In Their Own Words: NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program as Captured by Atticus Cummings

Hi, my name is Atticus and I’m a mechanical engineering student at UCLA and hobbyist photographer. The summer of 2024, I participated in NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), an 8-week internship offering rising seniors hands-on experience as airborne scientists in training.

The program had two phases: data collection and analysis. In the first phase, we flew over the East Coast aboard NASA’s research aircraft, tracking trace gas concentrations and mapping ground topography with LIDAR, and conducting fieldwork at a saltmarsh along Virginia’s Eastern Shore. After the flights and fieldwork, we developed and completed individual research projects using the data we collected and NASA’s many publicly available datasets.
A large white aircraft sits in a hangar with a group of NASA interns posing in front of it.
As a mechanical engineer with little prior experience in Earth science, this was a tremendous learning opportunity and a welcomed crash course in climate change research. I learned all about the various types of scientific instrumentation, data systems, and analysis techniques, and had the chance to apply them firsthand. With lectures and interactions with  faculty mentors and graduate student advisors, we received ample support to carry out our research projects while making meaningful contributions to Earth science and lasting friendships.  

Between collecting air samples aboard NASA research aircraft, trudging knee deep in the mud to collect salt marsh spectra, and mapping kelp canopy from satellite imagery, here’s a glimpse of SARP 2024 through my lens.

Airborne Science at Wallops Flight Facility

The internship began at the Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. We spent the first two weeks in lectures on NASA’s active research areas, attending flight and safety briefings, touring facilities, and flying aboard NASA research aircraft. For SARP 2024, we each had the opportunity to fly two or three missions on the Lockheed Orion P3 and Beechcraft King-Air B200. The P3 and B200 were both equipped with dozens of instruments that measured everything from trace gas and black carbon concentrations to ground topography and vegetation using an advanced LIDAR system. As we flew over city centers, busy highways, power plants, ocean and swamp, we tracked spikes and dips in gas concentrations and tried to pinpoint the sources and sinks.

A large white aircraft sits inside a hangar. A forklift sits to the right most edge of the image.
Originally used to search for submarines during the Cold War, this Lockheed Orion P3 has conducted airborne science for NASA since 1991! It has been to all seven continents many times and had just returned from a field campaign in Greenland.

 

 

 

 

 

Two scientific instruments which look like copper pipes, sit on the outside of a white wing to an aircraft.
Between flights, the scientists and engineers were always happy to answer questions about their airborne instruments and previous air campaigns. These two instruments use lasers and optical spectroscopy to image aerosols and measure their sizes and shapes.
A large white aircraft with NASA logos upon it flies through the air.
Here’s the P3 taking off on its first SARP mission: a 3-hour flight measuring air pollution over Washington D.C. and Baltimore.
A computer screen with graphs of data moving sharply up and down is watched while aboard an aircraft.
One of the trends that particularly stood out to me was how isoprene concentrations increased throughout the day. Released by plants through photosynthesis, isoprene levels would peak midday with the light intensity. I was also surprised to see how methane levels rose drastically over marshes and certain areas in the Chesapeake Bay.
Two images of interns and NASA mentors looking at data displays while aboard an aircraft.
From the ground, we received live instrument data from the aircraft. While an airplane was collecting data, we communicated with the flight crew to discuss spikes in CO2, methane, and other trace gasses.
The interior of a scientific aircraft. Multiple screens and exposed cables are visible throughout.
The Lockheed Orion P3 fuselage was packed with a variety of instruments that we monitored throughout the flight.
A gray aircraft taxis on the runway.
The B200 was a much smaller aircraft and only seated seven, including the two pilots. While this aircraft had fewer instruments, it was equipped with a system to capture air samples, which would be later analyzed at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) by the Rowland-Blake lab.
A gray aircraft is entered by students.
Samarth climbing aboard the B200 before a long flight over Baltimore.
A pilot with sunglasses opens the engine compartment of a gray aircraft.
The pilots were extremely informative and happy to answer questions. I asked Pilot Angelo Cosentino a question about propeller pitch control, and he opened up the engine to show how the pitch is controlled by a hydraulic feedback loop tuned for optimal flying efficiency.

As we flew a thousand feet over power plants, factories and shipyards, we collected whole air samples upstream and downstream of the industrial sites to measure their emissions. This required careful coordination and timing as we might only be in the smokestack plume for only a second or two. These were some of the most exciting and rewarding moments of the flights.

A large industrial zone is viewed from the sky. Large domes and pipes are seen throughout.
Here’s an industrial plastics plant in Hopewell, VA.
A large industrial area beside a waterway is seen from above.
We also collected air samples over the smokestacks of the Chesterfield Power Station, a natural gas power plant in Chester, Virginia.
A large cargo ship is seen from above in the Chesapeake Bay.
On the final SARP flight, we flew through the exhaust plume of a cargo ship while spiraling over the outlet of the Chesapeake Bay. Spiraling is a maneuver we would use to get a vertical column of air samples. We would begin at an altitude of 10,000 feet, and make tight circles as we descended to just 500 feet in order to measure how trace gas concentrations varied with altitude.
Graphs of data on a computer screen aboard an aircraft.
Pictured on the left is Serita watching our flight trajectory and tracking real time trace gas measurements from NASA Goddard’s PICARO instrument. Pictured on the right is the Whole Air Sample (WAS) collection system aboard the B200. We operated a network of valves and tubes (called a manifold) to pump outside air into evacuated stainless steel canisters, which were later analyzed at University of California Irvine.
Air sample tubes sit stacked on top of each other in a large lab.
After SARP and courtesy of Dr. Tai-Yih Chen, I had the opportunity to tour the Rowland-Blake lab at UCI, where air samples collected with the WAS onboard the B200 aircraft were analyzed.  Each air sample was separated into more than 100 trace gases by gas chromatography, and detected by mass spectrometer detector (MSD), electron capture detector (ECD), and flame ionization detector (FID).  Hydrocarbon species concentration levels were typically reported to as low as the 3 pptv (parts per trillion by volume) detection limit, while several halocarbons were routinely reported with 10 ppqv (parts per quadrillion by volume) resolution.
NASA's Wallops Flight Facility seen from a gray aircraft.
A final view of WFF on the last B200 flight of SARP East!

Going into SARP, I had no idea about the role that the NASA Earth airborne science program played in climate change and pollution research. These flights shed light on a very important and unsung side of NASA, and were certainly a highlight of the internship.

Ground Truthing and Fieldwork

After the flights, we packed our bags and headed off to our group’s fieldwork site. As a member of the Oceans group, I went to the Virginia Coastal Reserve LTER (Long Term Ecological Reserve) on the Eastern shore of Virginia. Here we learned about the salt marshes and barrier islands and how they protect our environment against storm surge, create nurseries for marine life, naturally filter pollution from our oceans, and support Virginia’s oyster and clam fisheries.

An important aspect of remote sensing is ground truthing. Here we collect ground data to calibrate drone, aircraft or satellite data. In this case, we gathered spectral data of the different cover types in the salt marshes off the Eastern Shore of Virginia. These data could be used for exploratory research, or as a basis for classifying cover types from spectral remote sensing data sources. We began fieldwork at a nearby tidal salt marsh and used a multispectral drone to map out the area and measured the spectral signature of each cover type using an optical spectrometer.

Picturesque vista of boggy waterways near Virginia's Chesapeake Bay.
Here’s the salt marsh approaching low tide. Collecting the spectral data was a race against time as we only had a short period before the tide turned and our field site was back underwater.

First we laid a 100m transect line with 10 evenly-spaced quadrats, which served to standardize our data collection process. We measured the absorption spectra of each quadrat and took note of the constituents and the associated cover types.

A rectangle of PVC pipe with string running between it cutting it into quarters sits on a mound of dirt.
A quadrat consists of a one-by-one meter PVC square with nylon cord separating it into four subdivisions. This uniformity enabled greater consistency in our data-taking process.

The drone flight was only ten minutes and was programmed to scan the area taking multispectral images, which would be stitched together to form a large panoramic map.

A man operates a quadcopter drone while wearing long sleeve attire and a hat.
Here’s Kelby landing the multispectral drone after its flight.
Black and white landscapes from above visualized with colorizations of data.
Here’s a GIF of the multispectral drone imagery we took. Each image is taken with a different narrowband filter to capture a coarse spectral image of the entire region.
A woman looks down at a large metallic spectrometer.
After the drone flight, we began measuring the spectra of various cover types using a handheld spectrometer. Here’s Jasmine measuring the spectral reflectance of a marsh grass.
A group of muddy students pose together in a parking lot and smiles.
We were all very muddy by the end of the day.

Life at Christopher Newport University

 For the remainder of the internship, we stayed at Christopher Newport University (CNU) in Newport News, Virginia where we began work on our individual research projects.

Christopher Newport University walkways in red brick with many columns creating the exteriors of large brick buildings. A library with a massive staircase.
Our schedules at CNU were much more flexible. My typical day consisted of a morning oceans group meeting, an afternoon meeting with my graduate mentor and faculty advisor, a guest lecture or workshop, and many hours split between the CNU library and a nearby café.
A student sits in a cafe working at a table using multiple laptops.
Many of our projects involved downloading large quantities of satellite data. Here’s Sebastian making the most of the notably fast Wi-Fi speed the local café had to offer.

I wanted to use multispectral satellite data, and as someone who loves freediving in California’s kelp forests, I decided to pursue a project mapping kelp canopy using the new Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) dataset. Specifically, I decided to look at the effect that tides and currents have on canopy detection. I hypothesized that during high tide or strong currents, while less kelp floated on top of the surface, less kelp would be detected. Being able to quantify how these factors affect canopy detection could help us either apply correction factors, or refine our uncertainty in satellite kelp detection.

Going into the internship, I had relatively little experience with Python, but with the help of our coding mentor, Riley McCue, my graduate mentor, Kelby Kramer, and many long hours spent reading Python documentation, I figured out how to download and manipulate satellite data and greatly expanded my programming skill set.

To analyze my data, I used a Machine Learning Classification model to find the kelp in satellite imagery, and then performed spectral unmixing to determine the kelp density of each pixel. If you’re interested in looking at or recreating my analysis, find my git repository here.

This plot shows the kelp that was detected in a satellite image of Santa Barbara, CA. Higher values represent greater kelp density.

When we weren’t working on our projects, we had a lot of fun on trips to NASA facilities, research institutes, and parks!

A clean room with assembly workers in white coveralls operating on a large metallic reflective structure.
We visited the clean room where the Nancy Roman Space Telescope was being assembled!
A group of students and mentors speaking to one another in casual attire.
During our visit to the Goddard Space Flight Center, we had the opportunity to talk to scientists and engineers of all different backgrounds and fields of expertise. Here’s Steven Platnick talking about remote sensing and the challenges of using satellite absorption spectroscopy to measure gas concentrations in the atmospheric column.
A row of beakers in a lab with tubes flowing into and out of them.
Algae culture lab at Virginia Institute of Marine Science
A group picture of students and mentors posing in front of a large lake and dock.
A group picture at Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp.
A fun image of interns jumping with joy in front of the U.S. Capitol.
The ocean’s group on a trip to Washington D.C.

Final Presentations + Conclusion

A student gives a presentation behind a lectern while his presentation is projected upon a projection wall.
Lucas DiSilvestro in his final presentation explaining how MESMA (Multiple Endmember Spectral Mixture Analysis) works.

As the internship came to an end, we gave our final presentations at the Langley Research Center. Each intern gave a 15 minute presentation on their Summer research for NASA staff, scientists, and their fellow interns. 

From flying among airborne scientists, touring NASA’s laboratories, and the mentorship and support that enabled me to thrive in this foreign environment, to the lifelong friends and connections I’ve made, this internship has been a life changing experience for me and an overall joy. Since finishing SARP, I plan to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with hopes of one day designing my own optical instrumentation to better understand Earth’s beautiful complexities. 

Atticus Cummings/NASA's Langley Research Center

A Lakota Perspective on STEM: Caitlin Bordeaux’s Journey to NASA and Beyond

Caitlin Bordeaux’s journey in education began with a strong commitment to both her heritage and her students. Bordeaux is a Sicangu Lakota educator from the Rosebud reservation, now living on Oglala lands in Thunder Valley, South Dakota. She’s been teaching high school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and computer science for eight years, creating culturally relevant curricula that honor  Indigenous perspectives.

Alt Text: Caitlin Bordeaux and her team sit together at a large table admiring the comic book pages they collaborated on.
Alt Text: Caitlin Bordeaux and her team sit together at a large table admiring the comic book pages they collaborated on. Caitlin wears business casual attire and smiles at the camera.

“My work blends education, culture, and STEM, aiming to elevate Indigenous voices and knowledge systems in classrooms and beyond,” said Bordeaux.

With degrees from Black Hills State University and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Bordeaux is now pursuing a Ph.D. in STEM education, furthering her mission to make STEM more inclusive and accessible to underrepresented communities.

Bordeaux’s internship with NASA was a pivotal experience in her career that deepened her dedication to integrating Indigenous perspectives into STEM. Working virtually alongside her mentor, she focused on building partnerships between NASA, local Indigenous organizations, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s education department.

Her role at NASA also reinforced her belief in a holistic approach to STEM. “Being Indigenous has shaped my approach to STEM work, grounded in respect for Unci Maka (Mother Earth). My perspective is focused on cultural connections and holistic learning,” Bordeaux explained. This outlook encourages the integration of Indigenous values into STEM spaces, making them more inclusive and reflective of diverse knowledge systems. By connecting science with culture, Bordeaux believes we can create more accessible and equitable STEM education environments for all students.

Alt Text: A page of a comic book featuring multiple Indigenous women who work at NASA, including Caitlin Bordeaux. The comic page highlighting the different ways in which NASA collaborates with Indigenous communities to blend their knowledge with western sciences.
Alt Text: A page of a comic book featuring multiple Indigenous women who work at NASA, including Caitlin Bordeaux. The comic page highlights the different ways in which NASA collaborates with Indigenous communities to blend their knowledge with Western sciences.

One such effort of Bordeaux’s is her dedication to developing cross-curricular lessons that integrate Indigenous star knowledge with STEM concepts, with a strong commitment to supporting the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and NASA’s Star Knowledge Partnership Program allowing her students to connect with science from their own perspectives.

Bordeaux’s experience also serves as a message to other aspiring Indigenous students: there are opportunities to grow, contribute, and make a lasting impact. “Apply! NASA offers various internships, including virtual ones like I did, which are flexible and accessible,” said Bordeaux. Her experience has influenced her academic pursuits, helping to push her to gain her Ph.D., while also providing her the opportunity to connect with others, including her mentor, who have the same goal for the future of education and STEM.

In her own words, the work is just beginning: “Philamayaye! (Thank you!),” she says, reflecting on the support and opportunities that have shaped her path. Her internship has been a catalyst for her continued work in education and research, to create a more inclusive and culturally relevant STEM education landscape.

Tara Roanhorse/NASA Headquarters

 

Tara Roanhorse: A Navajo Star Rising at NASA

The first words spoken by Tara Roanhorse at her NASA internship were in Navajo: “Yá’át’ééh shík’éí dóó shídiné’é, shí ei Tara Roanhorse dashijiní. Bítsiigha’ Łichí’í Diné’é Bilagáaná níshłǫ́ǫ, Tsi’naajinii  báshíshchíín. Áádóó índá Bítsiigha’ Łichí’í Diné’é Bilagáaná  eí dashicheii, áádóó Tó Dích’íi’nii dashínálí. Ákót’éego Diné níshłį́į dóó Kimberling City, Missouri hóólyéédę́ę́’ naashá. Ákót’éego nihich’į’ ádééhósiszįįd dooleeł dííshjį́. Ahéhee’!” A traditional greeting, “Hello my friends and my relations, my name is Tara Roanhorse. I am of Irish heritage, born for the black streak wooded people. My maternal grandfather is of Irish heritage and my paternal grandfather is of the bitter water people. I am from Kimberling City, Missouri. In this way, I am a Navajo woman. Thank you!”

Alt Text: NASA intern Tara Roanhorse poses in a ribbon skirt outside of NASA's Kennedy Space Center. She stands before a large metallic statue of the iconic red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo.
Alt Text: NASA intern Tara Roanhorse poses in a ribbon skirt outside of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. She stands before a large metallic statue of the iconic red, white, and blue NASA meatball logo. Credit: Tara Roanhorse

As an intern in NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, Tara is responsible for helping to reach audiences via social media to get NASA STEM resources into as many hands as possible and ensure potential interns know there is space for them at NASA. Since the beginning, she’s been led by her Native heritage; as a Diné woman, she’s familiar with what it means to feel like an outsider. “Indigenous people and women aren’t very represented in STEM spaces, so it felt like a long shot when I applied,” said Roanhorse. “Aside from my time at my Tribal University, I’m often the only Indigenous person in the room.”

As a STEM Communications intern, Tara shares that her work “includes writing blogs about current and former interns, creating content for the Internships social media accounts and providing support for the NASA STEM social media accounts, and supporting wherever I can with helping to create engaging and informative content across my team. I really enjoy being able to create things that help put STEM in people’s hands in a way that they can understand.There are so many great resources out there for kids, adults, tribes, and schools that haven’t traditionally been so accessible, so my personal goal is to help everyone be able to access the work that’s being done.”

Alt Text: NASA Intern Tara Roanhorse smiles standing with her mother and father after receiving her Associates of Arts degree. She wears a traditional tribal dress and necklace along with her graduation robe and stole as well as multiple honors chords around her neck. Credit: Tara Roanhorse
Alt Text: NASA intern Tara Roanhorse smiles standing with her mother and father after receiving her Associate of Arts degree. She wears a traditional Navajo skirt with a necklace, graduation robe, stole, and multiple honors chords around her neck. Credit: Tara Roanhorse

Although now a familiar face at NASA, Tara had her doubts: “Growing up I was always interested in science and technology but wasn’t always the best at practicing it, but I was good at explaining things to people! That’s why, when I returned to get my college education in my early twenties, I knew STEM communications was something that I wanted to do,” said Roanhorse.

Alt Text: A young Tara Roanhorse smiles infront of a poster on the wall reading “Welcome to the Discovery Club”. Tara wears a light blue sweatshirt with flower embroidery and smiles. Credit: Tara Roanhorse
Alt Text: A young Tara Roanhorse smiles infront of a poster on the wall reading “Welcome to the Discovery Club”. Tara wears a light blue sweatshirt with flower embroidery and smiles. Credit: Tara Roanhorse

NASA’s missions are strengthened by the diversity of worldviews of its workforce. According to Tara, “my heritage and culture have provided a different lens through which to see the work that’s being done. My tribe has a holistic and ordered worldview; everything is interrelated and enfolded into the whole.”

Now having led campaigns that have reached audiences in the tens of millions, and supported collaborations with the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Roanhorse shares some of her advice for others: “Be willing to try something new and scary. Every day, I get the chance to do something different, expanding my knowledge in the best possible ways. And while imposter syndrome is so real, you were meant for great things–you are your ancestor’s wildest dreams come true. No one else has the experiences, outlook, or ideas as you. You are unique, and you have something to contribute to the world and to NASA’s missions.”

If you’re interested in carving your own path like Tara, consider applying for NASA’s internship program at intern.nasa.gov.

Evan T. Flatt/NASA Headquarters

 

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 JohnsonDorothy 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 JohnsonDorothy VaughanMary 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