A Surprise Visit with Washington Aerospace Scholars

Just thought I would share a great experience I had while working at NASA this past summer!

I was contacted by my friend and the Director for Washington Aerospace Scholars, Melissa Edwards, and asked to talk with her current 2011 Summer WAS students from NASA and share my experiences.

As I'm sure everyone can tell, I welcome any opportunity to show people how these programs have influenced my life and helped my career.  I really enjoyed speaking to the Washington Aerospace Scholars and hope that my endeavors and where I have come since being part of the program in 2008 will influence them to seek further opportunities.

Here are some pictures from the tele-cast with the WAS Students

  Showing students the NASA Standard Initiator

  Taking Questions

The wonderful people in the Education Department set the whole event up.  Here I stand, where almost every astronaut in the program has stood to do tele-casts with students all across the nation.  What an honor.

Pyrotechnics Test Director - My Second NASA Internship Experience

For my second internship at Johnson Space Center I was trained as a Test Director, and asked to develop a process to remove the weld washer from the NASA Standard Initiator (NSI).  The NSI is the 'match' of an explosive system.  With thousands of flight ready NSIs left over from the Shuttle Program, the weld washer's needed to be removed to utilize the NSI in the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) that NASA is working on now.  By performing this process in house, NASA saves time and money.  You can see the weld washer in the picture below which is used to attach the NSI to a larger explosive component, such as the NASA Standard Detonator. 

Common Configuration of the NASA Standard Initiator

To begin, I familiarized myself with the machine shop and learned to use the lathe.  

The process took off from there. 

I developed two pieces of hardware for the process, including an NSI Output Redirector.  This piece of hardware was designed for my protection.  In the case of inadvertent ignition of the NSI, the Output Redirector directs the explosion away from me.  During the first test of the NSI Output Redirector, everything went extremely well.  I definitely feel safe being on the other side of that flimsy blast shield now!

   Test of the NSI Output Redirector

After proving that I could successfully and safely remove the weld washer, writing the Operating Checklist, Hazard Analysis, and Test Plan, the process began.

I successfully removed 64 weld washers while staying withing tolerances on each one.  I wrapped up this project in the fourth week of my eight week internship and moved on to another exciting project.

When I first arrived at the Pyrotechnics laboratory, I had the opportunity to go in the bunkers where all the explosives are stored.  We discovered that there were many old explosives that were being stored from early Gemini and Apollo programs, waiting to be disposed of.  This became the focus of my second project.

I chose the Ejection Seat Pyrotechnic Systems (of which we had two), and developed a test plan for disposing of them safely.

Each Ejection Seat Pyro System included two gas generators, a hot gas initiator, and shielded mild detonating cord (SMDC), all mounted on a aluminum plate.  These ejection seat pyros were intended to be used in the Shuttle to eject the pilots, but when three additional seats were added to the shuttle flight deck before its maiden flight, they ousted the ejection seat idea. 

I decided to disassemble each system and put the individual parts into an Auto Ignition chamber at 1500 degrees to assure that all explosives are burned off.  The test was a success and the after affects are shown below.

 After the Auto Ignition Chamber

  Left: Aluminum Ingot from the Plate

 Right: Gas Generator

As a little extra project, I made a display for the Pyrotechnics lab to use to display a vast array of Pyros commonly used at NASA.  Here are a few of the pictures of my display for everyone to get a glimpse of what NASA commonly uses pyrotechnics for.

 The NSI is used to detonate every one of these explosives.

The 3 1/2 inch frangible nut on the right was used to hold the 

Shuttle to the External Tanks during take-off.

I'm planning to return to either SpaceX, NASA or Blue Origin this coming Fall for a Co-op and hoping for another opportunity to work in a test facility.  

Robonaut 2 - My First NASA Internship Project

During my Spring 2011 Internship at Johnson Space Center, I was assigned to work on a project for Robonaut 2.

First, here is a little bit of background information about R2.

In initial operations, R2 will be confined to the stations Destiny laboratory.  However, in the future he may be allowed to move more freely around the station's interior or outside the complex.

The dexterous robot not only looks like a human but also is designed to work like one.  With human-like hands and arms, R2 is capable of using the same tools station crew members use.  For now, R2 is still a prototype and does not have the adequate protection needed to exist outside the space station in the extreme temperatures of space, but in the future, he could act as an assistant or stand-in for astronauts during spacewalks or for tasks too difficult or dangerous for humans.

Testing the robot inside the station will provide an important intermediate environment because R2 will be subjected to the stations radiation and electromagnetic interference, as well as micro gravity. The interior operations will provide performance data about how a robot may work side-by-side with astronauts.  As development activities progress on the ground, we can send hardware and software to the crew to install and update R2.

NASA and General Motors have come together to develop the next generation dexterous humanoid robot. The robots – called Robonaut2 – were designed to use the same tools as humans, which allows them to work safely side-by-side humans on Earth and in space. Credit: NASA.

Basically, we are in the midst of the most advanced dexterous robot on the planet...cool huh?

My project involved developing a program that would act as a redundant safety measure in the commanding of R2 once he begins operations on the International Space Station.  R2 is entirely operated from Mission Control Center in Houston.  My program is used on the ground by the operator as a safety check to make sure no potentially 'hazardous' commands are being sent to Robonaut.  So, before each command is entered and sent to the ISS, it is first checked in the Command Check Tool and labeled as 'Hazardous', 'Non-Hazardous' or 'Invalid Command'.  This tells the operator whether to continue or not, or course, he can only continue if the command is 'non-hazardous.'

During my internship, I not only got to work closely with the operator of R2 (since he was my mentor) but I got to learn the intricacies involved with his remote operation and all about Robonaut 2 himself.  I also got to shake his hand :-D

                                      Shaking Robonaut's Hand

                                                      First Time Meeting R2

My technical report was focused on the Operations side of Robonaut and included all the details of R2's software and hardware, the phases of Robonaut's operations on the International Space Station and proposed operations for the future, and also the Admin PC tool, which is how Robonaut is remotely controlled from inside Mission Control on the ground.   My report wasn't published outside of NASA due to proprietary information, so I can't include it here, but it is going to be used in the Console Systems Manual (CSM) of Robonaut Operations to be used by the Robonaut Operators.  If you have any questions regarding how Robonaut is controlled, his capabilities, or want to know some more cool facts...don't hesitate to ask! 

For more information on Robonaut, check out his page at http://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/default.asp

A Growing Interest: National Community College Aerospace Scholars

About halfway through my first official year of college, I came across a promotional 'ad' at my school for a new program called National Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS).  This would be the first year that NASA would sponsor the NCAS program, and I recognized much of what I saw.  The program had a similar layout to the Washington Aerospace Scholar program.  The only difference was that students traveled to NASA Johnson Space Center for a 3-day on-site event if they excelled in the online portion of the program.  Of course, I had to apply!

The online portion focused on the development of a Mars Rover.  Students had four projects to complete in 8 weeks.  The first project was to write a proposal for a mission to Mars.  The second project was to develop a tentative time line and choose a landing site for the mission.  The third and fourth projects tied everything together.  One being the final mission proposal including time line and description of experiments and operations of the rover, and the second being the schematics and line drawings of the rover that we designed ourselves.  Here is the final product:

First, my final Mission Proposal

 In order to send a manned mission to Mars, it is important to first explore and test for potential risks. By sending robotics missions, the risk to humans is eliminated while useful data about Mars' environment can be collected. This mission will do just that. Two of the main objectives of this mission are to use drilling technology integrated into the rover to find the hardness of the Martian surface, and to test underground for radiation levels. The third objective is to experiment with small scale wind power technology to see if the powerful Martian wind storms can be harnessed into useful energy. Crucial to a manned mission to Mars, is finding out if humans can survive the radiation levels on the surface. If it is found that radiation levels are significantly less harmful to humans just feet below the surface, housing pods can be built underground in potential future manned missions to Mars. Energy sources on Mars are limited, so if it can be determined that wind power can be generated along with solar power, the options for robotic energy systems increase.

To begin this mission, the robotic mission to Mars will launch from Earth on July 27, 2018. During this time, Earth and Mars are at opposition, and the distance between them is shorter than usual. Thus, the time it takes the spacecraft to reach Mars is significantly less. The due arrival date to Mars is late February to early March of 2019. The rover will stay on Mars for a duration of approximately 20 months. There will be many benefits to waiting until 2020 to return to Earth. First, this will allow adequate time to perform all tests and experiments. Second, in order to bring the rover back from Mars, the spacecraft must be intact and equipped with the right amount of fuel to launch from the Martian surface. Thus, it is best to wait until the next opposition. The mission will be cheaper and more efficient if less fuel is needed to be stowed away for the return trip home. The spacecraft will launch from the surface of Mars on October 13, 2020 and should arrive back to Earth May or June of 2021, approximately 3 years after its departure from Earth.

The spacecraft will use a Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) Device. This system utilizes energy from solar wind to provide enhanced propulsion. It creates a magnetic field, then plasma is injected, resulting in an inflated 'magnetic bubble' tens of kilometers in diameter. The bubble intercepts and deflects the solar wind, which has a velocity between 350 and 800 km/s. The momentum acquired from the solar wind is sufficient to raise or lower the orbit of the spacecraft (Winglee). This will largely reduce the amount of fuel needed for the mission, and greatly lower the mass of the spacecraft. During approach, the lander will also use aerobrakes in the Martian atmosphere and aerocapture. It will then use parachutes and large airbags to land on the surface.

The spacecraft will land in Hellas Planitia, the largest impact crater on Mars. Hellas Planitia was chosen as the landing sight because it is fairly even terrain. This depressed basin lies approximately 4 km below the datum surface and is the lowest known feature on the surface of Mars (Darling). If future human missions are sent to Mars, they would likely be sent to a crater similar to this one for many purposes. First and foremost, is because a flat open terrain is easy for the rover to move and conduct experiments.

The rover will be built with numerous systems, many of which are similar to the current technology being used for the Spirit and Opportunity missions. The rover will be powered by solar panels and a back up non-rechargeable battery. There will also be an experimental wind power system, but this will not be a major source of power. Communications will be set up independently of the lander, and the rover will communicate directly with Earth. A camera will send high resolution pictures of the rovers surroundings, and send data and messages to Earth using high and low gain antennas. The cameras are stereoscopic charged-couple device (CCD) cameras. These are much like that of digital cameras, not TV cameras. The rover will also include an experimental package that carries the drill and wind power generators.

The drill is to be used to dig below the surface as far as it can and conduct an experiment to determine if radiation levels below the surface are still dangerous to humans. At the same time, it will record data about the composition of materials below the surface and the depth at which it is able to drill. The drill is designed to operate independently of the rover, thus it needs to be able to transmit data back to the rover. To do this, the drill is attached to nine meters of thin cables that send data to the rover, where it is then sent to Earth. The drill includes remote sensing chip that allows it to work around hard areas. It compares its position to that of the rover at the surface, and this increases accuracy by only drilling downwards and only a certain distance from the rover. The drill also carries a gamma ray spectrometer that senses cosmic and solar radiation levels below the surface.

The last experiment to be performed by the rover involves using a windmill to generate wind power from not only Martian winds, but powerful dust storms. This device raises out of the top of the rover during higher winds and is designed much like that of a windmill with cupped blades. This allows for the particles of dust to benefit the motion of the generator by causing an extra force. A computer chip inside the rover records and stores data about the amounts of power generated. Even though it is possible that the wind power generated is too small to utilize, the system is an extra feature to the rover, and if no power is generated, the rover still functions from solar and other power sources.

Works Cited:

Darling, David. Hellas Planitia. The Internet Encyclopedia of Science. <http://www.daviddarling.info/ encyclopedia/H/Hellas_Planitia.html>

Mars Missions: Spirit and Opportunity. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 21 Jan 2010. <https://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/ncas/modules/2010/11.cfm>

Winglee, Robert. Incorporation of the Mini-Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion System (M2P2) in a Manned Mission to Mars. University of Washington Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. <http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/reports/CB-1106/wash01.pdf>

                                    My Final Rover Schematic

Once again, my hard work paid off and I was selected to go to NASA!  In late May, we arrived at Johnson Space Center and didn't waste a moment.  We arrived on site at Johnson Space Center (JSC) at around 4pm and jumped right into work! We had the remainder of the evening to layout and submit a company name, logo, motto, and infrastructure for our team.  I was selected by my peers as our team's Project Engineer and took an immediate leadership role, assessing everyone's strengths and weaknesses and assigning tasks and positions.

 While our team engineers began working on a rover prototype design, our advertising and development managers began designing our logo and the schematics for our rover.  The next morning we demonstrated and presented our initial rover design to a panel of NASA judges, and they gave us feedback on what to fix in our final design.

                                Testing our Rover's capabilities

   We heard from Apollo Flight Director, Gene Kranz, and other guest speakers.  We also toured Johnson Space Center, visiting the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, the full scale Mock-Up facility, and Mission Control Center.  On the last day, we formally presented our company and pitched our rover design and mission plan to NASA and the other students.  The judges selected a team that they would want to represent NASA and the design and mission plan that best accomplished the goal.

                           Touring the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory

                                        Mission Control Center

Apollo Flight Director, Gene Kranz, giving his "Failure is Not an Option" Speech

            Historic Mission Control - Sitting in the best seat in the house!

                    Company name: Gray Sleuth & Our finished Rover

                                             Go Grey Team!

                 The Grey Team in front of the Saturn V Rocket

The experience was one that I will never forget!  As soon as I saw what was really happening here at NASA I was amazed.  The technological developments and research going on at NASA really influenced me to do better in school and continue to excel so that I could work there someday.

A Growing Interest - Washington Aerospace Scholars

The next program I want to talk about is called Washington Aerospace Scholars.
While attending Auburn Senior High School, I frequently talked with a wonderful career counselor by the name of Jon Morrow.  He was retired Air Force and I loved hearing about his experiences in the service.  I thought about joining the air force and pursuing my education that way.
One day, he came across a program called Washington Aerospace Scholars that got students interested in STEM programs and strongly encouraged me to apply.  He helped me through the application process and I was accepted to the online portion of the program.
The program was very extensive.  All students accepted into WAS were expected to read the weekly materials on space exploration, Mars history and learn about rover and orbiter missions.  Every two weeks, students were to submit an essay on an assigned topic, complete a quiz on the reading material, and work through a challenging math problem involving space topics.  The final project consisted of researching a new topic on space exploration and writing an essay and designing a graphic.  My final project was on Solar Sailing, and I really enjoyed researching the topic! It gave me a greater understanding of the concepts of space and propulsion.  I would have to say the final project was my favorite part of the online WAS experience!  The online portion of WAS was very challenging to do on top of taking two AP classes at my high school, being a full time student at the local community college, playing basketball for my high school team, and working nights.  But I really wanted to make the online experience worthwhile by being accepted to the WAS Summer Residency.  Out of about 400 students that took part in the online WAS program, 140 students were selected for the summer residency.  Luckily I was one of them!

                                  Building our Mars Rover

At the summer residency, we designed Mars rovers, built small rockets, partook in a payload lofting challenge and even did a lander challenge (egg drop).  The engineering challenges were my favorite part of the residency!  Although, I must say that the real world engineering experience proved to be very rewarding.  We were introduced to the world of an engineer and had a budget, time limit, and many other constraints that we had to work around while doing our engineering challenges.  I would say it is good to learn early what the engineering  field will be like and what to expect before you spend years educating yourself for it!

                             Launching our rocket at 60-Acre Park

The residency largely focused on all 40 students working together to design a manned mission to Mars.  There were four teams, Getting There, Living There, Working There, and the Integration Team.  Together the four teams chose how many astronauts would go to Mars and for what period of time.  Then they spent hours each day getting all the facts together and integrating this mission into a complete and viable mission to get us to Mars.  We even designed our own spacesuits and rovers for the mission!

                                           Blue Team Photos

At the end of the residency, we had accomplished SO much! It's hard to believe that so much can be done in only a week!  On top of doing everything I outlined above, we also toured some big local aviation/aerospace related companies, including the Everett Boeing Facility!  We partook in a 'Mission' in the Museum of Flight where museum visitors could view us and get a sense for what communication between the Shuttle and Mission Control is like.  We heard from  Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, the curator for the Museum of Flight and a NASA Astronaut, and briefings from scientists and engineers.  To conclude our residency, we presented the final Mission to Mars at a closing banquet with many distinguished guests, such as Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, Rusty Schweickart, and our families!

What a rewarding experience, I really do recommend that anyone who has a child interested in the sciences pass the word on.  This program taught me so much about engineering and space and I walked away knowing that I would pursue Aerospace Engineering.  It also opened SO many doors for me, AND looks great on a resume!

You can find more information about Washington Aerospace Scholars on their website:

http://www.museumofflight.org/washingtonaerospacescholars

Thanks for reading!

A Growing Interest - Project Lead the Way

I'm not one of those people who can say that I have wanted to be an astronaut, or a doctor, or really anything from a young age, I can honestly say that I had no idea which direction my life would go.

In ninth grade, there was a man who came to our school and talked about engineering.  He was sent to get kids excited about math and science and encourage us to apply for a program called Project Lead the Way (PLTW).  Project Lead the Way classes are "hands-on, based in real-world experience, and fun for students and teachers." 
I applied for the program because as a freshman, getting to work with other students designing things and then building them sounded like the hands-on learning I knew I could grow from.  They specifically encouraged girls to apply because there were only a few in the program.  I believe this opened opportunities for me.  There were only 5 students accepted from each participating junior high school, and not only was I one of them, I was the only girl.
The program consisted of classes that would be part of my normal school schedule, but the classes were held off campus.
I was part of PLTW for two years before moving to a state that didn't offer it.  I took such classes as: Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, and concurrent physics courses taught at PLTW.  Had I continued through the program all four years of high school I could have taken classes like Digital Electronics, and specialized courses in my desired field of engineering.
At the time I didn't think about how many doors that this program would open for me, I only thought of how fun it was to design things.  We designed and tested balsa bridges, we made sumo-bots and competed with classmates, designed water rocket cars, and developed all our designs in AutoDesk Inventor 8 3D-Modeling software.  When I began taking college level engineering courses my junior year of high school, my engineering teachers looked at my portfolio work compiled from PLTW and were astonished at the level the classes were taught.  They used my portfolio to get me college credit for every class they believed I should recieve credit for, and from 3 PLTW courses, I recieved credit for 4 college level classes. Amazing!
I am such a strong advocate for getting people involved in science, math and technology as early as possible.  That is why I started this blog.  I will be writing about all the programs I possibly can in hopes that the readers can pass information onto your children, your nieces and nephews, or even yourselves and get involved.
Project Lead the Way is offered throughout many states including Indiana, Ohio, and Utah.
Below I have posted a link to Project Lead the Way's main website and hope that if you know someone that is interested, you browse the information and check to see if PLTW is available in a school in your area!

http://www.pltw.org/

Project Lead the Way was only the beginning.  I came out of the program knowing that engineering was for me, but not yet exactly what type of engineering I had the most interest in. That came later...