NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
January 16 – May 4, 2018
Goals of your project/s
Support testing and integration of the RS-25 engine. Learn how the engine works and the complexities and objective associated with testing and engine for a human rated space flight application. Evaluate test data to insure that the test goals and objectives were met.
Describe what you did during the internship
Learned how the RS-25 engine worked, learned more about rocket propulsion, assisted in the testing operations, worked and helped create thermodynamic databases, built software tools for the department, attended many informational meetings about non-RS-25 things.
Did you achieve your goals? What were the results and conclusions?
Yes, I was able to work on all the projects that were outlined in my internship. I was even able to work on more than was initially assigned. The results came out well and many of my colleagues were impressed. It is a great feeling to be able to actually help my team accomplish real milestones and to help improve their processes.
Describe positive lessons learned from this experience
I learned to ask questions and observe how others work. There was so much to learn in such little time, so it was vital that I absorbed as much as I could from my surroundings. Showing others that you are truly interested in what/how they do their work gives them an appreciation of you.
Describe negative lessons learned from this experience
Just that you have to be diligent day to day and properly prepare yourself for the week. I carried over some of my college habits such as going out during the week and/or staying up late playing video games, and that quickly began affecting my attentiveness and energy levels at work. The first month was a large adjustment period, but I quickly settled into the habit of getting good sleep and minimizing work-week recreation.