Internships – Interstellar Experiences of NASA Interns

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.
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

She Speaks for the Trees: Intern Helps Communicate Earth Science

NASA studies our own planet more than any other. We observe Earth’s oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere, and measure how a change in one drives change in others. It is critical that the data and science collected through these studies are communicated with the public, as we all have a role to play in preserving our planet.

That is exactly where Julia Tilton comes in. Tilton, an Earth and environmental sciences major, is interning at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland as a member of the Earth Science news team. She plays an instrumental role in conveying the stories behind NASA’s Earth science missions to the broader public.

In fact, earlier this year, NASA released findings that 2023 was Earth’s warmest year since modern record-keeping began around 1880, and the past 10 consecutive years have been the warmest 10 on record. In her first day interning at NASA, she worked in the control room to confirm upcoming interviews with news stations across the globe as this alarming data was shared publicly.

Alt Text: NASA intern Julia Tilton poses in the Earth Information Center at NASA Headquarters in DC. Tilton wears business casual attire and a blue NASA polo shirt. The background of the image is dominated by a large computer display of live visualizations of Earth data sourced from satellites in orbit. Credit: NASA

Tilton’s experiences on the Earth Science news team have ranged from writing engaging stories for platforms like NASA’s Earth Observatory and NASA.gov to contributing to the interactive Earth Information Center exhibit at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and even interviewing astronauts!

Alt Text: 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. In the background a large model of the Hubble Space Telescope is on display. Credit: NASA

Moving forward, Tilton aims to branch out from science writing.

“Print is just one way in which our society consumes information, ” she said. “I feel it is essential that I gain experience in other media.”

To that end, she aims to continue to support NASA as member of the agency’s audio team contributing to NASA’s portfolio of podcasts.

For others seeking to follow in her footsteps, Tilton shares “A common misconception about interning at NASA is that you have to be extremely knowledgeable about space in order to be a competitive candidate. Instead, I think arriving ready to pursue what you are passionate about and being hungry to hone your craft are what will propel you the farthest. Regardless of your field of interest, I think if you approach an internship striving to explore and grow, you will find space for yourself at NASA.”

Gabriela Carr/NASA Headquarters

In Their Own Words: Asia Alexander’s Journey with NASA and the Women Who Illuminated the Way

As I embarked on my NASA journey, little did I know that the possibilities awaiting me were as vast as the cosmic expanse we strive to explore. The awe-inspiring space agency has become my workplace and a sanctuary where I find the courage to dream beyond the stars. It’s a safe space that fosters creativity and innovation, but what indeed elevates the experience is the remarkable presence of black women who have become beacons of inspiration in my orbit.

Within the agency’s confines, I discovered the transformative power of representation and the profound impact it has on one’s aspirations. The NASA 2040 project, a venture close to my heart, serves as a conduit for making the agency more inclusive and accepting. Every day, I am privileged to contribute to this visionary initiative, working towards a future where everyone, regardless of background, can reach for the stars with unwavering belief.

Alt Text: NASA intern Asia Alexander sits beside two NASA employees in professional attire as part of a panel. Below them, the carpet brandishes a NASA meatball logo. In addition, we see the names of different NASA centers on a banner obscured behind them. Photo Credit: NASA

In the heart of NASA’s administration suite, I serve as a communications intern for the NASA 2040 project, where the essence of progress and change pulsates through every task. The journey is not just about reaching a destination; it’s about paving the way for those who will follow. It’s about making NASA a place where dreams know no boundaries.

As I embarked on my NASA journey, the trailblazers before me cast a luminous path, a trajectory illuminated by Mae Jemison, who boldly ventured into space, allowing aspiring individuals like me to soar beyond earthly limitations. Amidst the stellar colleagues who inspire me daily, I am acutely aware that I stand on the shoulders of extraordinary black women whose presence has been a guiding light in my cosmic journey.

Astronaut Mae C. Jemison, STS-47 mission specialist, appears to be clicking her heels in zero-gravity in this 35mm frame photographed in the Science Module aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Endeavour. Credit: NASA — Alt Text: Astronaut Mae C. Jemison, STS-47 mission specialist, appears to be clicking her heels in zero-gravity aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Endeavour. She wears a cream colored NASA sweater and navy blue standard-issue astronaut pants. The background of the image is the interior of Spacelab. Photo Credit: NASA

Laurie Grindle, Clare Lucky, Faith McKie, Gerelle Dodson, and Vanessa Wyche stand as trailblazers in a historically underrepresented industry. Shattering glass ceilings and proving that the sky is not the limit, these phenomenal women have not only ascended through the ranks at NASA but have also become beacons of inspiration for those of us who follow in their footsteps.

Alt Text; NASA's Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche poses before the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. Wearing a dress, Wyche smiles in front of the large pool which astronauts train within. In the background a large facility includes hanging flags of member nations of the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford — Alt Text: NASA’s Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche poses before the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. Wearing a dress, Wyche smiles in front of the large pool which astronauts train within. In the background a large facility includes hanging flags of member nations of the International Space Station. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford

Mae Jemison’s historic journey into space broke barriers and opened new frontiers, carving a path through the cosmos that echoes with the spirit of ‘Because of Them I Can.’ Her legacy, intertwined with the triumphs of those like Grindle, Lucky, McKie, Dodson, and Wyche, is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the infinite possibilities that await when we dare to dream.

I’m part of a journey inspired by trailblazers at NASA. Fueled by a desire for progress, NASA is more than a workplace; it’s where we paint a future celebrating diversity. The legacy of those before me propels me to envision NASA reflecting humanity’s rich tapestry, nurturing every dream. As torchbearers, we carry the lit torch of trailblazers, ensuring the legacy endures, evolving each day. With them, we reach for the stars, a testament to boundless potential.

Asia Alexander/NASA Headquarters

Decades in the Making: Intern’s Non-Traditional Path to NASA Internship

Since the inaugural space shuttle launch in 1981, former intern Mike Fogg has dreamt of working at NASA. Fogg has applied for NASA opportunities since the early 2000s. As Fogg increased his expertise, he continued to apply for internships, but felt that he was at a disadvantage for not having a space-related degree.

“I’ve wanted to work for NASA almost as long as I can remember. I think my first application with NASA was in 2001 or 2002, after I’d left school the first time, for a position for which I was wildly unqualified,” Fogg said.

Fogg returned to school in 2017 to receive a degree in space studies from American Military University. With some convincing from his mentor, he applied to multiple NASA intern positions and ultimately received an internship offer for a role at NASA Headquarters in summer 2023.

“The feeling of finally accepting a position with NASA after so long was one of the greatest senses of relief and excitement I’ve ever felt. The day I received the offer letter stands as one of the most memorable of my life,” Fogg said.

Alt Text: Mike Fogg poses in front of a sculpture of the NASA worm logo outside of NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C. NASA is spelled out in large red and shiny block letters. Photo Credit: Mike Fogg

Fogg refers to himself as a non-traditional student. Before receiving the internship, Fogg worked a variety of jobs, from computer systems analyst and project lead at the United States Patent & Trademark Office to technical editor for a forensic engineering firm.

“The ‘traditional’ path to NASA seems to be getting hired just after graduating college or out of the military, whereas I kind of had an entire career beforehand. It’s certainly not a traditional path to be having an internship in your late 40s,” Fogg said.

Fogg worked with NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate to update the TechPort website and related database. TechPort houses NASA’s active and complete technology projects. Fogg worked alongside his mentor, Jonathan Bowie.

Alt Text: Mike Fogg stands with his hands on his hips on the edge of the pool inside NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Within the large pool a replica of the International Space Station is visible beneath the water surface. Photo Credit: NASA — Alt Text: Mike Fogg stands with his hands on his hips on the edge of the pool inside NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Within the large pool a replica of the International Space Station is visible beneath the water surface.
Photo Credit: NASA

“My mentor has been immensely supportive, not just of the work I’m doing as an intern, but of my attempts to pursue a career here at NASA,” Fogg said. “I have been taught a lot about the inner workings of NASA, its infrastructure, what NASA’s goals are, and how NASA is looking to the future of space exploration.”

Fogg encourages other non-traditional students to “keep trying. As much as you want it to, success is not going to come overnight. Also, you’ve probably got a healthy dose of imposter syndrome due to attempting to change careers later in life – be aware of that and know that you’re not alone in that. It’s never too late.”

Gracie Glover/NASA Headquarters

Celebrating Out-Of-This-World NASA Mentorship

Every year, across the U.S., NASA welcomes over 2,000 interns into our workforce. Each of these interns is also given a mentor who serves a dual role as both a guide and supervisor as they start their careers.

Today, on #NationalMentoringDay we’re celebrating some of the incredible connections that our mentors have helped create by highlighting stories from current interns, past interns, and mentors alike. Below is a selection of out-of-this-world experiences shared by our workforce.

Erin Kisliuk | Former NASA Headquarters Intern & Intern Mentor

How did your mentor influence your career path?

Early on in my internship, my mentor tasked me to schedule interviews with people on our team to learn more about everyone and their roles. What I couldn’t have predicted was all the ways this task would aid in my future.

First, it gave me the confidence to cold call (actually, cold email) people that I didn’t know, which is intimidating. It also taught me about time management and scheduling. These are skills I’ve used time and time again during my career, but also while on the job hunt.

Secondly, it taught me about the depth and breadth of the types of roles that exist on teams at NASA. Before this exercise, I would always say I wanted to do “Space Communications” without realizing the nuances of website, events, outreach, social media, and public relations. Once I could differentiate these roles, I could also identify which parts of communications really made me tick.

Most importantly, it was the beginning of my professional network. Each new person I’d talk to would suggest someone else I should add to my list and I continued these interviews for the duration of my internship. These connections would eventually set me up in a way that would help me learn about and land roles at NASA throughout my career.

Alt Text: Former NASA intern and mentor Erin Kisliuk sits in an interviewing chair inside the film studio at NASA Headquarters. Erin wears business casual attire and smiles at the camera. In the foreground a large video camera records her. To the left of the foreground, a boom microphone hangs overhead. Credit: Erin Kisliuk

What was it like as a former intern becoming a mentor?

It really felt like a full-circle moment for me. I reflected on what made my internship exciting and valuable and wanted to pass that experience along to my interns. I want them to work hard and learn new skills, but I also want them to make friends and connect with other interns and people at NASA because that is the foundation of their professional network.

Mentoring interns was also my first management experience. Sometimes it feels odd to look at it that way, but it was my first time explaining and assigning a task and then following up on it to make sure my interns understood the assignment and were meeting milestones so that they could have a completed project that they could be proud of at the end of their session.

Mentoring is a win-win. The person being mentored is offered knowledge, experience, and companionship from the mentor. But mentors also grow by being able to connect with and learn from the incoming or future workforce. At NASA, we’re always trying to explore innovate, and educate. We can only get there by working together to pass along institutional knowledge and creating a workplace where people feel supported and open to learning and trying new things. To me, that’s what mentoring is all about.

Alt Text: Erin Kisliuk stands smiling wearing sunglasses and a shirt with kittens in spacesuits, below the spacesuits text reads "NASA Headquarters WAshington, DC". Standing in a tent on the National Mall she prepares to support the Apollo 50th anniversary event. Credit: Erin Kisliuk — Alt Text: Erin Kisliuk stands smiling wearing sunglasses and a shirt with kittens in spacesuits, below the spacesuits text reads “NASA Headquarters Washington, DC”. Standing in a tent on the National Mall she prepares to support the Apollo 50th Anniversary event. Credit: Erin Kisliuk

Angel Kumari | NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Intern

How have your mentors influenced your career path?

Mentors have been crucial in my career development, especially at NASA. My mentors, Wade Sisler, and Michelle Handleman always offer their unwavering support, invaluable guidance, a wealth of experience, and unceasing encouragement. My NASA mentors are instrumental in my professional journey by connecting me with a network of like-minded individuals, exposing me to diverse projects, and challenging me to take on more responsibilities.

Alt text: This image is a selfie of two individuals in front of a doorway. To the left is a woman with short black hair, vision glasses, a white shirt, and a black jacket. On the left is a man with white hair and a blue shirt. Both individuals are smiling. Credit: Angel Kumari — Alt text: This image is a selfie of two individuals in front of a doorway. To the left is Amgel Kumari, a woman with short black hair, vision glasses, a white shirt, and a black jacket. On the right is Wade Sisler, a man with white hair and a blue shirt. Both individuals are smiling. Credit: Angel Kumari

Why do you think mentors are important – in general, but also at NASA specifically?

Over the years, I have learned that mentorship is a two-way street. A mentee has to ask for help when they need it to receive the help. My wonderful mentors offer me their unique perspectives without forcing me to take one decision over the other. They are also supportive in letting me test new ideas while actively listening to my experiences. A good mentor will also hold you accountable and provide feedback on how you are performing which is essential. I am immensely fortunate to have exceptional mentors who continue to empower me to explore my career at NASA.

Alt text: This image is taken in the GSFC visitor center. To the left is Angel Kumari, a woman with short black hair, vision glasses, a white shirt, and a black jacket. To the right is Michelle Handleman, a woman with a black jacket and pink dotted dress. Behind them is a poster that reads “NASA Heliophysics. Credit: Angel Kumari — Alt text: This image is taken in the GSFC visitor center. To the left is Angel Kumari, a woman with short black hair, vision glasses, a white shirt, and a black jacket. To the right is Michelle Handleman, a woman with a black jacket and pink dotted dress. Behind them is a poster that reads “NASA Heliophysics”. Credit: Angel Kumari

Matt McDonnell | NASA’s Johnson Space Center Intern

How have your mentors influenced your career path?

Mentors have helped me define the path that I’d like to follow throughout my life. With their guidance, I’ve been able to plan my next moves and anticipate upcoming challenges while also leaving space to enjoy the moment! At NASA, internship mentors are excellent examples of great mentors. They’ve helped me connect my educational background to real-world experience, apply my knowledge to important problems, and find places where I can continue to grow, all while leaving space to look around and appreciate how insanely cool the work that we do really is.

Alt Text: Matthew McDonnell stands in a large hangar at NASA's Johnson Space Center. He wears a light-colored quarter-zip shirt and looks at the camera. In the background a large American flag hangs on the wall, the metallic structure of the hangar illuminated by large overhead lights. Near Matthew large rounded space capsules are visible. Credit: Matthew McDonnell — Alt Text: Matthew McDonnell stands in a large hangar at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He wears a light-colored quarter-zip shirt and looks at the camera. In the background a large American flag hangs on the wall, the metallic structure of the hangar illuminated by large overhead lights. Near Matthew large rounded space capsules are visible. Credit: Matthew McDonnell

What do you think makes someone a great mentor?

I believe anyone can be a great mentor, but it lies in two main factors – experience and approachability. You have to know what you’re talking about to give proper advice, and it also helps if you’ve lived through the experience before. Mentors that I’ve had have years of experience in the fields that they assist me with. But on top of knowledge, you also have to be willing to share it. Great mentors are friendly, approachable, and eager to share their wisdom with you. The “I want to help you” attitude is really what strikes me as an excellent mentor.

Two NASA interns take a selfie together in the reflective visor of a spacesuit. The yellow hues of the visor tints the reflected image. — Two NASA interns take a selfie together in the reflective visor of a spacesuit. The yellow hues of the visor create a tint in the reflected image. Credit: Matthew McDonnell

Join us! Apply for a NASA Internship

Now that you’ve seen the behind-the-scenes out-of-the-world experiences that mentorship through a NASA internship offers, 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 Summer 2024 OSTEM Internship applications close on February, 2. 2024.

6 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 across the country, 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 six ways for interns, mentors, and past interns to celebrate NASA internships.

1. Meet the NASA Administrator

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson poses in a selfie with a group of interns at an Intern Q&A session. Nelson wears a blue suit and the group of interns wear business casual attire. All are smiling. Credit: NASA/Bill Nelson

The interns of today are the #ArtemisGeneration leaders of tomorrow.

Our interns had the chance to start celebrating National Intern Week early! We hosted a special Q&A session for our interns to meet and ask questions of Administrator Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana on Wednesday, July 19.

2. Use Our Celebration Toolkit

Former NASA intern Jasmine Hopkins poses to take a selfie with someone wearing an example space suit. The Spacesuit is bright white with a metallic reflective finish on its bubble-like visor, upon its chest the iconic meatball NASA logo is prominent. Jasmine is wearing a business professional dress and smiles at the camera. Credit: NASA/Mark Knopp

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?

Check out our Celebration Toolkit which will be released right here on our blog. It includes custom-made visuals you can use on social media in celebration of #NationalInternDay and to share how your NASA internship impacted your life and career.

3. Join Our AMA (Ask Me Anything)

A group of interns stands together smiling inside NASA’s Goddard Research Center’s multimedia studio. In the center of the image a highchair is elevated on a platform with a collection of interns standing around it. In the background a hexagonal decorative wallcovering has the iconic red NASA worm logo jutting out from it. The group of interns are all wearing business casual attire. Credit: NASA/Wade Sisler

“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?”

People have questions—we’ve got the answers! Join in our Reddit Ask Me Anything on r/NASA and r/Internships to have your questions answered live by current interns, former interns, and mentors.

4. Have a Networking and Career Guidance Discussion

Students and young professionals discuss their projects at the Earth Science Applications Showcase Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at NASA Headquarters in DC. Three interns and young professional in business attire speak to one another about their research. Besides them is a large poster with Earth data. In the background more interns and young professional speak. Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

Now is a great time to ask your mentor for career advice! Build a sturdy foundation to launch your future career post-internship with networking skills and advice gained from a more experienced mentor. From “which NASA centers specialize in your field of study” to “what type of resume is best for applying for a full-time position after your internship concludes,” your mentor may just have the advice you’re looking for.

5. Share Your Internship Accomplishments

Did you help prepare plans for future cultivation of vegetables in space, design a new computer method to streamline a process supporting the Artemis Program, archive historical NASA documents, or maybe even create a collection of spicy space memes that the public was enamored with? Share your successes and accomplishments as a NASA intern with the world using #NASAIntern and #ArtemisGeneration.

6. Apply for a NASA Internship

Two NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars sit at a desk and work on projects on laptops sitting in front of them. The duo wears casual attire and have NASA lanyards on. In the background a display of a NASA spacesuit is out of focus. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

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 2024 OSTEM Internship applications close on August, 31. 2023.

Visualizing the Future – Yuhan Liu

Yuhan Liu is standing on the roof of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with her hard hat on.

It is National STEM Day! Today is the day that is dedicated to encouraging everyone to explore their interests in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Yuhan Liu, a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, is double majoring in Digital Media Design and Entrepreneurship. She is also a former Technology Design Visualization NASA intern at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. “I am overjoyed to be able to witness the many innovations that are helping to bring us back to the Moon,” Liu said.

SBIR Program and Boeing DV Lab

As a former Technology Design Visualization NASA intern, Liu worked with NASA’s Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Program. The SBIR Program funds small businesses and universities to create new NASA technologies.

Liu also worked with the Boeing Design Visualization (DV) Lab which specializes in 3D laser scans to support ground operations. The Boeing DV Lab leverages 3D scanning, simulations, and modeling to ensure the efficiency and safety of NASA ground operations. In Liu’s day-to-day as an intern, she was usually in the lab, creating a 3D model or simulation of an environment or piece of technology at the Kennedy Space Center. If she is not found in the lab, then she was supporting the team in capturing 3D laser scans of a building, launchpad, or observing technology that is to be modeled in a research lab.

Liu works with both teams to 3D model, simulate, and communicate new technology that is being developed for the Artemis Program. She has modeled new plant growth systems and launched software and In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) machinery. Her project extended to multiple agencies and various research groups at the Kennedy Space Center. Liu’s most memorable excursion was to the Vehicle Assembly Building, in which the Boeing team came to laser-scan a sagging high bay platform. When one-half of the Orion Capsule Access platform was found to be two inches lower, she performed a laser scan and produced a 3D visualization.

Every Day is a New Adventure

Liu has absolutely loved the chance to work with software in the office and grab a safety helmet and see the wonders of the Kennedy Space Center up close. With every day being a new adventure, this internship was a perfect combination of her passions. While working with software to generate meaningful 3D models to contribute to the entire agency’s Artemis efforts, Liu was drawn to the intersection between art and computer science.

As a computer graphics major, she hopes to invent software that is not only important, efficient, and useful, but also visually compelling. From this position, Liu has learned the significance of 3D modeling and how accurate visualizations can make a tremendous difference in guaranteeing mission safety, advancing new technology, and communicating complicated ideas.

If you are interested in taking part in the STEM field, then check out our website! Also, don’t be deterred if you are not part of STEM as NASA Internships has many non-STEM positions available. We even have some high school positions! Read more about Drina Shah, a former high school intern at NASA, who worked on artificial intelligence.

To the Stars and Back: An Intern’s Five-Year Journey at NASA

Albert Kodua, a former NASA intern at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, standing next to a NASA sign. — *Albert Kodua, a former NASA intern at the Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, standing next to a NASA sign*

Curiosity is the essence of our existence. Starting as a 16-year-old junior in high school, Albert Kodua started his career with the Virginia Earth System Science Scholars Program. There, he worked with a team to create a mock NASA mission proposal, which gave him a chance to explore the field of Earth Science. The following year, he participated in the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars Program.

California Wildfires

Greatness can begin beyond a comfort zone. Albert Kodua is currently a master’s student at Virginia Tech, majoring in Materials Science and Engineering. He is also a former NASA intern from the Armstrong Flight Research Center in California and is also affiliated with the Space Grant. Space Grant expands opportunities for individuals to understand and participate in NASA’s aeronautics and space projects by supporting and enhancing science and engineering education, as well as research and public outreach efforts.

At NASA, you generally think about rockets, planets, and outer space. However, at NASA, we study our home planet just as much as we do other celestial bodies. In fact, with our unique vantage point from space, we can gather unique data across the globe in order to help solve problems that happen on earth. For example, as an intern, Kodua studied California wildfires and examined their territorial and pollutant effects. The significance of this project was the use of a machine learning algorithm to connect plant species burned with gaseous pollutants released from wildfires. With this project, he essentially helped see which areas, if burned, could prove to produce more hostile effects on the environment.

Albert Kodua posing in front of a NASA aircraft.

Reach Your Full Potential

Growing up, Kodua had a lot of role models in STEM, but only a handful that looked like him. As a result, Kodua always tries to be an advocate for underrepresented minorities in STEM. As a mentor in his student career, and with assistance from his multiple mentors from his internship, he believes that mentorship is the key to successfully preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers to grow to their full potential.

This internship made Albert feel a confidence he had not felt in his academic abilities, and it gave him a new sense of journey as a student, and hopefully, long-time researcher.

Kodua worked with NASA L’SPACE, an online program that is open to undergraduate STEM students interested in pursuing a career with NASA. The program was a “hidden gem within the large amount of NASA educational opportunities” that has helped him realize his full potential as a researcher and future leader in STEM.

Are you interested in getting out of your comfort zone and reaching your fullest potential like Albert? Check out our website for internship opportunities! You may also want to check out other up-and-coming interns such as Bianca Ortega, a former NASA intern that worked hard to write her own story to represent Puerto Rican women in STEM.

Grace Pham/ NASA Johnson Space Center

Lunar Soil: The Key to Breathing in Space- Shayla Wilhelm

Shayla Wilhelm standing in front of the Launch Crawler — Shayla Wilhelm standing in front of the Crawler Transporter.

If you can dream it, you can do it. Shayla Wilhelm saw the frothy sea of the Milky Way as she grew up in a small town in New York. Using a telescope, Wilhelm saw stars and planets shining everywhere across the sky. After realizing how much she loved what she saw in the sky, she ended up seeing a future in aerospace engineering.

Oxygen in Space

“If astronauts on the moon can harness the oxygen under their feet, sustaining a human presence on the moon may not be so difficult after all,” Wilhelm said. Currently, Wilhelm is a junior at the Florida Institute of Technology where she is majoring in Aerospace Engineering. As a former NASA intern at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, she worked on the Molten Regolith Electrolysis (MRE) Project.

The purpose of the MRE Project is to create oxygen on the Moon and to use it in astronaut tanks. By taking the soil on the Moon, Wilhelm would then melt it and run an electric current through it. This would split apart the metal oxides into molten metal and oxygen. After this process, the metal would then sink, allowing the oxygen to be separated, harvested, and eventually purified and distributed.

This process is potentially an important step in setting up long-term research centers on the moon and beyond.

Internship Takeaway

As an intern, Wilhelm had a very hard time to describe an “average” day while at NASA. While she spent every single day differently, she is grateful that her days as an intern was always a unique experience. From staying in the lab and analyzing data, to working in the machine shop and getting her hands dirty, Wilhelm would always be excited and feel lucky enough to take on these new and innovative tasks every single day. Wilhelm also got the opportunity to expand upon her software skills, improve her technical writing, and more.

Have you ever dreamed of working with NASA? Check out our website for more opportunities and information. Also, feel free to read more exciting stories such as Andrew Hoang, another former NASA intern who worked on parachute landings!

Grace Pham/ NASA Johnson Space Center

Persistence is Key – Bianca Ortega

A former NASA intern at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, inside the NASA Center for Climate Simulation.

Commitment is the foundation of great accomplishments. With dreams to be a pilot, Bianca Ortega flew remote-controlled airplanes in the sky when she was younger. When high school came around, her dreams started to expand, and she instead started to program and send her work into space. It was her first physics class in high school that guided her to find a new purpose for a newer mindset. Ortega wanted her work to mean something and so her skills were put to the test.

Data Visualization and Machine Learning Involvement

“It is one thing to be great at something, but it is an entirely different thing to use that skill not for your own, but for the pursuit of knowledge.” Ortega said. Currently, Ortega is a Senior at Kean University in New Jersey. She is double majoring in Computational Science and Mathematics, and minoring in Applied Physics. Ortega is also a former NASA intern at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, where she worked on a project titled “Applications of Data Visualization and Machine Learning to HPC Logs.” Her project took place at NASA’s Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS). The NCCS uses supercomputers, the main one being called “Discover,” which examined and used machine learning and different data visualization techniques through recorded performance .

Ortega’s experiment was made possible with the use of The ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana) Stack. The NCCS and NASA rely heavily on Discover to tackle some of their most challenging computational projects for the Science Mission Directorate to date. The purpose of her project was to find ways to correct user error behavior and detect —or ideally, predict system failures before they can happen. With that goal, this project would allow NASA scientists the best experience while using NASA’s NCCS Supercomputers.

Hard Work Pays Off

Ortega says that this internship is “a testament that hard work does pay off.” She hopes that everyone knows that their story is different from anyone else. Ortega came from a long line of Puerto Rican women, and she never really saw a lot of Women in STEM growing up, so she felt alone. “For any and all the young women out there, just know that you are not and will never be alone,” Ortega said.

If you are looking to write your own story, check out our website for opportunities regarding internships and more! You can also read other cool and empowering stories such as Rama Diop, a former intern that contributed to laser welding in

Grace Pham/ NASA Johnson Space Center