Texas Aerospace Scholar (TAS) Interns
Fall 2006
Texas Aerospace Scholar (TAS) intern, Christina Daughtrey from Texas A&M University joined Johnson Space Center’s (JSC’s) Intravehicular Activity/Flight Crew Equipment Team (EC3) for a 15-week hands-on internship this past fall. During her time in EC3 Christina had the opportunity to take part in several projects such as; the Non-Intrusive Flow Meter, Foam Applicator, iPods, Moisture Removal Kit, and tools configuration. Her favorite project: working on the programming and certification of iPods for the STS-116 crew.
Besides working alongside NASA engineers and gaining real world experience, TAS interns are also given the opportunity to take part in tours, lectures, outreach activities, and center-wide events. Some of the memories she will take with her are tours of the Mission Control Center, the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL), the building 9 mock ups, lectures with former NASA Director of Mission Operations Gene Kranz, former NASA Astronaut John W. Young, NASA Flight Director Ginger Kerrick and the opportunity to meet and take pictures with four members of the STS-115 crew during their welcome home party.
Fellow TAS Intern and Aggie, Dallas Potz-Nielsen also joined EC3 as a member of the Air Revitalization Group. Project involvement during his internship included; the CO2 And Moisture Removal Amine Swing-bed (CAMRAS), the Mini Flow Bench, the Static Separator, and Education Outreach activities. Participating in these projects allowed Dallas to gain on-the-job skills such as; AutoCAD training, effective communication with vendors, pressure system safety, amongst many others. Along with acquiring new skills, Dallas also noted a few lessons learned during his internship; “projects have to be planned around the fiscal year and other outside influences,” “meetings are a necessity to keep everyone informed and on the same page,” and that “things are often more complicated than they seem.”