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National Aeronautics and Space Administration CACiN Co-Op Agency Connections Insider | August 2011
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
CACiNCo-Op Agency Connections Insider | August 2011
Editor’sLetter
August 2011Features(Plus many more…):
End of an Era
Page 5
NASA Lunabotics Mining
Competition
Page 8
A “Crash-Course” in
Landing Shuttles
Page 12
Hello CACiN Readers! I am pleased to present you with the Summer 2011 issue.
For this issue I would like to show special recognition to the Space Shuttle
Program that has officially retired, and reflect at the amazing accomplishments it
has achieved while also looking towards the future.
To start, I remember when I got my first internship with NASA just after my
freshman year. I could not believe it, I was literally floored. This was the place of
geniuses and heroes and they wanted me to work there! Growing up I always
admired NASA, but never thought I would ever be on the inside, just a flight of
fancy of a little ballerina, or so I thought.
I have worked here back and forth for three years now, and my first days back are
still filled with excitement and awe. Seeing the Shuttle up close and personal
never gets old or less inspiring. My breath is always taken away and I feel like a
little child seeing their favorite storybook characters in front of them.
When I am at school, I am the token NASA girl with my group of friends.
Whenever we meet someone new, one of the first conversation starters is, “Hey
she works for NASA!” I have to say it is both a great and nerve-racking feeling
having your friends brag for you. Those four letters hold a huge responsibility for
me. As soon as someone refers to me as “NASA girl”, I have many presumptions
coming at me. I am then held to a higher standard. Of course I am, because
NASA is on such a high-altitude pedestal that being associated with this
phenomenal organization puts me on a different level in people‟s eyes. An honor
that I never take for granted.
To end, I would like to say a few words about the past and future of our space
program. The Shuttle is a great loss in U.S. history but it is time to move on and
use this Agency‟s expertise to continue to explore the unknown and bring our
society into a Star Trek era. We are still NASA, we still instill inspiration into
children with our blue meatball, we are the future, we are the ones everyone looks
to for space flight, and we will hold true to our name together as one NASA. We
will not succeed otherwise. When we work together, we put men on the moon, we
put a long-stay livable space station in orbit, we fly the most complex flying
machine for 30 years with only two catastrophically tragic events, and we WILL be
heading to Mars and beyond.
That‟s right ladies and gentlemen, we are still freakin‟ NASA, we are still
awesome, and the world is still looking to us for space flight, and that is not about
to change any time soon.
Kelley Jones (KSC)
Co-op | Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering
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What you have been waiting for is finally here, the Summer 2011 Issue of the
CACiN!!! These pages are filled with exciting articles, interesting interviews,
and phenomenal pictures so I hope you enjoy it!
For those of you who do not know much about Co-op Agency Connections,
otherwise known as CAC, let me fill you in. We are a Co-op Student
Committee that spans across the entire NASA Agency. We work to connect
and network with co-ops and interns from every NASA Center around the
country. We have many opportunities to get involved through our Board, which
involves a Center Director in charge of each Center, an Ombudsman, a
Secretary, and a Project Lead, and through the CAC committees at every
Center. We have bi-weekly teleconferences, where the Board meets to
discuss the projects CAC is working on, host video teleconferences, where a
speaker from one the Centers speaks with co-ops and interns at every Center,
and publish CAC‟s Insider Newsletter (CACiN). We enjoy networking with the
other CAC members throughout the Agency and even getting to meet them
through visits to other Centers, such as when some of us travel to Kennedy
Space Center for launches.
To tell you a little about myself, my name is Rose Stokes and I was fortunate
enough to be the Project Lead for our organization this summer. I have been
involved in CAC since my first semester at NASA in the Spring of 2011. I am
currently about to start my fourth year at Central Michigan University. I am
working on two majors, General Management and Psychology and will
graduate in December 2012 after three more semesters at school and one
more work tour at Johnson Space Center. Working at NASA has been one of
the greatest experiences of my life. I have been able to see Robonaut 2,
watch Apollo 13 in Historic Mission Control, visit the Neutral Buoyancy
Laboratory and see the last launch of the space shuttle Discovery. I have
even been able to hear from famous figures such as Gene Kranz, Sy
Liebergot, Greg Johnson, and Jose Hernandez. It truly is an amazing
experience to work for such a great Agency and know that you are contributing
to something much bigger than yourself. I cannot wait to come back to NASA
and CAC next summer for my final co-op tour.
CAC is growing every semester to include more and more co-ops and interns
and I hope that you will enjoy reading what students at NASA have been up to
in the following pages! Feel free to let me know if you have any comments or
questions!
Rose Stokes (JSC)
CAC Project Lead
A word about CACfrom the Project Lead
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CAC BoardSummer 2011
Rose StokesProject Lead
Johnson Space Center
Kelley JonesSecretary
Kennedy Space Center
Sam McIlvoyOmbudsman
Johnson Space Center
Sahar LeaupepeDirector
Ames Research Center
Justin McCarthyDirector
Dryden Flight Research Center
Sophia MoDirector
Johnson Space Center
Jonathan MartinezDirector
Kennedy Space Center
Erek AllenDirector
Marshall Spaceflight Center
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Why is CACImportant to You?
Networking between all the young people across
the Agency is very important. As cliche´ as it may
be, we are the future and having CAC sets a solid
foundation and allows us to stay up-to-date on
what‟s going on at other Centers
~Jonathan Martinez KSC
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End ofAn Era
By: Kelley Jones (KSC)5
Sometimes you wake up with a feeling in the pit of your stomach and
realize you are going to be a part of the world‟s history today. Friday,
July 8th was one of those days.
I hopped out of bed and into my NASA gear, grabbed some essentials,
and headed out the door to the car. The once quiet streets in the
mornings before were now teeming with fellow observers for one of the
most important days in our nation, the day Shuttle takes its final flight
into space. Of course, there was some time spent in inch-by-inch traffic
and the passing of the security barriers. After a couple hours of that,
we parked and set up camp along the causeway.
There it stood, elegant and magnificent as ever on PAD-A, where
hundreds before had launched into the atmosphere. Although the
weather was very dreary and it seemed to not want to allow a launch to
happen, Atlantis was determined, you could just feel it.
After braving the crowd for souvenirs it was time to prepare for the
farewell. About just a few minutes before countdown, the sun finally
broke through. It was actually going to happen; Atlantis was going to
blast through the sky to LEO at 11:36am July 8th.
The crowd fell dead silent and all you could hear was
launch control booming across the speakers. It was like
we all held our breath together and thought, “Was this
really happening?” Then those fateful words, “Engine
ignition 3, 2, 1…LAUNCH!”
It lit up like dynamite, cleared the tower, climbed the
horizon, and then flew into the clouds. The rumble came
and went and the crowd cheered and cried. We did it, we
launched the last shuttle!
It was a day I will always remember and hold dear to my heart. I was glad to
share it with friends and my dad who was on the phone with me. I stop to think
one day, ten or so years from now, they will be making movies about the Shuttle
program and will show actual footage from that day and I can turn to my children
and say, “I was there.”
776By: Kelley Jones (KSC)
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ShuttleWhat does the program mean to you?
7
“I was able to see the last launch of
space shuttle Discovery. It was
breathtaking and I only hope that
the future holds just as many
amazing moments for the space
program. NASA did so much with
the shuttle program that it is hard to
let it go but they always say as one
door closes another opens.”
~Rose Stokes
“I’m thankful that I was given the
opportunity to be a part of the
Shuttle Program here at KSC and
experience 7 incredible launches.
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile
because it happened.””
~Jonathan Martinez
“I remember being in the 2nd
grade and watching my first
shuttle launch in class. Ever
since that moment I wanted to
ride that ride. The shuttle
inspired me to look at the stars
in a new way and dream of one
day floating in space.”
~Kelley Jones
“The first and only shuttle launch I
was lucky enough to attend was STS-
132. The shuttle is truly a testament
to the insatiable thirst for progress
and determination of mankind to
invent and explore beyond our world.”
~Matt Rodriguez
“The Space Shuttle is the only
American human space
transportation vehicle that
today’s co-ops and interns
have ever known. We know
about Apollo, which ended
more than a decade before
most of us were born, only
through stories, movies, and
history books. It’s sad to see
the Shuttle go, but our
generation is more than ready
to create some history of our
own.”
~Jarret M. Lafleur
“Viewing the shuttle launch in person
was the fulfillment of one of my
childhood dreams. The display of raw
power is awe-inspiring and it gave me
Goosebumps seeing this vehicle
produce a plume of flame twice its size!”
~Peter V. Lindberg
“If there was any minute
that I could relive in my
life, it would be the
Atlantis launch; its
astounding size,
brightness, sound, and
beauty as it soared into
the heavens is
something I will never
forget.”
~Christina Darcie
“Seeing the orange flare and the trailing
smoke and hearing the roar of the
engines was absolutely
incredible. Experiencing the final
shuttle soaring into the sky made the
16 hour drive and lack of sleep
completely worth it.”
~Richard Chen
“Watching the final shuttle launch at
Kennedy Space Center was an
amazing experience! It just happened
to work out that the first launch I saw
in person was the end cap to an
incredible 30 year human spaceflight
program.”
~Peter Schulte
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NASA LunaboticsMining Competition
NASA‟s second annual Lunabotics Mining Competition took place at the Kennedy Space Center
Visitor‟s Center this past May. The competition consisted of college-level students designing and
building an excavator that could transverse while on lunar regolith (soil) stimulant, weave around
craters and moon rocks, excavate quickly and then travel back to the point-of-origin to dump their
hard earned dirt into a hopper. They had approximately a year to prepare, with the call for
participants going out last summer, and the week long competition being held this past May 23rd-28th.
The teams were spread out over the U.S., and even over the world. In addition to teams from Auburn,
ITT, and Florida‟s own Embry Riddle, teams poured in from India, Canada and South America. The
competition was fierce and, with some teams going the expensive route while others went green, the
variety of machines was spectacular. Each team brought something completely unique to the
competition - one team even had a first grade student as part of the design group.
To begin the competition, six team members had to dress up in clean suits and carry their excavator
into the Lunarena tent. They then placed their rovers in the designated area, set up their wireless
internet connections, and prayed nothing went wrong. Each team had 15 minutes to scoop as much
of the fine, powdery soil as possible in order to secure their slot as a winner. Throughout these 15
minutes of excitement and fun for the teams, volunteers closely watched each robot for signs of loss
of control or fire, ready to push the emergency shut off, which guaranteed excitement for them as
well. While the competing teams were in Mission Control frantically working their excavator, the rest
of the teams watched on the big screen, rooting for others and generally having a good time.
Frisbees and footballs were flying, the DJ got people up and dancing - even those volunteers in clean
suits joined in! The competition was a great way to meet new people and create some friendly
rivalries between schools.
The University of Southern
Indiana suits up to take their
robot into the Lunarena to
begin the competition
By: Corrie Lamkin (KSC)8
The competition broke the awards into six
different categories. There was of course the
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for the actual mining of
the regolith, which gave the winners launch
tickets and a $5000, $2500, and $1000
scholarship, but there were numerous other
possible awards. The teams were also
required to write a Systems Engineering
paper, and were able to win an award for the
best written. They were also required to do
outreach projects with K-12th graders,
informing them about what they were doing
and why. During the competition, they also
had to complete a slide presentation
discussing their robot and the difficulties they
had to overcome to get it fully functioning and
to Florida. Another award went to the most
spirited team, which included cheering, helping
others, and generally spreading the word
about their rover. There was also the Joe
Kosmo Award for Excellence, which awarded
a team with launch invites and a trip out to see
NASA Desert RATS.
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Some teams had issues with the wireless
connection, robots going crazy, chains breaking,
balance issues, and tracks popping off, but they
all did amazing considering the Lunarena was
supposed to emulate the moon, as well as the
problems that might be encountered there. The
winning team was Laurentian University from
Canada, with 234.7 kg worth of regolith collected!
Second place went to the University of North
Dakota with 172.2 kg collected, while third place
went to West Virginia University with 106.4 kg of
lunar regolith collected. Hopefully next year will
see even more teams and unique contraptions!
Laurentian University's Team gathered around their winning
excavator
Oakton Community
College's rover crossing the
line separating the obstacles
from the excavating area in
the Lunarena
By: Corrie Lamkin (KSC) 9
The Importance of Teamwork:How America’s Shuttles Unified a Country
By: Erek Allen (MSFC)10
Teamwork has long been a topic of conversation in workforce settings. After all, effective teamwork
produces incredible results. Of these incredible results that are products of teamwork, I am
reminded lately of just one, the space shuttle. One of the greatest accomplishments by man ever
created, built and maintained by hundreds of thousands of dedicated workers, the space shuttle is
going to be a crowning achievement for decades to come. A vehicle that can lift to orbit like a
rocket and glide back home like a plane, and do it for 30 years, is nothing short of miraculous.
How can one accomplish such a feat though, building and maintaining quite possibly humankind‟s
most advanced vehicle ever conceived? One word: teamwork.
Since the days after Apollo ended, NASA had a new frontier to explore; something they knew little
about but knew would garner great results, scientifically and technologically. That frontier was Low
Earth Orbit and the solution to getting there was the space shuttle. This shuttle would be able to
launch a variety of payloads to orbit, perform servicing missions on satellites or telescopes already
in orbit, conduct science missions in conditions not replicable on Earth, and eventually, provide
crew rotations for the ever expanding International Space Station. This was no simple feat though,
designing and building such a complex vehicle, but it was accomplished through teamwork.
Properly integrated teamwork, not particular individuals, allowed this Agency to fulfill the Space
Shuttle Program. Take for instance one aspect of the space shuttle-- the main engine. The
diagram below provides for a more precise representation of key suppliers per major engine
components. Dozens of suppliers must coordinate and collaborate with Pratt & Whitney to build
the engine -- one engine that is just one piece of a revolutionary space plane with millions of
individual parts and hundreds of miles of wiring. If two groups, whether they are employees on
different sides of the office or corporations on different sides of the country, can communicate
effectively and jell together, collaborate, and rely on one another‟s honed skills, the overall goal in
mind will not only be achieved, but achieved in a timely manner. This fact was no less true for the
space shuttle.
By: Erek Allen (MSFC)11
At work now, titles like “manager” and “supervisor” are decreasing in
popularity and the phrase “team leader” is becoming the new norm to
describe those positions. That‟s because teamwork is only being embraced
more and more as projects become larger in scale and ambition.
Companies, including NASA, have embraced this change because it works.
Employee drive and outlook improves drastically when individual
contributions make a difference. It always feels good to be a part of
something that is worthwhile, it feels good to be collaborating on a team
together. Taking action, trusting others, building relationships -- the major
components of teamwork -- that‟s how stuff gets done. Shuttle work
involved hundreds of contracting companies around the country, uniting
numerous civil service and contractor employees. The shuttle was a
synthesizing force that connected workers from all over the nation with the
common goal of creating something amazing.
Working for the government has many great privileges. Mostly, I am very
proud to be supported by this great Agency, NASA, and this remarkable
nation we call America. Of course, working for NASA means you can‟t
escape acronyms; they seem to encompass another aspect of our
professional career at times. To close, I‟d like to talk about one of my most
favorite acronyms: TEAM. This isn‟t an official government acronym and
you won‟t find it in any government database search; in fact, I can‟t even tell
you where it comes from. But I do remember the day in school years ago
when I learned of its meaning. The lesson that day in class was about
teamwork, and an acronym we discussed was TEAM-Together Everyone
Achieves More. A relatively simple phrase, and yet, its meaning goes
beyond words. Together everyone achieves more. With this in mind, the
shuttle fulfilled its purpose and it will forever be remembered as not only a
legacy to human engineering and scientific discovery, but also as a symbol
of American ingenuity and teamwork. Together everyone achieves more.
Job well done, America!
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A “Crash-Course”In Landing Shuttles
By: Natalie A. Spencer (JSC)
As the shuttle program comes to a close, any exposure to training and systems related to our
beloved reusable spacecraft is undeniably special. At Johnson Space Center, the presence of
the shuttle is everywhere. I‟ve loved each opportunity I‟ve had first as an intern and now as a
co-op to climb in and look around the Building 9 mock-ups. I‟ve also “landed” the shuttle a few
times in the full-motion simulator. But perhaps the most amazing and unique shuttle
experience on my resume happened this summer - I flew on the Shuttle Training Aircraft.
My adventure began at Ellington Field, the site of my final co-op tour. One Tuesday afternoon
in June in the blistering heat, I walked toward the large-windowed jet in awe. I climbed aboard
and sat down in one of the large and plush (compared to flying coach on an airline!) seats and
eagerly awaited the flight to Kennedy and the Shuttle Landing Facility for the actual training
segment.
Something about the STAs always causes passengers to get a little sleepy. I couldn‟t believe
it, but soon I joined the other passengers in taking a nap as we climbed above the beautiful
Gulf and among the clouds. Later in the ferry flight I walked up to the flight deck and sat in the
fold-out jump seat to talk to the pilots, Alyson Hickey and Ken “Taco” Cockrell (a six shuttle
mission veteran).
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By: Natalie A. Spencer
When we landed at Kennedy, I went out to dinner with everyone on the two STA
planes. I felt a little odd being the only person at the restaurant without a blue
flight suit on. As usual for the pilots, they were asked if they were astronauts.
Taco was out jogging on the runway so the answer was no all around.
On the drive back to the Landing Facility, we saw two giant eagle‟s nests and
ponds with alligators and manatees. Then, the pilot and commander (Doug
Hurley and Chris Ferguson, respectively) of STS-135 met us by the planes. It
was time for their weekly landing practice! A couple of different people came up
to me, “First time?” and handed me “anti-motion sickness bags.” It made me
nervous but I knew I wasn‟t prone to any issues and excitedly sat back as we
took off with Doug and Taco at the helm. As we leveled off, I was invited to come
up to the cockpit. All of a sudden, KSC tower said we were “go” for landing, but I
was still standing behind the jump seat!
I wasn't fully prepared for what happened next.
Next thing I knew, I was on a plane that was plummeting toward the ground! I
even felt like I did during my microgravity flight last year for a couple of seconds.
It‟s not quite zero-g, but I could easily stand on the front of my feet and let my
arms rise. The STA experience is almost identical to a roller coaster drop but I
wasn‟t strapped in and there was no track to show me we were on course! Still, I
loved every minute of the thrill!
Doug “landed” 9 times beautifully, 2 of which I sat in the back for a different view.
(If you didn‟t know, the STA doesn‟t touch down when the astronauts practice
shuttle landing because at a certain height above the runway in the STA, the
shuttle would be touching down already due to its much greater size.) Amazing! I
have no doubt Astronaut Pilot Hurley will have a perfect landing when our last
shuttle comes back.
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15
MeetA USRP Intern
By: Adam Pizzaia(DFRC)14
So far, my experience at NASA‟s Dryden Flight Research Center has been awesome! I have seen a lot of
unique aircrafts and aircraft components. I have worked with really great people, too. This type of atmosphere
is where I want to work in the future -- and I‟m not just talking about the great year round flying weather!
I have been researching Structurally Integrated Thermal Protective Systems (SITPS) and whether they would
be feasible to have on hypersonic aircraft. The engineers at Dryden are perfecting their test set-ups and test
methods for an upcoming ceramic matrix composite-based sandwich test article. This would then be used on
hypersonic aircraft because of its durability. The engineers and I are currently testing in the Flight Loads
Laboratory at Dryden. It is really great to take time off of school, and validate the formulas I learned in school
with actual testing! I‟m comparing my theoretical results with state of the art measuring devices that I had
never seen prior to my internship, and only read about in school.
The opportunity to work at Dryden is great! Sometimes I spend my lunch break walking around Dryden looking
at the research planes that have made history. It is really neat to see the Lunar Lander research vehicle that
helped Apollo 11 land on the moon. What is even cooler is going up to the global hawks that fly current
missions around the world. But my favorite thing about working at Dryden is being able to talk to the test pilots,
test engineers, and Center Director about the projects they have worked on in the past and in the present. I‟m
constantly surprised by the friendliness and openness of everyone here. I even got the chance to go to a crew
brief for the SOFIA tests. The next day I watched the SOFIA aircraft taxi on the runway from a computer
screen. Moments before it took off, I ran outside and got to see it lift off the lake bed -- right before my own
eyes!
There are also really interesting talks that I get to attend since I‟m in NASA. I have seen a presentation on the
X-43 hypersonic aircraft by the mission controller and one of the B-52 pilots of the program. It is fantastic that I
have the chance to talk to people with these backgrounds and experiences. If I was working with a private
company somewhere else, I would not have the opportunity to talk to NASA engineers who have tested the
record breaking aircrafts I am learning about! I also got to hear Paul Bikle‟s children talk about his record
breaking glider flight. Next week I will get to attend a presentation from an astronaut who was on STS-1. It will
be the 30th anniversary of the first manned Space Shuttle launch. NASA provides a lot of great opportunities for
learning to their employees that I really appreciate.
I want to work at Dryden after I graduate from school. I truly enjoy using what I have learned in school and
applying it at NASA! When I go back to school, I am going to study more in the area of hypersonics. I found
out through working here that this particular area of science really interests me. I also cannot wait to share my
experience with others. I think it is important for students to know what NASA has to offer, both for an internship
and as a potential career.
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NASA MSFC:Interview with Tom Williams
By: Erek Allen (MSFC)
Tom Williams, a former co-op student, is the manager of the Propulsion Systems Department
at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Tom has previously served
as a deputy manager for the Ares I First Stage Office and for the Solid Rocket Booster
Project for NASA’s Return to Flight program. Throughout his 28-year NASA career, Tom has
also worked as a technical assistant to the Space Shuttle Program manager, in leadership
positions in the Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor Chief Engineer’s Office, and as a solid motor
nozzle systems engineer. Tom is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in
mechanical engineering.
- What did you want to be growing up? What motivated you to apply for a co-op job
with NASA?
I was always interested in how things worked, taking them apart and such. I also liked
building things with my hands and trying to fix broken bikes and such. When it came time to
assess my academic interests, it really boiled down to my strength in math and science and
my disinterest in other subjects. Growing up in Huntsville also made it easy to consider a
career in rockets. So when it came time, I chose engineering and then focused on
mechanical, as I figured it really touched on the broader physical nature of things that I
wondered about and wanted to understand. My father encouraged me to join the co-op
program. When I received a call from NASA, I was excited and ready.
- How important were mentors to your professional development? What sort of
relationship did you have with your mentors?
My mentors have always been supervisors that took interest in my development. My co-op
experience allowed me to hit the ground ahead of other new hires when I joined NASA as a
permanent employee. With that head start, I was allowed to join the solid rocket motor
redesign team at Thiokol in Utah after the Challenger accident. My mentors and supervisors
were always pushing me and assigning me greater development opportunities. The
relationships with supervisors and mentors were almost fatherly at times, where the
expectations were high, but time was also spent teaching me the ropes.
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By: Erek Allen (MSFC)
- What is it that drives you today, and motivates you towards success?
I really do believe that human exploration is an honorable and noble endeavor.
To be a part of an organization like NASA, that develops technology for the
peaceful betterment of all humans on earth, has motivated me from the
beginning. Today, the wide range of rocket development activities we are
involved in with the Propulsion Department makes every day interesting. We
are now testing the J-2X engine we‟ve developed, building small throttleable
turbopumps, designing solid rocket motors for other customers, and providing
engineering analyses to customers that need our knowledge and tools to solve
tough problems. The myriad of activities, advancing technology, and doing our
part to advance human exploration endeavors is what motivates me as well.
As I have moved into more of a management role, I enjoy seeing the young
people grow, develop, and do such impressive work. It‟s great to see such
young, talented people who enjoy challenging work.
- When you were at the beginning of your career, what were your long-
term and short-term goals? What is the importance of setting goals?
I have never really written goals down and set a plan or path. I always had an
idea of my short-term goals driven by what type of work interested me more
than what kind of position I wanted. I think that it is important to ask yourself,
“What do you want to do?” and not, “What position do you want to have?”
- As a former co-op, in order to prepare for the changes going on at
NASA, what advice would you give to current students?
Keep working hard and broaden yourselves as much as you can outside your
field of study. Always look for leadership or teaming opportunities to build on
the skills that classes and books do not provide. Our nation‟s drive to explore
will always be present in the American spirit and it‟s imperative that we do so
as world leaders. We are in a transition, just as we were after Apollo. Next
step was the shuttle. The International Space Station was not a smooth start
either, and it is now the crown jewel of engineering achievement and
cooperation with multiple nations. We will get our footing and set about
building the next vehicle and technologies that will allow humans to go, do, and
build things that will evolve us even further as humans. The challenges to do
the hard things will enable technologies to solve tough problems on Earth as
well, like energy and resource utilization. The technologies needed to live in
faraway places will help us on Earth and drive economic opportunities for
those who innovate.
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DrydenStudent Faces
Cristina Donastorg
School: Auburn University – Senior
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Aerodynamics and Propulsion
Hobbies: Swing and Salsa dancing, Analyzing the cinematic elements of films, Reading, Baking,
Volunteering
Favorite Astronaut: My favorite astronaut is Joseph A. Walker. Walker was a test pilot for the X-15
rocket plane program in the late 1950‟s and early 1960‟s. He became the first American civilian to make
any spaceflight when the X-15 that he was piloting crossed the 100 km altitude mark. I admire his
accomplishments because he helped prove that it is possible to access space with a plane and space-
planes are my personal favorite area of current NASA research.
Favorite NASA Memory: My favorite NASA memory is getting to watch a flight of the Global Hawk from
the ground control station. It was so impressive watching this unmanned aero vehicle (UAV) perform its
mission on the giant screens in mission control. The Global Hawk is a true testament to engineering - it
can perform 30 hour science missions autonomously!
What you are looking most forward to this tour: am most looking forward to learning more about
propulsion, computer programming, and learning what it takes to get a program or project from the ground
floors of speculation and back of the envelope calculations to flight testing.
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DrydenStudent Faces
Kaitlyn Leann Fiechtner
School: California State University, Fresno - Graduate
Major: Bachelors in Mathematics, currently pursuing a teaching credential
Area Currently Working In: Research Structures on the Fiber Optic Strain Sensing system
Hobbies: Soccer, Reading, Board Games, Movies
Favorite Astronaut: Marsha Ivins. Last summer, when Marsha Ivins--veteran of five space flights--
spoke at NASA Dryden, she was friendly, inspirational, modest, intelligent, comical and passionate.
The best part about her is that she has the utmost respect for the NASA employees who are not
astronauts, claiming (and I paraphrase) that they are the ones who do the hard work, while the
astronauts get to play with the toys.
Favorite NASA Memory: My favorite NASA memory is the 2010 summer chat with the other Centers.
Charlie Bolden is such a down-to-earth man, I loved hearing his story. Also, it was a fun bonding
experience for all the interns and co-ops at Dryden, laughing and joking, especially because of the
comical students at Headquarters, namely, “Rubiks cube dude” and “live long and prosper guy”. It
showed me that NASA interns and co-ops really rock!
What you are looking most forward to this tour: I‟m looking forward to working more with
computer programming this summer, and spending more time having fun with my fellow interns and
co-ops.
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DrydenStudent FacesRyan IzardSchool: Clemson University - Senior
Major: Computer Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Mission Information and Test Systems
Hobbies: Photography, Running, Hiking, Cooking/Baking, Swimming,
Mountain Biking
Favorite NASA Mission: My all-time favorite NASA mission is
Chandra X-Ray Observatory. This was the first opportunity I had to
travel to Kennedy Space Center and view a launch in person! The fact
that Columbia‟s mission was delayed three times, faced several
malfunctions after launch, and persevered nonetheless make this
mission even more memorable!
Favorite NASA Memory: Without a doubt, my favorite NASA memory
was when I got to go flying in a sailplane! My summer project involved
the use of GPS receivers. So, what could have been a better test
environment than actually taking them in the air! We even had Google
Earth track me live, which just added to an already remarkable
experience!
What you are looking most forward to this tour: Gaining research
and prototyping experience, working with awesome people and
cutting-edge technology, and living/touring in a different part of the
country – all culminating into a fun, exciting, and memorable summer
at NASA!.
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Adam Piazzaia
School: Rutgers University - Junior
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Math
Area Currently Working In: Aero structures
Hobbies: Building model rockets, Backpacking,
Hiking, Fishing, Piano, Volleyball, Travelling,
Skateboarding, Homemade projects
JohnsonStudent Faces
Bonnie Stern
School: Texas A&M University
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Area Currently Working In: DI53 - Environmental and Thermal
Operating Systems for ISS
Hobbies: Spoiling my niece and nephew, hanging out with my
boyfriend, baking, traveling, and watching movies
Favorite NASA Mission: STS-124 because it is the only launch
that I was able to see in person
Favorite NASA Memory: Meeting Neil Armstrong and getting to
shake his hand! I was in the right place at the right time.
What you are looking most forward to this tour: I‟m becoming
certified in Internal Thermal Control Systems for the ISS
Brian RamosSchool: University of Rhode Island
Major: Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering
Area Currently Working In: System Architecture and
Integration
Hobbies: Martial Arts, SCUBA
Favorite NASA Astronauts: Jose Hernandez and Mike
Fincke. Jose for teaching me that it‟s okay to pursue your
dream as long as you enjoy each step of the way, and Mike
for showing that you can be goofy and be an astronaut at
the same time.
Favorite NASA Memory: Every time someone talks about
traveling to another planet and how to do it, and it‟s just
another normal lunchroom conversation. You don‟t find that
anywhere else!
What you are looking most forward to this tour: Being
part of and taking in the atmosphere of the Johnson Space
Center and the people‟s sadness, hope, and passion at this
transformative time. 20
JohnsonStudent Faces
Ruben Casillo Jr.School: University of Texas at San Antonio
Major: Electrical Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Aircraft Operations Division
Hobbies: Chess, Piano, Basketball, Video Games
Favorite NASA Mission: STS-135 is the first and last shuttle launch
I will ever see.
Favorite NASA Memory: My favorite memory is training with the
astronauts when they were practicing to land the shuttle after re-
entering Earth‟s atmosphere. They practiced diving towards Earth
with about 10 different scenarios. My stomach felt great afterwards.
What you are looking most forward to this tour: I‟m looking
forward to receiving an offer for a full-time position here at NASA
Johnson Space Center.
Patricia A. SantanaSchool: Florida International University
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Neuroscience Laboratory,
Space Life Sciences Directorate
Hobbies: Playing softball and tennis, running, salsa dancing, and
going to the beach.
Favorite NASA Mission: STS-134 - It was the first time I stood next
to the shuttle on the launch pad two weeks before launch day. It felt
like heaven!
Favorite NASA Memory: Having the opportunity to tour Kennedy
Space Center (KSC) and be able to walk under Discovery and Atlantis
in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) and stand on the launch pad
up close and personal with Endeavour. Also, watching my all-time
favorite Christmas movie, “Home Alone” projected on the orbiter
mockup in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF) with the co-ops
and interns. Priceless moments that will last a lifetime!
What you are looking most forward to this tour: I am looking
forward to seeing my participation in the STS-135 Crew Wake-Up Call
message broadcasted for Atlantis. 21
JohnsonStudent Faces
April YazzieSchool: University of Michigan
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Motion Control Systems
Hobbies: Exploring Houston! Quilting, baking, playing soccer,
basketball, etc.
Favorite NASA Mission: STS-133, this was the first shuttle
mission I got to be a part of. While the shuttle was docked to the ISS
I sat on console with the ADCO/Hawk flight controllers in MCC.
Favorite NASA Memory: As part of my co-op training I was
assigned to take the same courses the crewmembers had to take,
as a result, I got to take a class in an ISS mock-up with astronaut
Chris Cassidy (Navy SEAL!). I was so astro-shocked that I didn‟t
pay much attention to the class….all I could think was, “Wow, this is
what being an astronaut feels like right now” and it was pretty
awesome.
What you are looking most forward to this tour: I am looking
forward sitting console in the flight control room during the final
shuttle mission!
Peter SchulteSchool: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Analysis and Simulation with
the Orion/MPCV Capsule Parachute Assembly System
(CPAS) flight test program at Johnson Space Center
Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee, reading, watching Star Trek:
The Next Generation
Favorite NASA Mission: Apollo 8 (first circumnavigation
of the Moon)
Favorite NASA Memory: Getting to try on the EMU space
suit!
What you are looking most forward to this tour:
Watching the last Space Shuttle launch!
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Susan YeungSchool: University of Central Florida - 2nd Year Graduate Student
Major: Master of Science in Accounting
Area Currently Working In: Human Resources Workforce Planning
and Information Systems at KSC
Hobbies: Running, painting, drawing, camping and hiking, traveling to
new destinations Go to next page…
Delvin VannormanSchool: Mississippi State University - Senior
Major: Computer Science
Area Currently Working In: Launch Control Systems – Information
Architecture
Hobbies: Traveling, Sight-Seeing, Reading, Relaxing and having fun
with Friends & Family
Favorite NASA Mission/Astronaut: My favorite mission was STS-
127, which launched July 15, 2009 and sent up the last 2 components
of the Japanese Experiment Module to the International Space Station.
It was my very first launch; therefore it will remain in my memory
forever.
Favorite NASA Memory: My favorite NASA memory was standing
next to Atlantis on the launch pad gearing up for the final shuttle
mission. It was at that moment that I finally understood that I was
living the dream of so many by working at NASA. I will truly cherish
the opportunity of being a part of this great legacy.
What you are looking most forward to this tour: During this tour,
I'm looking forward to continued success in performing all the duties
pertaining to this job to the best of my ability. It is my desire, upon
graduation in December, to find permanent work as a full-time
employee in this great organization.
KennedyStudent Faces
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Favorite NASA Mission: Apollo 11. I learned about NASA when I
was child after I had gotten stickers of the Apollo mission patches --
which I stuck on my bedroom wall. I believe the Apollo missions
symbolize the strength, determination and prominence of our country.
Favorite NASA Memory: I was able to go onto Launch Complex Pad
39A and see the STS-135 with the space shuttle attached to the
external tank and SRBs. It was a once in a lifetime experience!
Because I moved to Central Florida when I was three, I was always
accustomed to seeing shuttle launches and hearing the sonic „boom‟
when it comes home. As the Space Shuttle Program comes to an end,
it is hard to realize that I will never see or hear that familiar sight and
sound that I grew up with.
KennedyStudent Faces
Continued…
School: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) - Senior
Major: Bachelors of Science (B.S.) in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Anatomy and
Physiology, and an emphasis in Microbiology and Psychology
Area Currently Working In: NASA Engineering-Surface Systems- Sustainable Life Support
and Habitation Systems
Hobbies: Basketball, Traveling, Kayaking, and Tutoring
Favorite NASA Mission/Astronaut: The Mars Exploration Rover-A, Spirit, was one of my
favorite missions because it took the first colored images of Mars. This mission made going to
Mars real for me, and made me realize this is something I want to be a part of.
Go to next page…
Megan Anne Morford
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Favorite NASA Memory: Waiting for the Launch of STS-133. It was a
gorgeous Thursday afternoon in the Cape and everything was looking
like a “go” for the last launch of Discovery, until, the clock was held at
T-5 minutes to allow time to resolve a computer issue at the Range
Safety Officer‟s console. The issue was resolved and the clock
restarted in time to allow Discovery to launch with just 2 seconds left in
the launch window. It was my first time seeing a launch and was one
of the most anxious moments of my life, but it was amazing to see it
blast off and then hear and feel the sonic boom!
What you are looking most forward to this tour: Writing and
publishing two papers on the teams‟ previous/current water disinfection
experiments. I am really excited because I not only helped do the
experimentation but I will be published as the first author on both of
them. These papers will be my first professional publications and they
are associated with NASA!! Woo Hoo!
KennedyStudent Faces
Continued…
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MarshallStudent Faces
Matthew CannellaSchool: University of Colorado at Boulder
Major: M.S./Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Area Currently Working In: Spacecraft and Auxiliary Propulsion
Systems
Hobbies: Backpacking, skiing, traveling, and cooking
Favorite NASA Mission: STS-118 - I worked this launch by sitting “on-
console” in the Launch Control Center while interning in the Shuttle
program at Kennedy Space Center. It was an amazing experience, and
I was able to see my summer‟s work (some shuttle monitoring software
coding) in action during a live launch!
Favorite NASA Memory: Seeing my liquid oxygen, liquid methane
rocket thruster fire for the first time to kick-off a testing program. It was
the culmination of an entire summer‟s worth of work for me and several
other interns, and it was exciting to see all our hard work pay off.
April RiveraSchool: University of Texas at El Paso
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Special Test Equipment Design
Hobbies: Writing, reading, playing sports, and drawing
Favorite NASA Mission: STS-132. It was the first shuttle
launch I got to see live and I was lucky enough to watch it next
to the VAB. Seeing it launch created an image that I won‟t
forget and made me remember why I got into engineering.
Favorite NASA Memory: My first day of work. While being told
about our duties and roles, I was called out to meet my mentor
at a test facility for a tour he was conducting. After asking if it
was okay to go, someone drove me over there and I met my
mentor. I also got to meet the Center Director, my test manager,
and his deputy. During the tour, we got to visit a Dynamic Test
Stand, which was used for testing of the shuttle and the Saturn
V. Standing on top of this test stand, I was able to see all of
Marshall Space Flight Center and I knew I was at the right
place. Not only did I get to meet all the important people in my
directorate, but I also got to stand at the top of the tallest
building in northern Alabama. Pretty cool first day.
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AmesRichard ThaiSchool: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Major: Computer Science, Software Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Flight and Ground Software
Hobbies: Swimming, competitive coding, mixed martial
arts, Linux, swing dancing, GitHub.
Favorite NASA Mission: Randall Munroe couldn‟t have
conveyed it better with his xkcd comic: Spirit. Surely,
others are also thinking that the Mars Exploration Rover
Mission isn‟t over until we recover our rovers.
Favorite NASA Memory: I‟m very proud of the open-
source projects (running on open-source hardware)
which I developed in a single co-op tour with the help of
my mentor. It‟s absolutely fulfilling to be able to work and
complete such a challenging assignment with as much
creative freedom and control as I had.
Blaze SandersSchool: Johns Hopkins University
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Area Currently Working In: Science & Exploration
Research Office
Hobbies: Skydiving, SCUBA Diving, Amateur Radio,
learning about flying
Favorite NASA Mission: COTS-2 with Space-X,
because it was the first time a commercial company
put something into orbit and brought it back to Earth.
It actually inspired me to start my own commercial
space company, “Solar System Express”.
Favorite NASA Memory: Watching Apollo 13 the
movie in the actual mission control that Apollo 13
occurred in (on the actual large mission screens),
with Gene Kranz the Flight Director of Apollo 11 & 13
speaking to us and signing copies of his book
afterwards.
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InspirationalReading
First Things FirstBy: Stephen Covey, A. Roger, and Rebecca R. Merrill
“From the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People comes this bestselling guide to sanity and satisfaction in today’s too-fast world. Covey and his associates spell out six steps to achieving your principle-centered goals. Along the way you’ll learn to overcome the tyranny of urgency, connect with your mission, identify your roles, exercise integrity and, in the end, become the person you know you can be”
The Seven Habits of Effective PeopleBy: Steven Covey
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is the #1 National Bestseller that offers a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. In this summary, Stephen Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service and human dignity -- principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. Originally published in 1989, the timeless seven habits remain relevant even as the challenges have become more difficult.”
*Descriptions can found at http://www.summary.com/summaries/career-self-
development/_/First-Things-First/
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CAC CrosswordShuttle Trivia
Across:2. Where is the shuttle assembled, launched, and landed?
5. The most complex rocket engines in existence today. (Acronym)
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5. Before the ISS there was_________.
6. The last Orbiter to launch.
11. This Orbiter will be retiring to the California Science Center.
13. Where do the Astronauts live?
14. The last shuttle launch was_______8th.
Down:1. Now that shuttle is retired who will we depend on the get us to the ISS.
3. STS-1 Orbiter.
4. Acronym for Space Shuttle Program
6. First American woman in space.
8. Which Orbiter pick up the program after the Challenger tragedy.
9. What Orbiter currently resides at the Smithsonian.
10. The only man to pilot the Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle.
12. The Russian space capsule
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Rose Stokes
Project Lead, Johnston Space Center
Kelley Jones
Editor-In-Chief, Kennedy Space Center
This CACiN Issue was put together by the CAC Team at
Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Kennedy Space Center
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
www.nasa.gov
