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The NASA Academy

The NASA Academy. What are you doing this summer?. Agenda. What is the NASA Academy? Who am I? What did I do at the Academy? How did this experience effect me? How can you support the NASA Academy?. NASA Academy Introduction. Research

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The NASA Academy

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  1. The NASA Academy What are you doing this summer?

  2. Agenda • What is the NASA Academy? • Who am I? • What did I do at the Academy? • How did this experience effect me? • How can you support the NASA Academy?

  3. NASA Academy Introduction • Research • cutting edge research and development projects in science and technology • Center Directorís Discretionary Funded proposals • Research Associates paired with Principal Investigators • Discovery • Lectures from leaders in science, technology, policy, and NASA administration • Field trips to NASA and industry facilities

  4. Support • Space Grant pays travel and stipend (usually $3k to $4k) • Participating NASA Center pays for food, lodging, and programmatic costs

  5. Research Emphasis • Ames: • Astrobiology • Goddard: • Earth Science • Space Science • Technology • Dryden: • Aeronautics • Marshall: • Transportation Systems • Microgravity

  6. Professional Background • Education • The University of Texas at El Paso • Mechanical Engineering- graduating ë99 • Experience • NASA JSC Co-op since 1996 • currently on work tour in Advanced Life Support • previous tours in Aircraft Operations and Power Systems • FAST Center for Structural Integrity of Aerospace Systems - Research Assistant

  7. Personal Background • Born in Chicago, IL, raised in El Paso, TX • Recently married to college sweetheart, Annie • Musically inclined- play guitar, piano, and trombone • Enjoy cooking, gardening, running, and playing with greyhound named Argos • Crazy about Space!

  8. Research Background • The Next Generation Space Telescope will replace Hubble by 2007 • Goals • achieve 16 times the light collecting power... • for the cost of one Shuttle Servicing mission • andÖ be able to actively change the shape of the mirror! • Light-weight deployable mirrors are the only feasible solution

  9. Research Problem • Mirror segments and the mirror surface itself must be positioned with nanometer resolution to focus correctly • Traditional actuators arenít reliable in the space environment at the cryogenic temperatures required for the optics

  10. Results of Research • Innovative Lorentz Force Meander Motor concept was studied during the summer • Detailed design and analysis conducted by student indicate that the device will have advantages over traditional electric motors • Several ìspin-offî ideas resulted from synergy between student and mentor • At least one patent currently being written by student to be shared with mentor

  11. The Academy Experience • Frequent visits to Headquarters to meet with top NASA administrators • Other government speakers from the White House, the Pentagon, and the FAA • Field trips to Kennedy Space Center, Langley Research Center, Orbital Sciences, and more • Lectures from Goddard scientists, engineers, and managers

  12. The Camaraderie • Research Assistants eat, sleep, work, and play together • Group project: A proposal for a low-cost lunar spacecraft was completed • Life-long friendships built with enthusiastic people who share a passion for space • Keep in touch by email and the NASA Academy Alumni Association: http://www.nasa-academy.org

  13. What did I take home? • Lived the dream! Total immersion in NASA and the space world • Renewed thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm for scientific endeavors • Innovation as a way of life - how to apply creativity to difficult problems • Direction in graduate studies and future career

  14. What next? • Graduate in May, 1999- spend summer in Europe • Graduate study in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis on design • Possible graduate co-op tours at NASA / JSC • Return to NASA full time to work on planetary surface habitats • Apply for Astronaut Corps!

  15. Getting the Word Out • Undergraduate and graduate students learn of the Academy through: • Space Grant professors • posters sent to Space Grant institutions • website: http://www.nasa-academy.nasa.gov • word of mouth (most common) • Applications available online - due in Space Grant offices in early January

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