting if I pick it up or poetry if I’m feeling whimsy,” Bellamy explains. “I know that writing as a career is challenging and taxing, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my dream.”

Bellamy is thankful for the opportunity presented to him, “as a Black, first-generation student, having the opportunity to work at NASA feels transformational. The offer letter opened my eyes to my place in the workspace. In times like these, I must be cognizant of the systemic and cultural issues at work to prevent someone like me from having a job at a place like NASA. To my community back in Georgia, I am proof that, yes, you can make it here.”

Gracie Glover/NASA Headquarters

Celebrate NASA Internships with Us Using This Social Media Toolkit

National Intern Day is July 25! We’ve put together this social media toolkit to help you celebrate NASA internships this #NationalInternDay. Whether you’re an intern, former intern, intern mentor, or just work with some incredible NASA interns—this toolkit is for you!

Best Practices

Graphics

Our graphic designers compiled a collection of visuals for you to use that pull inspiration from some of NASA’s most iconic recent recordings. Feel free to use them!

Accessibility

We encourage you to utilize the provided alt text (alternative text) to make the graphics as accessible as possible—after all, there is space for everyone at NASA.

Hashtags
Excited to share about NASA internships? Use our official hashtags (#NASAInterns and/or #ArtemisGeneration) for a chance to be amplified from our accounts.

Visual Assets

  1. Artemis Launch Close – Download Here
Alt Text: The top of the Artemis I Space Launch System launches out of the top of the image with a burst of steam. The length of the aircraft ascends through the image. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: The top of the Artemis I Space Launch System launches out of the top of the image with a burst of steam. The length of the aircraft ascends through the image. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Moon Cycles – Download Here
Alt Text: The Moon fills the center with the black vastness of space on either side. As the Moon rotates, a shadow covers the sphere from right to left. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: The Moon fills the center with the black vastness of space on either side. As the Moon rotates, a shadow covers the sphere from right to left. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Cityscapes at Night – Download Here
Alt Text: The bright cityscape of North America is seen from orbit with flickers of an aurora in the far distance. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: The bright cityscape of North America is seen from orbit with flickers of an aurora in the far distance. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Earth’s Aurora – Download Here
Alt Text: Earth’s colorful auroras dominate the night sky as seen from orbit. Bright shades of green, yellow, and blue illuminate the image. The background of the image is the darkness of space sprinkled with gleaming stars. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: Earth’s colorful auroras dominate the night sky as seen from orbit. Bright shades of green, yellow, and blue illuminate the image. The background of the image is the darkness of space sprinkled with gleaming stars. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Space Station Aurora – Download Here
Alt Text: The International Space Station orbits over the surface of Earth. High in the atmosphere auroras gleam in shades of bright yellow and green illuminating the dark night skies below. The background of the image is the darkness of space sprinkled with gleaming stars. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: The International Space Station orbits over the surface of Earth. High in the atmosphere auroras gleam in shades of bright yellow and green illuminating the dark night skies below. The background of the image is the darkness of space sprinkled with gleaming stars. It transitions to an empty background with text stating “There’s space for me at NASA. Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Artemis Launch – Download Here
Alt Text: NASA’s Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System ascends from its launch pad while overlaid text reads “There’s space for me at NASA.” As the massive rocket approaches the top of the screen, its bright exhaust turns the entire screen white. Once the screen is white, it transitions to an empty background with text stating “Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: NASA’s Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System ascends from its launch pad while overlaid text reads “There’s space for me at NASA.” As the massive rocket approaches the top of the screen, its bright exhaust turns the entire screen white. Once the screen is white, it transitions to an empty background with text stating “Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Saturn’s Rings – Download Here
Alt Text: Saturn and its rings with the Sun in the background. Overlaid text reads “There’s space for me at NASA.” As the graphic zooms out from Saturn, an additional line below the original text states “Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: Saturn and its rings with the Sun in the background. Overlaid text reads “There’s space for me at NASA.” As the graphic zooms out from Saturn, an additional line below the original text states “Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Earth Flare – Download Here
Alt Text: The Earth’s upper atmosphere at night as seen from the International Space Station, overlaid text reads “There’s space for me at NASA”. As the Space Station nears the Earth’s daylight side the Sun’s bright light drowns out the entire image in blue then white. Once the screen is white it transitions to an empty background with text stating “Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
  1. Earth Orbit – Download Here
Alt Text: The Earth’s horizon during the day as recorded from the International Space Station. White wispy clouds, blue oceans, and light brown land are seen beyond the horizon with overlaid text stating “There’s space for me at NASA.” The original text fades away and is replaced with text reading “Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee
Alt Text: The Earth’s horizon during the day as recorded from the International Space Station. White wispy clouds, blue oceans, and light brown land are seen beyond the horizon with overlaid text stating “There’s space for me at NASA.” The original text fades away and is replaced with text reading “Happy #NationalInternDay” with an animated red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo below the text. Credit: NASA/Greg Lee

Social Media Ideas

Interested in using some of the visuals we’ve created but don’t know where to start? Consider posts on any of these topics.

Current Intern
– How has your NASA internship impacted you so far?

– What is a favorite memory you’ve made during your internship?

– Is there anything you are looking forward to during your internship?

Former Intern

– How did your NASA internship change your life and/or career?

– What was your internship experience like?

– What piece of advice would you share with new interns?

– What surprised you the most about working in this company or industry?

– Looking back, what are you most proud of achieving or contributing to during your internship?

Intern Mentor

– What has it been like supporting interns?
– How has working with interns affected you and/or your mission?

– What have you learned from your interns?

Intern Colleague

– How has working with interns affected you and/or your mission?

– What advice, if any, do you have for interns?

– What is a positive memory you have had with a NASA intern?

7 Ways to Celebrate National Intern Day with NASA

National Intern Day is celebrated annually to recognize and highlight the contributions of interns throughout different industries and fields of work. At every NASA center nationwide, interns play a critical role in our mission success.

The work of interns at NASA reaches far and wide.  Whether they’re contributing to our social media presence, supporting an engineering project that will one day return humanity to the Moon, or even chronicling NASA’s rich history, our interns’ contributions make us proud.

Looking to join in the celebration this National Intern Day? Here are seven ways for interns, mentors, and past interns to celebrate NASA internships.

  1. Ask Questions in Our Instagram AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Alt Text: Two female interns wearing blue NASA flight suits stand smiling with their hands behind their backs. Behind them, a large multirotor aircraft sits idle on the runway. The distance clear blue sky makes up the top of the image. Credit: NASA/Angelique Herring
Alt Text: Two female interns wearing blue NASA flight suits stand smiling with their hands behind their backs. Behind them, a large multirotor aircraft sits idle on the runway. The distance clear blue sky makes up the top of the image. Credit: NASA/Angelique Herring

“What’s it like being a NASA intern? What is the day-to-day of an intern at NASA? What are some of the coolest things interns get to see during their internship? How do you become a NASA intern?”

We’ve got your answers! Join our Instagram Ask Me Anything session on @NASAInternships story, where current interns, former interns, and mentors will answer your questions live.

  1. Use Our Celebration Toolkit

Two NASA interns pose together for a selfie by taking an image of the reflective visor of an extravehicular activity spacesuit. The rounded visor creates a fisheye effect on duo wearing business professional attire. Credit: Matt McDonnell/NASA
Two NASA interns pose together for a selfie by taking an image of the reflective visor of an extravehicular activity spacesuit. The rounded visor creates a fisheye effect on duo wearing business professional attire. Credit: Matt McDonnell/NASA

Are you loving your NASA internship experience? Were you a former intern who now works at NASA full-time? Have you mentored interns and enriched the lives of others?

Explore our Celebration Toolkit on our blog! This resource features unique visuals crafted for social media, perfect for commemorating #NationalInternDay and showcasing your NASA internship’s impact on your journey and career.

  1. Hear From Interns Past and Present About Working at NASA

    A graphic featuring three smiling interns prominently reads "NASA Intern Experience: Insights from Interns & Mentors. Friday, July 26 at 12pm ET." The visual is white and light blue, two of the three official colors of the NASA logo. The bottom of the image reads "Learn more at intern.nasa.gov." Credit: NASA
    A graphic featuring three smiling interns prominently reads “NASA Intern Experience: Insights from Interns & Mentors. Friday, July 26 at 12pm ET.” The visual is white and light blue, two of the three official colors of the NASA logo. The bottom of the image reads “Learn more at intern.nasa.gov.” Credit: NASA

Celebrate NASA Intern Week with us at our virtual intern event on July 26, 2024, at 12:00 pm EST! Join current NASA interns and mentors for insights into life at NASA, valuable advice from mentors, program details, and an interactive Q&A. This virtual event is open to everyone.

  1. Have a Networking and Career Guidance Discussion

    NASA intern Julia Tilton interviews UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi. al-Neyadi wears the iconic blue jumpsuit of an astronaut and gestures with his hands. Tilton is facing away from the camera and speaks with al-Neyadi in business professional attire. Credit: NASA
    NASA intern Julia Tilton interviews UAE astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi. al-Neyadi wears the iconic blue jumpsuit of an astronaut and gestures with his hands. Tilton is facing away from the camera and speaks with al-Neyadi in business professional attire. Credit: NASA

Take advantage of this moment to seek valuable career advice from your mentor! Build a sturdy foundation to launch your future career post-internship with networking skills and advice gained from a more experienced mentor. Whether you’re curious about which NASA centers specialize in your field of study or seeking guidance on creating a resume for future applications, your mentor is poised to offer tailored insights and guidance.

  1. Share Your Internship Accomplishments

Engineer Jamesa Stokes works in a special laboratory testing advanced materials to see how they behave in extreme space environments. Credit: NASA/Jef Janis
Engineer Jamesa Stokes works in a special laboratory testing advanced materials to see how they behave in extreme space environments. Jamesa smiles at the camera wearing casual attire. Credit: NASA/Jef Janis

Did you find a planet orbiting two suns at once, discover a new aurora shape, create accurate flight simulations for the public, or design and test prototype space washing machines? Share your successes and accomplishments as a NASA intern with the world using #NASAIntern and #ArtemisGeneration.

  1. Get Involved with NASA STEM

Two Human Exploration Rover Challenge competitors pilot their human-powered rover through the course at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The duo wear bicycle helmets and pedal their metallic rover over gravelly terrain. Throughout the foreground, large orange cones guide the rover's path. In the background, onlookers watch from beneath a large NASA pop-up tent. A large rock and stationary jet sit in the far background. Credit: NASA
Two Human Exploration Rover Challenge competitors pilot their human-powered rover through the course at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The duo wear bicycle helmets and pedal their metallic rover over gravelly terrain. Throughout the foreground, large orange cones guide the rover’s path. In the background, onlookers watch from beneath a large NASA pop-up tent. A large rock and stationary jet sit in the far background. Credit: NASA

Engaging with NASA STEM lays the framework for applying to a NASA internship in the future. By participating, you can gain firsthand exposure to NASA’s mission and projects, which enhances your understanding of the agency’s goals and operations. Active engagement often includes networking opportunities with professionals already working at NASA.

Learn more about how you can get involved: stem.nasa.gov.

  1. Apply for a NASA Internship

    A NASA intern in business casual attire sits in the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Looking forward at the console of computer monitors with data. In the background the large screens of Mission Control dominate. Credit: NASA
    A NASA intern in business casual attire sits in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Looking forward at the console of computer monitors with data. In the background the large screens of Mission Control dominate. Credit: NASA

Now that you’ve seen the behind-the-scenes fun of a NASA internship, we hope you’ll consider becoming a NASA intern yourself — or, if you’re already part of the team, continuing your internship for an additional session. As a friendly reminder: our Spring 2025 OSTEM Internship applications close on August 23, 2024.

Climate and You: NASA Intern Supports Sustainability

Growing up along the Southwest Florida coast, Audrey Berlie has always been surrounded by and enjoyed nature. She credits her mom, who homeschooled her, with fostering her love for science and the environment. But the sadness she felt from seeing plastic pollution and red tides in her backyard became her call to action.

“When you see something that you love and grow up with being affected, every day it instills something in you,” said Berlie.

Alt Text: Audrey Berlie wears a black and orange visibility vest during a research hike at Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve. She stands with her back to the camera at the right of the photo listening to a park ranger who rests on a shovel. They are surrounded by cypress trees and standing in shallow water. Credit: NASA
Alt Text: Audrey Berlie wears a black and orange visibility vest during a research hike at Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve. She stands with her back to the camera at the right of the photo listening to a park ranger who rests on a shovel. They are surrounded by cypress trees and standing in shallow water. Credit: NASA

Berlie was involved in conservation work throughout high school and is currently undertaking dual degrees in environmental science and environmental business as an Environmental Fellow at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.

As an intern at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Berlie supports the Center Operations Directorate’s Sustainability Team to implement sustainability projects in collaboration across divisions including logistics, planning, security, environmental, and facilities management. During her internship, she designed and wrote the Sustainability Snapshot report for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and streamlined Johnson’s greenhouse gas accounting system. Berlie also organized Climate and You, monthly talks with experts from Johnson and industry on how climate change is impacting natural and human systems in Texas and beyond.

“How I got to NASA was really just an accident, in all frankness,” Berlie said. “I saw a posting for NASA internships on LinkedIn, and I was like, ‘they’re not going to have anything for me.’”

To her surprise, Berlie discovered a sustainability internship position at Johnson that perfectly matched her interests and skillset.

Alt text: Berlie stands to the right of a mural in progress, which she led as part of her environmental fellowship. The mural depicts an aerial bird’s-eye view of where Lake Beresford meets the St. John’s River, references the river’s native projectile points, shell mounds, snails, pottery designs, and includes to the far right a scroll with the state of Florida. Berlie wears black and white sneakers, black pants, and a white V-neck shirt.
Alt text: Berlie stands to the right of a mural in progress, which she led as part of her environmental fellowship. The mural depicts an aerial bird’s-eye view of where Lake Beresford meets the St. John’s River, references the river’s native projectile points, shell mounds, snails, pottery designs, and includes to the far right a scroll with the state of Florida. Berlie wears black and white sneakers, black pants, and a white V-neck shirt. Credit: NASA

Since accepting her internship, she’s discovered an unexpected interest in space sustainability as a future career path.

“My expertise has been focused on Earth,” she said. “But after going to all the talks and the different events at NASA and hearing about development in space, I started thinking, ‘Wow, this is repeating what we’ve seen on Earth.’”

Reflecting on her previous internships, NASA stands out as one of the strongest programs she has ever experienced.

“It’s a well-oiled machine. I haven’t talked to any NASA interns [who] have felt like they had nothing to do,” Berlie said “[NASA] makes sure that you’re learning from and getting the most out of your internship.”

Alt text: Berlie poses with two of her fellow interns tabling for Houston Energy Day. Berlie wears white sneakers, brown flared leggings, and a striped blazer and stands to the right of the photo, holding the arm of a tall inflatable astronaut in a white and red space suit and a golden helmet between the three.
Alt text: Berlie poses with two of her fellow interns tabling for Houston Energy Day. Berlie wears white sneakers, brown flared leggings, and a striped blazer and stands to the right of the photo, holding the arm of a tall inflatable astronaut in a white and red space suit and a golden helmet between the three. Credit: NASA

When asked about her favorite part about being a NASA intern, Berlie points to the culture.

“NASA is truly people-focused and mission-focused,” she said. “I have met the most amazing people here because all of them are so ambitious, intelligent, kind, innovative, and creative. They’re all looking to make the world a better place. That’s who NASA attracts.”

Looking back, Berlie noted, that though her path to NASA seems linear and planned in hindsight, it didn’t feel as straightforward in the moment—and that’s okay.

“I felt like everything was collapsing in on itself and I was just going from thing to thing without a story to tie it all together,” she said. “But even if you don’t have a goal in mind, as long as you’re taking initiative and pursuing your passions, you’ll end up where you need to be.”

Heidi Pan/NASA Headquarters