mecㆍviewer v1.4 :: 2018 NASA I^2 Project List.pdf

2018NASAInternationalInternshipProjectList

ProjectTitle

SmallSatelliteSwarmInteractions

MentorName

MatthewSorgenfrei

ProjectDescription

Verysmal spacecraft(alsoknownasCubeSatsorNanosatel ites)havenotyet
realizedtheirful potentialregardingswarmoperationsinlowEarthorbitorbeyond.
TherelativelylowTechnologyReadinessLevel(TRL)isdueinparttoalackof
sufficienttestbedswithwhichtotesttheenablingtechnologies.TheGeneralized
Nanosatel ite AvionicsTestbed(G-NAT)labatNASAAmesseeksaninterntoresearch
foundationaltechnologiesassociatedwithCubeSatswarmoperations.Overthe
courseoftheinternshipperiodtheinternwil investigatetheuseofcommercial y
availablesensorsandactuatorsforsensingthestateofindividualmembersofa
satel iteswarmandsharingthatstateinformationtoenabledistributedscience
operations.

ThesuccessfulcandidateshouldpossessstrongMATLAB/Simulinkprogrammingskil s,
andalsobeproficientinCandPython.FamiliaritywithLinuxoperatingsystemsand
embeddedsystems/singleboardcomputersisalsodesired.Theinternwil begiven
accesstotwoseparateCubeSat-scalehardwaretestbeds,eachofwhichutilize
commercial yavailablesensorsandactuatorstoenableattitudedeterminationand
control.Desiredoutcomesoftheresearchperiodinclude:

•Developreal-timeMATLAB(orother)visualizationsofspacecraftattitudestatefor
bothCubeSattestbedsduringairbearingoperations

•StudytheefficacyofdemonstratingswarmcommunicationsbywayofXbee
wirelesstransponders

•Study/developoperationalmodesthatarerelevanttopossibleswarmscience
operations,suchasGPSRadioOcculation

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

UnmannedAircraftSystem

MentorName

MarcusJohnson

ProjectDescription

Manyapplicationsofsmal UnmannedAircraftSystem(UAS)havebeenenvisioned.
Theseincludesurveil anceofkeyassetssuchaspipelines,rail,orelectricwires,
deliveries,searchandrescue,trafficmonitoring,videography,andprecision
agriculture.Theseoperationsarelikelytooccurinthesameairspaceinthepresence
ofmanystaticanddynamicconstraintssuchasairports,andhighwindareas.
Therefore,operationsofsmallUASneedtobemanagedtoensuresafetyand
operationefficiencyismaintained.NASAhasadvancedaconceptforUASTraffic
Management(UTM)andhasinitiatedaresearchefforttorefinethatconceptand
developoperationalandsystemrequirements.AUTMresearchplatformisin
developmentandflighttestactivitiestoevaluatecorefunctionsandkeyassumptions
focusingexclusivelyonUASoperationsindifferentenvironmentsareunderway.This
internshipwillhelpsupportthedevelopment,planning,supportanddataanalysisfor
UASfieldtestactivitiesby:

-Preparingdocumentationandconductinganalysistogainapprovaltofly;

-Planningflighttestactivities,includingdevelopingtestingmethodologiesfor
determiningtheeffectivenessofdetectandavoidsystemsandotherseparation
mechanisms.

-Workingflighttestlogisticssuchassupport,transportation,storage,and
procurementofequipmentneededatthetestsite;

-Providingon-sitesupportduringflighttestactivities;

-Providingpost-flightanalysisofdatacol ectedfromtheexperiment.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

NASAAmesSPHERES/AstrobeeFacility

MentorName

JoseBenavides

ProjectDescription

NASAAmesSPHERES/AstrobeeFacilityBriefdescriptionofduties:Thesuccessful
applicantwouldbeinvolvedwithsoftwaredevelopmentandgeneralsupportofthe
NASAAmesSPHERES/AstrobeeFacility.(www.nasa.gov/spheres)Specifically,the
successfulapplicantwouldinitial ybevalidatinganddevelopingCsoftwarefora
SPHERES.AdditionalworkmayincludeISSflightqualityhardwareandmaintaining
SPHERESFacilitylabs.TheapplicantshouldbefamiliarwithPythonandCsoftware
developmentandgoodcodingpractices.Ingeneral,wearelookingforsomeonewho
ismotivated,aself-starter,andcapableofworkingindependentlyontasks. Other
beneficialexperiencemayinclude;-MATLAB,C/C++,Java,Python,AndroidApps,and
Linuxscripting,ComputerNetworking-Spacecraft,SmallSatellites,CubeSat's-
Avionics,EmbeddedHardware&Software-Softwaretesting-experiencebuilding
spaceflighthardware-Goodwritingandcommunicationsskil s,alongwiththeability
toworkwel bothindividual yandwithinamultidisciplinaryteam.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

CubeSatMissionTeam

MentorName

BelcagemJaroux

ProjectDescription

Theinternswil bejoiningaCubeSatmissionteamworkingonthelastphasesof
developmentofthemission.

Themissionspacecraftisathree-unit(3U)CubeSatthatwil synchronizeanon-board
atomicclockwithoneonthegroundtoanaccuracyof200psbyexchangingshort
laserpulsesbetweenthetwo.

Theinternshiptechnicalactivitieswil include:

•Completionofspacecraftcommunicationsandoperationssoftwareand
preparationofhardwareandsoftwaretestplansandprocedures

• FunctionaltestingoftheFlatSatconfigurationofthesatel ite(Bus+Payload)in
thelab,includingspacecraftsoftwareVerificationandValidation.

• Documentationoftestresultsinareport,tosupporttheFlightReadinessReview.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

RoboticSampleTransferAutomation

MentorName

BrianGlass

ProjectDescription

TheAtacamaRoverAstrobiologyDril ingStudies(ARADS)projectisaScienceMission
Directorate-sponsoredprojectledatNASA-Ames. ARADSproposesaMarsrover
analogmissionasafieldtestofanintegratedrover-dril systemwithprototypelife-
detectioninstrumentsthatareflightmissioncandidates.Theessentialelementsto
ARADSare:1)useofintegrateddril androveratsitesintheAtacamaDesertinChile
inunprepared"regolith";2)fielduseofinstrumentswiththerover/drillthatareflight
prototypescomparabletothoseplannedforExoMarsandIcebreaker;3)acquire
dril edcuttingsandtransfertoinstrumentsonboardtherover;4)on-boardautonomy
andmonitoringtosupportdril ing;missionanddemonstratesciencesupport
(operationsandcontrol)fortherover/dril /instrumentoperations.

Thisinternprojectwil addressthethirdelementabove:automatedsampletransfer
betweenadril (ononesideoftheKREX2rover)andinstrumentintakes(ontheother
sideoftherover). TheARADSsampletransferarmismountedonaKREX2rocker,
whichrotatesrelativetothecentralplatformonwhichboththedril andinstruments
aremounted.Hence,astherovermoves,thetrajectorybetweenthedril and
instrumentswillrotaterelativetothesamplearm’soriginpoint.

Thearmispoweredbyservomotorswhichrespondtopulsewidthmodulation
signalsfromthearminterface–twoextraservocontrolchannelssupportthetesting
ofendeffectorswithuptotwoactuators.

Theinternwil assistanexistingARADSstaffmemberindevelopingadynamic
transformationforarmtrajectoriesthatwil automatical ycompensateforrocker
rotationandforverticaldril movements.Thiswil becodedandtestedwiththe
actualarm,dril androvermechanisms.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

MicrobialFactoriesforSolarSystemExploration

MentorName

JohnHogan

ProjectDescription

Longdurationmissionstodistantbodieswithinoursolarsystemwil require
significantresourcestosupportastronauts.Microbialfactoriescouldhelpproduce
missionrelevantproductsduringsuchmissionsusinginsituresourcessuchascarbon
dioxideandwater.Interrestrialsystems,microbialfactoriesarealreadybeingusedto
produceawidevarietyofmaterials,fuels,nutrients,andmedicines.Typical y,these
microbialsystemsusehigh-energycarbonsubstratessuchassugars.Intheextremes
ofspace,however,obtainingsugar-likecompoundswillprovetobeproblematic,thus
alternativelow-energycarboncompoundsmayneedtobeemployed.Themain
objectiveofthisprojectistoevaluatethepotentialcombinationofsubstrates,
microorganisms,andproductsinunderstandinghowamicrobialproductionsystem
wil functionintheconstraintsofrelevantspacemissions.Theworkentails
performingmicrobiologicalstudiesandconductingananalysistodetermineeffective
solutionsforin-spacemicrobialproductionsystems.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

OrbitAnalysisforLEOCubeSatsandLowLunarOrbits

MentorName

MarcusMurbach

ProjectDescription

Theinternwil fulfil assignmentsasamemberoftheorbitaldynamicsteaminthe
MissionDesignDivisionatNASAAmesResearchCenter.

TheMissionDesignDivisionconductsearly-stageconceptdevelopmentand
technologymaturationsupportingtheCenter'sspaceandaircraftmissionproposals.
Personnelhaveexperienceinmissionplanning,smallspacecraftdesign,and
engineeringanalysis.

TheMissionDesignDivision,orMDD,supportstheful missionlifecycleintheareas
of:

•EarlyConceptDevelopment
•MissionDesign
•RapidPrototyping
•MissionImplementation

Thecandidatewil workcloselywithflightdynamicsengineerstoexpandexisting
innovativeapproachestolowaltitudeorbitdesign.Thisworkincludestheeffectsof
differentialdraginLowEarthOrbit(LEO),aswellas,theeffectsofmascon
perturbationsinlowlunarorbits. Smal SatandCubeSatmissionsareaspecialtyof
AmesResearchCenterandcurrentresearchaddressespracticalissueswithsmal
spacecraftmissionsinaLEOandaninterplanetaryenvironment. Anotherorbital
mechanicsspecialtyofARCislow,equatoriallunarorbitsanddesigntoolsfor
addressinglunargravitationalperturbations.

Forlunarorbits,weplantoexpandtheresearchonequatorialfrozenorbitsandthe
visualizationdisplaysforcharacterizinggravitationalperturbations.ForLEO,the
characterizationoftheeffectsofdraginrelativesatel itedispositionisinthescopeof
thisposition.

Thegoalsofthisassignmentincludedocumentationanddisplaytoolsthatwil reside
aspartoftheMissionDesignDivision’scomputationalcapability. Additional
assignmentsasneededmayinvolveCubeSatlowthrusttrajectorydesign,multiple
CubeSatswarms,andCubeSatreentrycalculations.

Candidate’sComputerand/orspecialskil s: GMATorSTK/Astrogator,Matlabor
VisualBasic. Strongwritingskil sareexpected,bothforinternaldocumentationof
workaccomplishedandforpublicationsresultingfromthiswork.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

EvaluationofBiomedicalDevicesforExplorationMissions

MentorName

TiannaShaw

ProjectDescription

Theprimaryresponsibilityforthisinternpositionistosupportthedevelopmentand
testingofbiosensormonitoringsystemsinsupportoftheHumanResearchProgram
(HRP)ExplorationMedicalCapability(ExMC)Element.TheAmesResearchCenter
(ARC)teamfocusesontheintegrationofbiomedicaldevicesintoaprototypemedical
dataarchitecture(MDA),thatwil receive,storeanddisplayawidevarietyof
physiologicalparameterswhichinclude;electrocardiogram(ECG),heartrate,blood
pressure,pulseoximetry,respiratoryrate,andbodytemperature.Theinternwil
workundertheguidanceofanExMCprojectengineerandwil alsoworkwithExMC
projectsystemengineer.Theinternwil supporthumaninthelooplaboratorytesting
ofbiomedicaldevicesanddevelopmentofthemedicaldataarchitecturesystem.The
internwillalsoparticipateindatacollection,processingandanalysisofbiosensor
dataandassistinreportwriting.He/ShewillsupportMDAoperationsincollaboration
withCSAprototypewearablebiosensorsystemandothersystems.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

EvaluationofaVariableDensityApproachtoModelingCryogenicJets

MentorName

CetinKiris

ProjectDescription

Theinternwil assistARCresearchersinextendinguserdefinedequationofstate
routinestoincludeRealGaseffectsandanalyzethedifferencebetweenmass
fractionandvolumefractionformulationsformodelingvariabledensityflows.The
internwillevaluatethemodelsonexistingcryogenicjetsandcomparewithexisting
experimentalandnumericaldata.

Outlinefor6months:

-Discussandanalyzedifferencesbetweenmassfractionandvolumefraction
formulationsofthevariabledensityformulation

-BegininteractionwiththeARCresearchersusingtheuser-basedsourceroutines
whichcanbelinkedintotheexistinglibraries

-Applytheimplementeduserroutinestoexistingcryogenicjetproblems

-Comparecurrentresultswithexistingexperimentalandnumericalresultsinthe
literature

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

SyntheticBiomaterials:AMulti-ScaleApproach

MentorName

DianaGentry

ProjectDescription

Asmal groupofinternswithbackgroundsinbioscience,materialschemistryand
science,andbioengineeringwil ,withtheguidanceofseniorresearchers,designand
fabricateaproof-of-concepthybridbiomaterialusingtheinteractionsbetweenliving
andnon-livingcomponentstocontrolthematerialstructure.Thematerialproof-of-
conceptwil useexistinggeneticparts,suchasbindingdomains,andestablished
syntheticbiologytechniques,suchasfusionproteindesign. Thefabricationwil be
doneusingcurrenttechniquessuchas3DCADmodeling,microscalegeldeposition,
andstereolithography. Theexactimplementationwil bechosenjointlybythe
internsandmentorsafteraliteraturesurvey.

Theinternswil learnaboutthehistoryandcurrentstateofbiomaterials,materials
science,andsyntheticbiology,howtoperformbasicbioengineeringtechniques,and
howtoperformbasicbiomaterialsanalyses. Theywil gainreal-worldexperience
withliteraturesearches,proposinganddefendingresearchimplementations,hands-
onbioengineeringlabwork(includingsyntheticbiology,rapidprototyping,and
fluidics),preparingdocumentationofresearchwork,andstatisticsanddataanalysis.

Internswillhaveachancetopresenttheirresearchatapostersymposiumand/or
workshop. Dependingonthebreadthofworkcoveredbytheinterns,participationin
writingapublishedresearchpaperisapossibility.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

ControlInternshipPosition

MentorName

NhanNguyen

ProjectDescription

Advancesinmaterialtechnologieshaveledtoanewclassofultra-efficienttransport
aircraftthatincorporateadvancedhigh-aspectratioflexiblewingdesignswithnovel
controleffectors.TheNASAPerformanceAdaptiveAeroelasticWing(PAAW)research
elementundertheNASAAdvancedAirTransportTechnology(AATT)projectseeksto
developcontroltechnologiesandanalysiscapabilitiestoenabletheimplementation
oftheseadvancedfuturewingdesigns.Developmentofcontrolsystemsforhighly
flexiblewingsisacriticalcomponentofthisrelevantandchal engingfield.This
internshipopportunitywillsupporttheNASAresearchteamindeveloping
disturbanceestimationtechniquesforuseinbothadaptiveandnon-adaptivecontrol
designsforgustloadal eviation. Theinternwil alsohelpformulatedesign
requirementsforfuturehardwarethatfacilitatesuccessfulestimationandcontrol.
Specificapplicationsforthetechniquesdevelopedincludeflightcontrol,wing
shaping,andloadal eviationofflexiblewingaircraft.

Finaldeliverablesforthisinternshipincludeanyresearchresultssuchasreport,
presentation,orconferencepublicationaswel assimulationsdemonstrating
operationofthedisturbanceobserverinusewiththecontrolsystem.

Theinternshouldhavetheoreticalandpracticalknowledgeofcontrolandestimation
includingadaptivecontrol,aswellasextensiveexperiencesimulatingdynamic
modelswithinMATLAB/Simulink.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

BiosensorDevelopment

MentorName

JessicaKoehne

ProjectDescription

Developmentofbiosensorsisanactivefieldduetoawiderangeofapplicationsin
lab-on-a-chip,diagnosticsofinfectiousdiseases,cancerdiagnostics,environment
monitoring,biodetectionandothers.Oneofthestrategiesusedforselective
identificationofatargetisto/preselect/aprobethathasauniqueaffinityforthe
targetorcanuniquelyinteractorhybridizewiththetarget:sortofa"lockandkey"
approach.Inthisapproach,onethenneedsaplatformtosupporttheprobeanda
recognizingelementthatcanrecognizethesaidinteractionbetweentheprobeand
thetarget.Theinteractionresultcanmanifestoptical y(byusingdyes,quantumdots
forexample)orelectrical y.Theplatformdesignandconfigurationmayvary
dependingonwhetheropticalorelectricalreadoutisusedandwhatenvironmentthe
sensorwil beutilized.Recently,printedbiosensorsonpapersubstrateshavegained
muchattentionfortheirlowcostofmanufacture. WithinNASA,suchprinteddevices
arebeinginvestigatedbecauseofourpotentialabilitytomanufactureinanin-space
environment. Suchabiosensorwouldbeaprint-on-demanddevice. Thecurrent
projectinvolvesfabricatingandvalidatingaprinted,electricalbiosensorforcardiac
healthmonitoringfromawholebloodsample. TheintendedNASAapplicationis
pointofcarediagnosticsforastronauthealthmonitoring.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

AstrobeeSoftwareIntern

MentorName

MarionSmith

ProjectDescription

Astrobeeisarobotunderdevelopmentwhichwil launchtotheInternationalSpace
Stationattheendof2017.Astrobeewil localizeandnavigateful yautonomouslyto
assiststationcrewandgroundcontrol ers,andwil serveasaplatformfor
researcherstoconductexperimentsinmicrogravity.Thesuccessfulcandidatewil
workcloselywithAstrobee'sFlightSoftwareTeamindevelopingsoftwarefor
Astrobee.Theactualprojectwil dependonboththeproject'sneedsandtheintern's
interests.Pastinternshipprojectshaveincludedlocalizationunderchanginglighting
conditions,pathplanning,andreplanninginresponsetofailures.

SpecificRequirements

ExperiencewithC++andsoftwaredevelopmentinLinuxarerequired.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

ExperimentalAero-PhysicsEngineeringIntern

MentorName

KurtisLong

ProjectDescription

Theinternwil helpwithavarietyofexperimentalprojectswhichinvestigatethefluid
mechanic,aerodynamic,and/oraeroacousticcharacteristicsofmannedand
unmannedspacecraft,aircraft,rotorcraft,groundvehicles,ships,structures,sports
bal s,andotherobjects.Theexperimentalprojectswil beconductedinconjunction
withon-siteresearchmentors,usingNASAAmeswindtunnel,waterchannel,lab,
and/orcomputerfacilities.Theinternwillassistwithmanydifferentphasesofoneor
moretestprograms;thesephasesmayincludepriordatareviewandtestplanning,
testlogistics,experimentaldesignandsetup,modelconstructionandinstal ation,
instrumentationcalibration,installation,andoperation,testvideo/photo
documentation,post-testdataplottingandanalysis,andreportdevelopment.The
internmayalsoassistwiththedevelopmentandexecutionofvariouscomputer
programsusedtoanalyzeorsimulatetheresultsofexperimentaltestprograms.

Themainoutcomeofthisinternshipwil beexperiencewithavarietyofdisciplines
relatedtofluidmechanics,aerodynamics,and/oraeroacoustics

SpecificRequirements

Physics,Science,Math,Engineeringbackgroundspreferred

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

AdvancedLifeSupport

MentorName

MichaelFlynn

ProjectDescription

Advancedlifesupportsystemsincludeal systemsandtechnologiesrequiredtokeep
astronautsaliveinspace:waterrecycling,airrecyclingandwastetreatment.This
Internshipisprimarilyfocusedonwaterrecyclingbutiscognizantthatanoptimized
systemwil includeintegrationwithairandwastesystems.Ourresearchareas
include:

•Systemsthatcanrecoverenergyfromwaste.

•Insituresourceutilizationinspacecraftandonplanetarysurfaces

•Applicationofspaceflightsystemstechnologiestosustainableterrestrial
development.

SpecificRequirements

Innovationarequiredskill.Ourgroupfocusesontrainingthenextgenerationof
NASAscientistsonhowtoinnovateandtodevelopthenextgenerationofwater
recyclingspaceflightsystemsthatwil enablethehumanexplorationand
colonizationoftheSolarSystem.

Theidealcandidateisanundergraduateorgraduatestudentinthefieldsof:
Engineering(Chemical,Environmental,Electrical,Industrial,Civil,Computer),
Mathematics,Chemistry,Biology,Physics,andEnvironmentalScienceandmusthave
atleastcompletedtheirfreshmanyearofcol egeandaGPAof3.00(outof4).
ProfessionalWorkingProficiency(ILRlevel3)oftheEnglishlanguageistheminimum
levelrequired.Theparticipantmustbeateamplayerandcomfortableworkingwith
professionalsofdifferentculturalandscientificbackground.Attheendofthe
internshiptheparticipantwillberequiredtosubmitawhitepaper.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

WorldwindApplicationDevelopment

MentorName

PatrickHogan

ProjectDescription

Internswillbuildanopensourceappthatservesbeneficialinterestsofsociety,using
theEAR99certifiedNASAWorldWindOpenSourcetechnology,virtualglobe
technologyandapplicationsinJava,C++,iOSandAndroidusingNASAWorldWind
technology.

TypicalprojectexamplesfromlastyearNASAInterns:

ThewikisthatdescribetheseNASAapps(withavideo!):

https://github.com/NASAWorldWindResearch/SpaceBirds/wiki

https://github.com/NASAWorldWindResearch/WorldWeather/wiki

https://github.com/NASAWorldWindResearch/Quake-Hunter/wiki

Thewebapps:

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/spacebirds/(Satel iteData)

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/worldweather/(Weather&ClimateData)

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/quakehunter/(SeismicData)

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

CubeSatClusterTest-Bed

MentorName

BelcagemJaroux

ProjectDescription

Teammemberswil useavailableoff-the-shelforsparelaboratoryhardwareto
developlaboratorytestbedofatleasttwo"Cubesats"andonegroundstationthat
wil beusedforon-goingsoftwareandcommunicationsarchitecturedevelopment.
The"Cubesats"maybecompleteunitswithallsubsystems,flat-sats,ordevelopment
unitsconsistingofjustaprocessorandRFsubsystem.Theteamwilldevelopground
softwareasnecessarytodemonstrateoperationoftheunitsincludingsimulated
intersatellitecommunicationsandsimulateddownlink.

SpecificRequirements

InternshouldhaveanAerospaceEngineering,MechanicalEngineeringor
Mechatronics,ElectricalEngineering,SystemsEngineeringorotherrelated
engineeringmajor.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

DataMiningandAnalysisforSustainabilityBase

MentorName

RodneyMartin

ProjectDescription

TheIntel igentSystemsDivisionatNASAAmesResearchCenterwil beintegrating

advancedtechnologiesintoanew"Green"buildingknownas"SustainabilityBase"at
theAmescampus.SustainabilityBaseishigh-performance,LEEDPlatinumcertified
buildingthatwil incorporateNASAinnovationsandtechnologiestoimproveenergy
efficiency,reducecarbonfootprint,andloweroperatingandmaintenanceexpenses

comparedtotraditionalbuildings.Itwil functionasalivingexperimentalplatform,
integratingthelatesttechnologiesastheyevolve.

Thisinternshipopportunitywil assistindefiningandimplementingdemonstrations
ofNASAtechnologyinSustainabilityBase.Inparticular,theinternwil employ
advanceddataminingalgorithmsondataacquiredfromSustainabilityBasetolearn

howthebuildingoperatesandthenmonitorhowitisperformingovertime.This
couldincludemeasurementsofenergyuse,mechanicalsystemperformance,
environmentalparameters,andotherkeyperformanceindicators.Forexample,
correlationsbetweenenvironmentalcontrolsystemsettingsandtemperatureranges
inworkspacescanbeestablishedandthenmonitoredtogiveearlyindicationof
performancedegradationorunexpectedchangestothebuildingconfiguration.
However,basicdataanalysisandgaininganintuitiveunderstandingofdatafrom
variousbuildingsystems(BACnetdata,lighting,shade,photovoltaicsensordata,etc.)

wil alsobeanimportantprecursortoanyapplicationoftheadvanceddatamining
algorithms.Inadditiontoglobalbuildingperformance,thealgorithmscanalsobe
usedtodetectchangesinindividualenergyuseaswel .Ineithercase,thealgorithms
wil provideearlyindicationsofoff-nominalperformancetobuildingoperatorsor
occupants,enablingcorrectiveactionstomaximizebuildingperformanceand
efficiency.

AdditionalinformationonSustainabilityBasecanbefoundat
http://www.nasa.gov/sustainability-base/.

Additionalinformationondataminingalgorithmscanbefoundat

http://ti.arc.nasa.gov/tech/dash/intel igent-data-understanding/.

SpecificRequirements

Thefocusofthiseffortmayrelatemoretoautomatedtrackingandconsolidationof
energydataandplugloadmanagementandanalysis,sotheidealcandidatewil have

experienceinscriptingorapplicationdevelopmenttoextractreal-timedatafrom
APIsandwebsitesforloggingintoaPostgreSQLdatabase.ExperiencewithMATLAB;
FamiliaritywithLinuxOSispreferred;Stronganalyticalandorganizationalskil s;
Interestinsustainability;Interestindataminingalgorithmsforhealthmanagement.
Seniorundergraduateatjunior/seniorlevelorhigherpreferred.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

ExploreImpactofNetworkDelaysonDistributedSpacecraftTesting

MentorName

BelcagemJaroux

ProjectDescription

Teammemberswil useavailableoff-the-shelforsparelaboratoryhardwareto
explorethepossibilityofusingstandardnetworksystemsandprotocolstorun
missionsimulationandclosed-loophardware-in-the-looptestsremotelywhere
significantpartsofthesystemareconnectedovertheinternet.Forexample,a
spacecraftbuscouldbeatonelocation,apayloadatasecondlocationanda
dynamicsimulationenvironmentcouldbeatathirdlocation,al connectedoverthe
internet.Theteamwouldidentifytheproblemsassociatedwithsuchanarrangement
(e.g.latency)andsuggestapproachestomitigatethem.

SpecificRequirements

InternshouldhaveanAerospaceEngineering,MechanicalEngineeringor
Mechatronics,ElectricalEngineering,SystemsEngineeringorotherrelated
engineeringmajor.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

LunarTopographicProductsfromOrbitalImages

MentorName

TerrenceFong

ProjectDescription

Digitalterrainmodelsareessentialforcartography,scienceanalysis,missionplanning
andoperations.TheNASAAmesIntelligentRoboticsGroup(IRG)hasdeveloped
softwaretoautomatical ygeneratehigh-qualitytopographicandalbedomodelsfrom
satel iteimages.Oursoftware,theAmesStereoPipeline(ASP),usesstereovisionand
photoclinometrictechniquestoproduce3DmodelsoftheEarth,Moon,andMars
withveryhighaccuracyandresolution.Theinternwil assistIRGtoimprovethe
qualityoftopographicproductsfromlunarorbitalimages.Inparticular,theinternwil
helpdevelopmulti-stagestereogrammetricmethodstoexploittheful potentialof
multiple,overlappingviewsofaplanetarysurface.Theinternwil workcloselywith
NASAresearchersandengineersthroughouttheinternship.Verystrongemphasisis
placedonincorporatingandintegratingtheintern'sresearchintoIRG'son-going
projects.Researchresultsmaybepublishedinone(ormore)technicalforums:asa
NASAtechnicalreport,aconferencepaper,orjournalarticle.

SpecificRequirements

TheinternmusthaveabackgroundinComputerScienceorMathematics.Practical
experiencewithcomputerprogramming,Linux-basedsoftwaredevelopmentand
open-sourcetools(gcc,git,etc)isrequired.ExperiencewithC++isstrongly
encouraged.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

MetabolicControlforAdaptationtoSpaceflightEnvironment

MentorName

YuriGriko

ProjectDescription

Withthegrowinginterestinlonghaulflightsandthecolonizationofthesolarsystem,

itisbecomingimportanttodeveloporganismself-regulatorycontrolsystemswhich
wouldbeabletomeettherequirementsofextraterrestrialenvironmentsratherthan
requiringanEarthlyenvironmentinspace.Abettermechanisticunderstandingof
metabolismoffersameansforsustainingastronautsinlong-durationmissions

beyondthelowEarthorbit.Recentdataobtainedfromseveralresearchreportshave
shownthatmetabolicsuppressioncouldprotectbiologicalorganismsfromdamaging
effectsofspaceradiationandmicrogravity.Theabilitytodrasticallyreduceand
suspendmetabolismappearstobecloselytiedtotheuniquesurvivalofbacteriaand
someinvertebrates(e.g.,tardigrades)afteraprolongedexposuretocosmicvacuum
andradiation.Itispossiblethatthereisamonophyleticoriginforthisadaptationat
themolecularlevelamongavarietyofdifferentorganisms.Ourultimategoalsareto
demonstrateproof-of-principleformetabolicsuppressionasmeanstoreducethe

negativeeffectsofspaceflightenvironmentalissuessuchasradiationand
microgravity.

Inordertodemonstratethepotentialapplicationofthemetaboliccontroltechnology
thePI'slaboratoryatNASAAmesResearchCenterhasengineeredahypo-metabolic
chamberwitharangeoflife-monitoringequipmentforhigh-throughputtestingof

hypo-metabolicparametersandconditionsthatenablereversibleinductionofastate
ofsuspendedanimationinnon-hibernatinganimals.

Thisinternshipopportunitywil assistindefiningandimplementingdemonstrations
ofthemetaboliccontroltechnologyusingdifferentanimalmodels.

Objectivesofthisresearchare:

1Tocharacterizethehypometabolicstate
2Todevelopmethodologyforrealtimemonitoringofrespiratoryandother

physiologicalparametersandconditionsassociatedwiththehypometabolicstasis.

Intheproposedexperiments,theinternwil workincollaborationwithmolecular
biologistsandengineersto(1)reproduceinductionofthereversiblesuspended
animation-likestateinselectedanimalmodels,andto(2)establishacomprehensive
lifesupportsystemformonitoringphysiologicalparametersofthehypometabolic

state.

SpecificRequirements

Internshouldbewillingtoworkwithanimals.He/sheshouldhavebasicknowledgeof
lifesupportsystems(respiratoryparameters,ventilation,andcorebodytemperature

control),havebasiclaboratoryskil sandtechnicalknowledgeformonitoringphysical
parameterfromtelemetricdevises,andhavesoftwaremanagementskil s.Strong
analyticalandorganizationalskil s;interestinbiology;interestindataanalysis.Senior
undergraduateatjunior/seniorlevelorhigherpreferred.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

MonitoringChangesinASRSReportsusingPythonandTextMining

MentorName

HamedValizadegan

ProjectDescription

Weaimtodeveloptoolsthatcanbeusedtomonitorthechangesintheaviations
safetyreportssubmittedtoNASAAviationSafetyReportingSystem(ASRS)program.
ASRScollectsandanalysisthevoluntarilysubmittedaviationsafetyincidentsreports
inordertoreducethelikelihoodofaviationaccidents.Weneedtoolsthatcanhelp
ASRStomonitorchangesinthenarrativesofthereportsovertimeandcan
summarizethesereports.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

Nanotechnologyinelectronicsandsensordevelopment

MentorName

MeyyaMeyyappan

ProjectDescription

Nanomaterialssuchascarbonnanotubes(CNTs),grapheneandavarietyofinorganic
nanowiresoffertremendouspotentialforfuturenanoelectronics,nanosensorsand
relateddevices.Wehaveactiveongoingprogramsintheseareas.Severalexamples
aregivenbelow.Chemicalsensorstodetecttraceamountsofgasesandvaporsare
neededinplanetaryexploration,crewcabinairqualitymonitoringandleakdetection;
therearenumeroussocietalapplicationsaswel .WehavebeenworkingonCNT
basedsensorsamenableforvariousplatformsincludingsmartphones.

Flexibleelectronicsonsubstratessuchastextileandpaperisofgreatdealofinterest
tous.Wehavefabricatedgas/vaporsensorsoncottontextileaswel ascel ulose
paper.Otherinterestsinpaperelectronicsandflexiblesubstratesincludememory
devices,energystoragedevices,displaysanddetectors.Final y,wehavealsobeen
revisitingvacuumtubesalthoughinthenanoscale,usingentirelysiliconbased
technology.Theseradiationresistantdevicesofferexceptional yhighfrequency
performance.OurinteresthereextendstoexploringthenanovacuumtubesforTHz
electronicsapplications.

Inalltheareas,theprojectsincludematerialgrowth,characterization,device
fabrication,devicetestingandevaluation,reliabilityandlifetimeassessment.

SpecificRequirements Fordevicerelatedaspects,majoringinelectricalengineeringorphysicsispreferred.

Fortheremainingaspectsoftheproject,majorsinmaterialscience,chemistryand
otherengineeringdisciplinesarewelcome.PhDcandidatesandtalented
undergraduateswil getpreference.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

StudiesoftheAqueousHistoryofMars

MentorName

EldarNoe

ProjectDescription

Internwillanalyzedatafromavarietyofspacecrafttounderstandthegeologic
historyofsitesofinterest,inordertobetterunderstandtheroleofwaterinthe
historyofMars.Thisopportunitymayincludecomputermodeling,dataanalysis,and
laboratorywork.Iftimesal ows,preparationofamanuscript.Potential y,thesites
wil beproposedaslandingsitesforthe2020MarsRover.Internwil alsodevelop
softwarefortheanalysisofCRISMdata.

SpecificRequirements

ExperienceinUnixorequivalentfluencyinIDLpreferred.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

TheInfluenceofMechanicalUnloadingonBiologicalFunction

MentorName

ElizabethBlaber

ProjectDescription

Thespaceflightenvironment,includingmicrogravityandspaceradiation,isknownto
negativelyimpactmammalianphysiology,includingsomaticstemcel -basedtissue
regeneration.Thedegenerativeeffectsofspaceflightthatweunderstandbest
includerapidmicrogravity-adaptiveboneandmuscleloss,lossofcardiovascular
capacity,defectsinwoundandbonefracturehealingandimpairedimmunefunction.
Theseimplicationsposeasignificantriskforlong-termhumanspaceexploration.Our
workfocusesontheinfluenceofmechanicalunloadingonstemcellproliferation,
differentiationandregenerationandhowalterationsinstemcel functionmaybe
thecauseofwidespreadtissuedegenerationinspace.Inthisopportunity,the
selectedcandidatewil workwithresearchscientiststoanalyzetheresponseof
mouseboneandbonemarrowstemcel stomechanicalunloadingusingboth
spaceflightsamplesandmousehindlimbunloadingexperiments.Theinternwil
investigatestemcellresponsestomicrogravityandmechanicalunloadingusinggene
expressionandproteinanalysisandfurthermore,wil investigatetheinfluenceof
stemcel functiononwholebonetissueproperties-includingstructuraland
molecularanalysis.Furthermore,theinternwil alsoworkwithscientistson
optimizingconditionsforanupcomingspaceflightexperimentwhereweaimto
identifykeymolecularmechanismsthatcausedegenerativeeffectsinbonetissue
throughimpaireddifferentiationofmesenchymalstemcel s.Theinternwil conduct
cellcultureandgeneexpression/proteinassaystocharacterizewildtypestemcells
comparedtothetransgenicmodel.Theinternwil thenworkwithresearchscientists
todeterminetheoptimalcel cultureparameterstoconducttheexperimentin
spaceflighthardware.

SpecificRequirements

Laboratoryexperienceispreferred

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

UpgradingaSpaceDebrisSimulationSoftwareforPlanetaryDefenseAssessments

MentorName

ChadFrost

ProjectDescription

NASAAmesResearchCenterhasdevelopedasimulationsoftwarethatmodelsthe
spacedebrisenvironmentinLowEarthOrbit(LEO).Thegoalofthecurrentsoftwareis
toassesstheefficiencyofaconceptforcol isionavoidancebetweendebrisandactive
satellites.Theinvestigatedsystemwouldusephotonpressurefromgroundbased
laserstoslightlychangeorbitstoavoidcollisionsonwarning.

Fortheinternship,themaintaskwil betoupgradethesimulationsoftwaretoinclude
thenearearthobject(NEO)environment(asteroids)andenabletheassessmentof
cubesatbasedasteroiddetectionsystems.Youwil changethemainbodyofthe
previoussimulationfromthesuntotheearth,introduceapopulationofasteroidsinto
themodelandinvestigatetheutilityofcubesatstodetectthoseasteroidsasthey
comeclosetoEarth.Inaddition,youalsowil helptomaintaintheoriginalsoftware
forspacedebrismodeling.

SpecificRequirements Theinternshouldhaveabackgroundinthesciencesorengineering,andideally

AerospaceEngineeringorPhysics.Theprojectrequiresprogrammingskil sinCand
Matlabandanunderstandingoforbitaldynamics.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

RotorcraftAeromechanics

MentorName

Wil iamWarmbrodt

ProjectDescription

TheAeromechanicsBranchisresponsibleforaeromechanicsresearchactivitiesthat
directlysupportthecivilcompetitivenessoftheU.S.helicopterindustryandthe
DepartmentofDefense.Branchprogramsaddressal aspectsoftherotorcraftwhich
directlyinfluencethevehicle'sperformance,structural,anddynamicresponse,
externalacoustics,vibration,andaeroelasticstability.Thespanofresearchalso
includesunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)platforms,includingquadcoptersandother
advanced,smallremotelypilotedverticaltakeoffandlanding(VTOL)aircraft.The
programsareboththeoreticalandexperimentalinnature.Advancedcomputational
methodologyresearchusingcomputationalfluiddynamicsandmultidisciplinary
comprehensiveanalysesseekstounderstandthecompleterotorcraft'soperating
environmentandtodevelopanalyticalmodelstopredictrotorcraftaerodynamic,
aeroacoustic,anddynamicbehavior.Experimentalresearchseekstoobtainaccurate
datatovalidatetheseanalyses,investigatephenomenacurrentlybeyondpredictive
capability,andtoachieverapidsolutionstoflightvehicleproblems.Databasesfrom
theflightandwindtunnelexperimentalprogramsarevalidated,documentedand
maintainedforthebenefitoftheU.S.rotorcrafttechnologybase.

SpecificRequirements

Broadbackgroundinscienceandmathclassestypicalofanupperdivision
undergraduateinmechanical,aeronauticaloraerospaceengineering.Knowledgeof
MatLab,Simulink,CREOProE/SolidWorks/AutoCad,,VSP,Rhino,C++,python,or
otherprogramming/softwarelanguagesisdesired,butnotmandatory.

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

TensegrityRoboticsProject

MentorName

TerrenceFong

ProjectDescription

Theparticipantwil conductbasicresearchinroboticsintheIntel igentRobotics
Group(IRG)attheNASAAmesResearchCenter.Researchwil involvedevelopment
ofadvancedmobilerobots,includingconception,design,prototyping,andtestingof
novelmechatronicsystems.Developingadvancedmobileroboticsystemsiscritical
toimprovingtheperformanceandproductivityoffutureNASAexplorationmissions.
Inparticular,methodsthatenablemobilerobotstofunctionrobustlyunderawide
rangeofenvironmentalandoperationalconditionswil enablerobotstobeusedfor
abroadersetofmissionsthaniscurrentlypossible. Al robotsbuiltduringthis
projectwil beterrestrialresearchprototypesandarenotdesignedforuseinspace.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

IntelligenceforChoosingIcyLandingandExplorationSites(ICICLES)

MentorName

TerrenceFong

ProjectDescription

Landersforicymoonswil wanttolandatregionsthatarebothsafeandscientifical y
interesting.Communicationsrestrictionsthatresultfromtheseremoteoperations
meanthathumanscannotbeinvolvedinupdatinglandingsiteselectionduring
descent,justwhenthemostreliabledatabecomesavailable. TheobjectiveofICICLES
istoautomaticallyselectcandidatelandingsitesfromorbitandtocontiunallyupdate
theEDLplanwhiledescending.

Theinternwil assisttheIntel igentRoboticsGroup(IRG)indesigningorbitswhich
observescientifical yinterestingcandidatelandingsites,aswel asattemptingto
informthegeometryofthesurfaceatthosesites.Inparticular,theinternwillhelp
developoptimalcontrolmethodstodesignorbittrajectoriesthatprovideoptimal
viewsofthesurface.Verystrongemphasiswil beplacedonincorporatingand
integratingtheintern'sresearchintoIRG'son-goingprojects.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

MADCATProject

MentorName

KennethCheung

ProjectDescription

TheCodedStructuresLaboratoryconductsresearchacrossmaterialscience,
robotics,andalgorithms,forapplicationtoaeronauticsandspacesystems.Thelab's
primarycurrentprojectincorporatesabuilding-blockbasedapproachtoultralight
lattice-basedstructuresforshapemorphingaircraft.Expectedactivitiesforthis
positionwil beboththeoreticalandexperimentalinnature,insupportofadvanced
researchusingmultidisciplinaryanalysestounderstandthemechanicsofnew
structuralstrategiesandtodeveloppredictiveanalyticalmodelsforthedesignof
systemswithnovelbehavior.Experimentalworkisaimedattestingtheseanalyses
withmechanicalloadtestingandawindtunnelexperiment.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

Closed-LoopLifeSupport

MentorName

JonathanTrent

ProjectDescription

Theprojectisrelatedtoclosed-looplife-supportandisfocusedon

buildinganexusbetweenwater,food,andenergy.

Morespecifical y,inthelaboratorytherearetwoprojects:1)

developingamonitoringsystemformicroalgaecultivationand2)

testingacombinedforward/reverseosmosissystemforpurifying

wastewatertopotablestandards.Bothofthesesystemshave

automation/monitoringissues. Samplesarenon-toxicandutilizestandardscientific
equipment.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

ProjectTitle

DesignaPumpControlSystemwithFlowFeedbackfortheCel ScienceProject

MentorName

TerryLusby

ProjectDescription

1.Re-designachargepre-amplifiertocustomfitaFarWestproportionalcounter(a
gas-basedsensor).

2.Assistwiththebuild-upofanengineeringdesignunit(EDU)fortheCel Science
Project.Thisisacellgrowthmodulethatwil beflowntotheISS.

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter

AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California