2018 NASA I^2 Project List - mita.lrv.lt · 2018 NASA International Internship Project List 1 ... , Java, Python, Android Apps, and Linux scripting, Computer Networking - Spacecraft,

2018NASAInternationalInternshipProjectList

1

ProjectTitle SmallSatelliteSwarmInteractions

MentorName MatthewSorgenfrei

ProjectDescription Verysmallspacecraft(alsoknownasCubeSatsorNanosatellites)havenotyetrealizedtheirfullpotentialregardingswarmoperationsinlowEarthorbitorbeyond.TherelativelylowTechnologyReadinessLevel(TRL)isdueinparttoalackofsufficienttestbedswithwhichtotesttheenablingtechnologies.TheGeneralizedNanosatelliteAvionicsTestbed(G-NAT)labatNASAAmesseeksaninterntoresearchfoundationaltechnologiesassociatedwithCubeSatswarmoperations.Overthecourseoftheinternshipperiodtheinternwillinvestigatetheuseofcommerciallyavailablesensorsandactuatorsforsensingthestateofindividualmembersofasatelliteswarmandsharingthatstateinformationtoenabledistributedscienceoperations.

ThesuccessfulcandidateshouldpossessstrongMATLAB/Simulinkprogrammingskills,andalsobeproficientinCandPython.FamiliaritywithLinuxoperatingsystemsandembeddedsystems/singleboardcomputersisalsodesired.TheinternwillbegivenaccesstotwoseparateCubeSat-scalehardwaretestbeds,eachofwhichutilizecommerciallyavailablesensorsandactuatorstoenableattitudedeterminationandcontrol.Desiredoutcomesoftheresearchperiodinclude:

•Developreal-timeMATLAB(orother)visualizationsofspacecraftattitudestateforbothCubeSattestbedsduringairbearingoperations

•StudytheefficacyofdemonstratingswarmcommunicationsbywayofXbeewirelesstransponders

•Study/developoperationalmodesthatarerelevanttopossibleswarmscienceoperations,suchasGPSRadioOcculation

SpecificRequirements

NASACenter AmesResearchCenter,MoffettField,California

2

ProjectTitle UnmannedAircraftSystem

MentorName MarcusJohnson

ProjectDescription ManyapplicationsofsmallUnmannedAircraftSystem(UAS)havebeenenvisioned.Theseincludesurveillanceofkeyassetssuchaspipelines,rail,orelectricwires,deliveries,searchandrescue,trafficmonitoring,videography,andprecisionagriculture.Theseoperationsarelikelytooccurinthesameairspaceinthepresenceofmanystaticanddynamicconstraintssuchasairports,andhighwindareas.Therefore,operationsofsmallUASneedtobemanagedtoensuresafetyandoperationefficiencyismaintained.NASAhasadvancedaconceptforUASTrafficManagement(UTM)andhasinitiatedaresearchefforttorefinethatconceptanddevelopoperationalandsystemrequirements.AUTMresearchplatformisindevelopmentandflighttestactivitiestoevaluatecorefunctionsandkeyassumptionsfocusingexclusivelyonUASoperationsindifferentenvironmentsareunderway.Thisinternshipwillhelpsupportthedevelopment,planning,supportanddataanalysisforUASfieldtestactivitiesby:

-Preparingdocumentationandconductinganalysistogainapprovaltofly;

-Planningflighttestactivities,includingdevelopingtestingmethodologiesfordeterminingtheeffectivenessofdetectandavoidsystemsandotherseparationmechanisms.

-Workingflighttestlogisticssuchassupport,transportation,storage,andprocurementofequipmentneededatthetestsite;

-Providingon-sitesupportduringflighttestactivities;

-Providingpost-flightanalysisofdatacollectedfromtheexperiment.



3

ProjectTitle NASAAmesSPHERES/AstrobeeFacility

MentorName JoseBenavides

ProjectDescription NASAAmesSPHERES/AstrobeeFacilityBriefdescriptionofduties:ThesuccessfulapplicantwouldbeinvolvedwithsoftwaredevelopmentandgeneralsupportoftheNASAAmesSPHERES/AstrobeeFacility.(www.nasa.gov/spheres)Specifically,thesuccessfulapplicantwouldinitiallybevalidatinganddevelopingCsoftwareforaSPHERES.AdditionalworkmayincludeISSflightqualityhardwareandmaintainingSPHERESFacilitylabs.TheapplicantshouldbefamiliarwithPythonandCsoftwaredevelopmentandgoodcodingpractices.Ingeneral,wearelookingforsomeonewhoismotivated,aself-starter,andcapableofworkingindependentlyontasks.Otherbeneficialexperiencemayinclude;-MATLAB,C/C++,Java,Python,AndroidApps,andLinuxscripting,ComputerNetworking-Spacecraft,SmallSatellites,CubeSat's-Avionics,EmbeddedHardware&Software-Softwaretesting-experiencebuildingspaceflighthardware-Goodwritingandcommunicationsskills,alongwiththeabilitytoworkwellbothindividuallyandwithinamultidisciplinaryteam.



4

ProjectTitle CubeSatMissionTeam

MentorName BelcagemJaroux

ProjectDescription TheinternswillbejoiningaCubeSatmissionteamworkingonthelastphasesofdevelopmentofthemission.

Themissionspacecraftisathree-unit(3U)CubeSatthatwillsynchronizeanon-boardatomicclockwithoneonthegroundtoanaccuracyof200psbyexchangingshortlaserpulsesbetweenthetwo.

Theinternshiptechnicalactivitieswillinclude:

•Completionofspacecraftcommunicationsandoperationssoftwareandpreparationofhardwareandsoftwaretestplansandprocedures

•FunctionaltestingoftheFlatSatconfigurationofthesatellite(Bus+Payload)inthelab,includingspacecraftsoftwareVerificationandValidation.

•Documentationoftestresultsinareport,tosupporttheFlightReadinessReview.



5

ProjectTitle RoboticSampleTransferAutomation

MentorName BrianGlass

ProjectDescription TheAtacamaRoverAstrobiologyDrillingStudies(ARADS)projectisaScienceMissionDirectorate-sponsoredprojectledatNASA-Ames.ARADSproposesaMarsroveranalogmissionasafieldtestofanintegratedrover-drillsystemwithprototypelife-detectioninstrumentsthatareflightmissioncandidates.TheessentialelementstoARADSare:1)useofintegrateddrillandroveratsitesintheAtacamaDesertinChileinunprepared"regolith";2)fielduseofinstrumentswiththerover/drillthatareflightprototypescomparabletothoseplannedforExoMarsandIcebreaker;3)acquiredrilledcuttingsandtransfertoinstrumentsonboardtherover;4)on-boardautonomyandmonitoringtosupportdrilling;missionanddemonstratesciencesupport(operationsandcontrol)fortherover/drill/instrumentoperations.

Thisinternprojectwilladdressthethirdelementabove:automatedsampletransferbetweenadrill(ononesideoftheKREX2rover)andinstrumentintakes(ontheothersideoftherover).TheARADSsampletransferarmismountedonaKREX2rocker,whichrotatesrelativetothecentralplatformonwhichboththedrillandinstrumentsaremounted.Hence,astherovermoves,thetrajectorybetweenthedrillandinstrumentswillrotaterelativetothesamplearm’soriginpoint.

Thearmispoweredbyservomotorswhichrespondtopulsewidthmodulationsignalsfromthearminterface–twoextraservocontrolchannelssupportthetestingofendeffectorswithuptotwoactuators.

TheinternwillassistanexistingARADSstaffmemberindevelopingadynamictransformationforarmtrajectoriesthatwillautomaticallycompensateforrockerrotationandforverticaldrillmovements.Thiswillbecodedandtestedwiththeactualarm,drillandrovermechanisms.



6

ProjectTitle MicrobialFactoriesforSolarSystemExploration

MentorName JohnHogan

ProjectDescription Longdurationmissionstodistantbodieswithinoursolarsystemwillrequiresignificantresourcestosupportastronauts.Microbialfactoriescouldhelpproducemissionrelevantproductsduringsuchmissionsusinginsituresourcessuchascarbondioxideandwater.Interrestrialsystems,microbialfactoriesarealreadybeingusedtoproduceawidevarietyofmaterials,fuels,nutrients,andmedicines.Typically,thesemicrobialsystemsusehigh-energycarbonsubstratessuchassugars.Intheextremesofspace,however,obtainingsugar-likecompoundswillprovetobeproblematic,thusalternativelow-energycarboncompoundsmayneedtobeemployed.Themainobjectiveofthisprojectistoevaluatethepotentialcombinationofsubstrates,microorganisms,andproductsinunderstandinghowamicrobialproductionsystemwillfunctionintheconstraintsofrelevantspacemissions.Theworkentailsperformingmicrobiologicalstudiesandconductingananalysistodetermineeffectivesolutionsforin-spacemicrobialproductionsystems.



7

ProjectTitle OrbitAnalysisforLEOCubeSatsandLowLunarOrbits

MentorName MarcusMurbach

ProjectDescription TheinternwillfulfillassignmentsasamemberoftheorbitaldynamicsteamintheMissionDesignDivisionatNASAAmesResearchCenter.

TheMissionDesignDivisionconductsearly-stageconceptdevelopmentandtechnologymaturationsupportingtheCenter'sspaceandaircraftmissionproposals.Personnelhaveexperienceinmissionplanning,smallspacecraftdesign,andengineeringanalysis.

TheMissionDesignDivision,orMDD,supportsthefullmissionlifecycleintheareasof:

•EarlyConceptDevelopment•MissionDesign•RapidPrototyping•MissionImplementation

Thecandidatewillworkcloselywithflightdynamicsengineerstoexpandexistinginnovativeapproachestolowaltitudeorbitdesign.ThisworkincludestheeffectsofdifferentialdraginLowEarthOrbit(LEO),aswellas,theeffectsofmasconperturbationsinlowlunarorbits.SmallSatandCubeSatmissionsareaspecialtyofAmesResearchCenterandcurrentresearchaddressespracticalissueswithsmallspacecraftmissionsinaLEOandaninterplanetaryenvironment.AnotherorbitalmechanicsspecialtyofARCislow,equatoriallunarorbitsanddesigntoolsforaddressinglunargravitationalperturbations.

Forlunarorbits,weplantoexpandtheresearchonequatorialfrozenorbitsandthevisualizationdisplaysforcharacterizinggravitationalperturbations.ForLEO,thecharacterizationoftheeffectsofdraginrelativesatellitedispositionisinthescopeofthisposition.

ThegoalsofthisassignmentincludedocumentationanddisplaytoolsthatwillresideaspartoftheMissionDesignDivision’scomputationalcapability.AdditionalassignmentsasneededmayinvolveCubeSatlowthrusttrajectorydesign,multipleCubeSatswarms,andCubeSatreentrycalculations.

Candidate’sComputerand/orspecialskills:GMATorSTK/Astrogator,MatlaborVisualBasic.Strongwritingskillsareexpected,bothforinternaldocumentationofworkaccomplishedandforpublicationsresultingfromthiswork.



8

ProjectTitle EvaluationofBiomedicalDevicesforExplorationMissions

MentorName TiannaShaw

ProjectDescription TheprimaryresponsibilityforthisinternpositionistosupportthedevelopmentandtestingofbiosensormonitoringsystemsinsupportoftheHumanResearchProgram(HRP)ExplorationMedicalCapability(ExMC)Element.TheAmesResearchCenter(ARC)teamfocusesontheintegrationofbiomedicaldevicesintoaprototypemedicaldataarchitecture(MDA),thatwillreceive,storeanddisplayawidevarietyofphysiologicalparameterswhichinclude;electrocardiogram(ECG),heartrate,bloodpressure,pulseoximetry,respiratoryrate,andbodytemperature.TheinternwillworkundertheguidanceofanExMCprojectengineerandwillalsoworkwithExMCprojectsystemengineer.Theinternwillsupporthumaninthelooplaboratorytestingofbiomedicaldevicesanddevelopmentofthemedicaldataarchitecturesystem.Theinternwillalsoparticipateindatacollection,processingandanalysisofbiosensordataandassistinreportwriting.He/ShewillsupportMDAoperationsincollaborationwithCSAprototypewearablebiosensorsystemandothersystems.



9

ProjectTitle EvaluationofaVariableDensityApproachtoModelingCryogenicJets

MentorName CetinKiris

ProjectDescription TheinternwillassistARCresearchersinextendinguserdefinedequationofstateroutinestoincludeRealGaseffectsandanalyzethedifferencebetweenmassfractionandvolumefractionformulationsformodelingvariabledensityflows.Theinternwillevaluatethemodelsonexistingcryogenicjetsandcomparewithexistingexperimentalandnumericaldata.

Outlinefor6months:

-Discussandanalyzedifferencesbetweenmassfractionandvolumefractionformulationsofthevariabledensityformulation

-BegininteractionwiththeARCresearchersusingtheuser-basedsourceroutineswhichcanbelinkedintotheexistinglibraries

-Applytheimplementeduserroutinestoexistingcryogenicjetproblems

-Comparecurrentresultswithexistingexperimentalandnumericalresultsintheliterature



10

ProjectTitle SyntheticBiomaterials:AMulti-ScaleApproach

MentorName DianaGentry

ProjectDescription Asmallgroupofinternswithbackgroundsinbioscience,materialschemistryandscience,andbioengineeringwill,withtheguidanceofseniorresearchers,designandfabricateaproof-of-concepthybridbiomaterialusingtheinteractionsbetweenlivingandnon-livingcomponentstocontrolthematerialstructure.Thematerialproof-of-conceptwilluseexistinggeneticparts,suchasbindingdomains,andestablishedsyntheticbiologytechniques,suchasfusionproteindesign.Thefabricationwillbedoneusingcurrenttechniquessuchas3DCADmodeling,microscalegeldeposition,andstereolithography.Theexactimplementationwillbechosenjointlybytheinternsandmentorsafteraliteraturesurvey.

Theinternswilllearnaboutthehistoryandcurrentstateofbiomaterials,materialsscience,andsyntheticbiology,howtoperformbasicbioengineeringtechniques,andhowtoperformbasicbiomaterialsanalyses.Theywillgainreal-worldexperiencewithliteraturesearches,proposinganddefendingresearchimplementations,hands-onbioengineeringlabwork(includingsyntheticbiology,rapidprototyping,andfluidics),preparingdocumentationofresearchwork,andstatisticsanddataanalysis.

Internswillhaveachancetopresenttheirresearchatapostersymposiumand/orworkshop.Dependingonthebreadthofworkcoveredbytheinterns,participationinwritingapublishedresearchpaperisapossibility.



11

ProjectTitle ControlInternshipPosition

MentorName NhanNguyen

ProjectDescription Advancesinmaterialtechnologieshaveledtoanewclassofultra-efficienttransportaircraftthatincorporateadvancedhigh-aspectratioflexiblewingdesignswithnovelcontroleffectors.TheNASAPerformanceAdaptiveAeroelasticWing(PAAW)researchelementundertheNASAAdvancedAirTransportTechnology(AATT)projectseekstodevelopcontroltechnologiesandanalysiscapabilitiestoenabletheimplementationoftheseadvancedfuturewingdesigns.Developmentofcontrolsystemsforhighlyflexiblewingsisacriticalcomponentofthisrelevantandchallengingfield.ThisinternshipopportunitywillsupporttheNASAresearchteamindevelopingdisturbanceestimationtechniquesforuseinbothadaptiveandnon-adaptivecontroldesignsforgustloadalleviation.Theinternwillalsohelpformulatedesignrequirementsforfuturehardwarethatfacilitatesuccessfulestimationandcontrol.Specificapplicationsforthetechniquesdevelopedincludeflightcontrol,wingshaping,andloadalleviationofflexiblewingaircraft.

Finaldeliverablesforthisinternshipincludeanyresearchresultssuchasreport,presentation,orconferencepublicationaswellassimulationsdemonstratingoperationofthedisturbanceobserverinusewiththecontrolsystem.

Theinternshouldhavetheoreticalandpracticalknowledgeofcontrolandestimationincludingadaptivecontrol,aswellasextensiveexperiencesimulatingdynamicmodelswithinMATLAB/Simulink.



12

ProjectTitle BiosensorDevelopment

MentorName JessicaKoehne

ProjectDescription Developmentofbiosensorsisanactivefieldduetoawiderangeofapplicationsinlab-on-a-chip,diagnosticsofinfectiousdiseases,cancerdiagnostics,environmentmonitoring,biodetectionandothers.Oneofthestrategiesusedforselectiveidentificationofatargetisto/preselect/aprobethathasauniqueaffinityforthetargetorcanuniquelyinteractorhybridizewiththetarget:sortofa"lockandkey"approach.Inthisapproach,onethenneedsaplatformtosupporttheprobeandarecognizingelementthatcanrecognizethesaidinteractionbetweentheprobeandthetarget.Theinteractionresultcanmanifestoptically(byusingdyes,quantumdotsforexample)orelectrically.Theplatformdesignandconfigurationmayvarydependingonwhetheropticalorelectricalreadoutisusedandwhatenvironmentthesensorwillbeutilized.Recently,printedbiosensorsonpapersubstrateshavegainedmuchattentionfortheirlowcostofmanufacture.WithinNASA,suchprinteddevicesarebeinginvestigatedbecauseofourpotentialabilitytomanufactureinanin-spaceenvironment.Suchabiosensorwouldbeaprint-on-demanddevice.Thecurrentprojectinvolvesfabricatingandvalidatingaprinted,electricalbiosensorforcardiachealthmonitoringfromawholebloodsample.TheintendedNASAapplicationispointofcarediagnosticsforastronauthealthmonitoring.



13

ProjectTitle AstrobeeSoftwareIntern

MentorName MarionSmith

ProjectDescription AstrobeeisarobotunderdevelopmentwhichwilllaunchtotheInternationalSpaceStationattheendof2017.Astrobeewilllocalizeandnavigatefullyautonomouslytoassiststationcrewandgroundcontrollers,andwillserveasaplatformforresearcherstoconductexperimentsinmicrogravity.ThesuccessfulcandidatewillworkcloselywithAstrobee'sFlightSoftwareTeamindevelopingsoftwareforAstrobee.Theactualprojectwilldependonboththeproject'sneedsandtheintern'sinterests.Pastinternshipprojectshaveincludedlocalizationunderchanginglightingconditions,pathplanning,andreplanninginresponsetofailures.

SpecificRequirements ExperiencewithC++andsoftwaredevelopmentinLinuxarerequired.


14

ProjectTitle ExperimentalAero-PhysicsEngineeringIntern

MentorName KurtisLong

ProjectDescription Theinternwillhelpwithavarietyofexperimentalprojectswhichinvestigatethefluidmechanic,aerodynamic,and/oraeroacousticcharacteristicsofmannedandunmannedspacecraft,aircraft,rotorcraft,groundvehicles,ships,structures,sportsballs,andotherobjects.Theexperimentalprojectswillbeconductedinconjunctionwithon-siteresearchmentors,usingNASAAmeswindtunnel,waterchannel,lab,and/orcomputerfacilities.Theinternwillassistwithmanydifferentphasesofoneormoretestprograms;thesephasesmayincludepriordatareviewandtestplanning,testlogistics,experimentaldesignandsetup,modelconstructionandinstallation,instrumentationcalibration,installation,andoperation,testvideo/photodocumentation,post-testdataplottingandanalysis,andreportdevelopment.Theinternmayalsoassistwiththedevelopmentandexecutionofvariouscomputerprogramsusedtoanalyzeorsimulatetheresultsofexperimentaltestprograms.

Themainoutcomeofthisinternshipwillbeexperiencewithavarietyofdisciplinesrelatedtofluidmechanics,aerodynamics,and/oraeroacoustics

SpecificRequirements Physics,Science,Math,Engineeringbackgroundspreferred


15

ProjectTitle AdvancedLifeSupport

MentorName MichaelFlynn

ProjectDescription Advancedlifesupportsystemsincludeallsystemsandtechnologiesrequiredtokeepastronautsaliveinspace:waterrecycling,airrecyclingandwastetreatment.ThisInternshipisprimarilyfocusedonwaterrecyclingbutiscognizantthatanoptimizedsystemwillincludeintegrationwithairandwastesystems.Ourresearchareasinclude:

•Systemsthatcanrecoverenergyfromwaste.

•Insituresourceutilizationinspacecraftandonplanetarysurfaces

•Applicationofspaceflightsystemstechnologiestosustainableterrestrialdevelopment.

SpecificRequirements Innovationarequiredskill.OurgroupfocusesontrainingthenextgenerationofNASAscientistsonhowtoinnovateandtodevelopthenextgenerationofwaterrecyclingspaceflightsystemsthatwillenablethehumanexplorationandcolonizationoftheSolarSystem.

Theidealcandidateisanundergraduateorgraduatestudentinthefieldsof:Engineering(Chemical,Environmental,Electrical,Industrial,Civil,Computer),Mathematics,Chemistry,Biology,Physics,andEnvironmentalScienceandmusthaveatleastcompletedtheirfreshmanyearofcollegeandaGPAof3.00(outof4).ProfessionalWorkingProficiency(ILRlevel3)oftheEnglishlanguageistheminimumlevelrequired.Theparticipantmustbeateamplayerandcomfortableworkingwithprofessionalsofdifferentculturalandscientificbackground.Attheendoftheinternshiptheparticipantwillberequiredtosubmitawhitepaper.


16

ProjectTitle WorldwindApplicationDevelopment

MentorName PatrickHogan

ProjectDescription Internswillbuildanopensourceappthatservesbeneficialinterestsofsociety,usingtheEAR99certifiedNASAWorldWindOpenSourcetechnology,virtualglobetechnologyandapplicationsinJava,C++,iOSandAndroidusingNASAWorldWindtechnology.

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/(SatelliteData)

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

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



17

ProjectTitle CubeSatClusterTest-Bed


ProjectDescription Teammemberswilluseavailableoff-the-shelforsparelaboratoryhardwaretodeveloplaboratorytestbedofatleasttwo"Cubesats"andonegroundstationthatwillbeusedforon-goingsoftwareandcommunicationsarchitecturedevelopment.The"Cubesats"maybecompleteunitswithallsubsystems,flat-sats,ordevelopmentunitsconsistingofjustaprocessorandRFsubsystem.Theteamwilldevelopgroundsoftwareasnecessarytodemonstrateoperationoftheunitsincludingsimulatedintersatellitecommunicationsandsimulateddownlink.

SpecificRequirements InternshouldhaveanAerospaceEngineering,MechanicalEngineeringorMechatronics,ElectricalEngineering,SystemsEngineeringorotherrelatedengineeringmajor.


18

ProjectTitle DataMiningandAnalysisforSustainabilityBase

MentorName RodneyMartin

ProjectDescription TheIntelligentSystemsDivisionatNASAAmesResearchCenterwillbeintegratingadvancedtechnologiesintoanew"Green"buildingknownas"SustainabilityBase"attheAmescampus.SustainabilityBaseishigh-performance,LEEDPlatinumcertifiedbuildingthatwillincorporateNASAinnovationsandtechnologiestoimproveenergyefficiency,reducecarbonfootprint,andloweroperatingandmaintenanceexpensescomparedtotraditionalbuildings.Itwillfunctionasalivingexperimentalplatform,integratingthelatesttechnologiesastheyevolve.

ThisinternshipopportunitywillassistindefiningandimplementingdemonstrationsofNASAtechnologyinSustainabilityBase.Inparticular,theinternwillemployadvanceddataminingalgorithmsondataacquiredfromSustainabilityBasetolearnhowthebuildingoperatesandthenmonitorhowitisperformingovertime.Thiscouldincludemeasurementsofenergyuse,mechanicalsystemperformance,environmentalparameters,andotherkeyperformanceindicators.Forexample,correlationsbetweenenvironmentalcontrolsystemsettingsandtemperaturerangesinworkspacescanbeestablishedandthenmonitoredtogiveearlyindicationofperformancedegradationorunexpectedchangestothebuildingconfiguration.However,basicdataanalysisandgaininganintuitiveunderstandingofdatafromvariousbuildingsystems(BACnetdata,lighting,shade,photovoltaicsensordata,etc.)willalsobeanimportantprecursortoanyapplicationoftheadvanceddataminingalgorithms.Inadditiontoglobalbuildingperformance,thealgorithmscanalsobeusedtodetectchangesinindividualenergyuseaswell.Ineithercase,thealgorithmswillprovideearlyindicationsofoff-nominalperformancetobuildingoperatorsoroccupants,enablingcorrectiveactionstomaximizebuildingperformanceandefficiency.

AdditionalinformationonSustainabilityBasecanbefoundathttp://www.nasa.gov/sustainability-base/.

Additionalinformationondataminingalgorithmscanbefoundathttp://ti.arc.nasa.gov/tech/dash/intelligent-data-understanding/.

SpecificRequirements Thefocusofthiseffortmayrelatemoretoautomatedtrackingandconsolidationofenergydataandplugloadmanagementandanalysis,sotheidealcandidatewillhaveexperienceinscriptingorapplicationdevelopmenttoextractreal-timedatafromAPIsandwebsitesforloggingintoaPostgreSQLdatabase.ExperiencewithMATLAB;FamiliaritywithLinuxOSispreferred;Stronganalyticalandorganizationalskills;Interestinsustainability;Interestindataminingalgorithmsforhealthmanagement.Seniorundergraduateatjunior/seniorlevelorhigherpreferred.


19

ProjectTitle ExploreImpactofNetworkDelaysonDistributedSpacecraftTesting


ProjectDescription Teammemberswilluseavailableoff-the-shelforsparelaboratoryhardwaretoexplorethepossibilityofusingstandardnetworksystemsandprotocolstorunmissionsimulationandclosed-loophardware-in-the-looptestsremotelywheresignificantpartsofthesystemareconnectedovertheinternet.Forexample,aspacecraftbuscouldbeatonelocation,apayloadatasecondlocationandadynamicsimulationenvironmentcouldbeatathirdlocation,allconnectedovertheinternet.Theteamwouldidentifytheproblemsassociatedwithsuchanarrangement(e.g.latency)andsuggestapproachestomitigatethem.

SpecificRequirements InternshouldhaveanAerospaceEngineering,MechanicalEngineeringorMechatronics,ElectricalEngineering,SystemsEngineeringorotherrelatedengineeringmajor.


20

ProjectTitle LunarTopographicProductsfromOrbitalImages

MentorName TerrenceFong

ProjectDescription Digitalterrainmodelsareessentialforcartography,scienceanalysis,missionplanningandoperations.TheNASAAmesIntelligentRoboticsGroup(IRG)hasdevelopedsoftwaretoautomaticallygeneratehigh-qualitytopographicandalbedomodelsfromsatelliteimages.Oursoftware,theAmesStereoPipeline(ASP),usesstereovisionandphotoclinometrictechniquestoproduce3DmodelsoftheEarth,Moon,andMarswithveryhighaccuracyandresolution.TheinternwillassistIRGtoimprovethequalityoftopographicproductsfromlunarorbitalimages.Inparticular,theinternwillhelpdevelopmulti-stagestereogrammetricmethodstoexploitthefullpotentialofmultiple,overlappingviewsofaplanetarysurface.TheinternwillworkcloselywithNASAresearchersandengineersthroughouttheinternship.Verystrongemphasisisplacedonincorporatingandintegratingtheintern'sresearchintoIRG'son-goingprojects.Researchresultsmaybepublishedinone(ormore)technicalforums:asaNASAtechnicalreport,aconferencepaper,orjournalarticle.

SpecificRequirements TheinternmusthaveabackgroundinComputerScienceorMathematics.Practicalexperiencewithcomputerprogramming,Linux-basedsoftwaredevelopmentandopen-sourcetools(gcc,git,etc)isrequired.ExperiencewithC++isstronglyencouraged.


21

ProjectTitle MetabolicControlforAdaptationtoSpaceflightEnvironment

MentorName YuriGriko

ProjectDescription Withthegrowinginterestinlonghaulflightsandthecolonizationofthesolarsystem,itisbecomingimportanttodeveloporganismself-regulatorycontrolsystemswhichwouldbeabletomeettherequirementsofextraterrestrialenvironmentsratherthanrequiringanEarthlyenvironmentinspace.Abettermechanisticunderstandingofmetabolismoffersameansforsustainingastronautsinlong-durationmissionsbeyondthelowEarthorbit.Recentdataobtainedfromseveralresearchreportshaveshownthatmetabolicsuppressioncouldprotectbiologicalorganismsfromdamagingeffectsofspaceradiationandmicrogravity.Theabilitytodrasticallyreduceandsuspendmetabolismappearstobecloselytiedtotheuniquesurvivalofbacteriaandsomeinvertebrates(e.g.,tardigrades)afteraprolongedexposuretocosmicvacuumandradiation.Itispossiblethatthereisamonophyleticoriginforthisadaptationatthemolecularlevelamongavarietyofdifferentorganisms.Ourultimategoalsaretodemonstrateproof-of-principleformetabolicsuppressionasmeanstoreducethenegativeeffectsofspaceflightenvironmentalissuessuchasradiationandmicrogravity.

InordertodemonstratethepotentialapplicationofthemetaboliccontroltechnologythePI'slaboratoryatNASAAmesResearchCenterhasengineeredahypo-metabolicchamberwitharangeoflife-monitoringequipmentforhigh-throughputtestingofhypo-metabolicparametersandconditionsthatenablereversibleinductionofastateofsuspendedanimationinnon-hibernatinganimals.

Thisinternshipopportunitywillassistindefiningandimplementingdemonstrationsofthemetaboliccontroltechnologyusingdifferentanimalmodels.

Objectivesofthisresearchare:

1Tocharacterizethehypometabolicstate2Todevelopmethodologyforrealtimemonitoringofrespiratoryandotherphysiologicalparametersandconditionsassociatedwiththehypometabolicstasis.

Intheproposedexperiments,theinternwillworkincollaborationwithmolecularbiologistsandengineersto(1)reproduceinductionofthereversiblesuspendedanimation-likestateinselectedanimalmodels,andto(2)establishacomprehensivelifesupportsystemformonitoringphysiologicalparametersofthehypometabolicstate.

SpecificRequirements Internshouldbewillingtoworkwithanimals.He/sheshouldhavebasicknowledgeoflifesupportsystems(respiratoryparameters,ventilation,andcorebodytemperaturecontrol),havebasiclaboratoryskillsandtechnicalknowledgeformonitoringphysicalparameterfromtelemetricdevises,andhavesoftwaremanagementskills.Stronganalyticalandorganizationalskills;interestinbiology;interestindataanalysis.Seniorundergraduateatjunior/seniorlevelorhigherpreferred.


22

ProjectTitle MonitoringChangesinASRSReportsusingPythonandTextMining

MentorName HamedValizadegan

ProjectDescription WeaimtodeveloptoolsthatcanbeusedtomonitorthechangesintheaviationssafetyreportssubmittedtoNASAAviationSafetyReportingSystem(ASRS)program.ASRScollectsandanalysisthevoluntarilysubmittedaviationsafetyincidentsreportsinordertoreducethelikelihoodofaviationaccidents.WeneedtoolsthatcanhelpASRStomonitorchangesinthenarrativesofthereportsovertimeandcansummarizethesereports.



23

ProjectTitle Nanotechnologyinelectronicsandsensordevelopment

MentorName MeyyaMeyyappan

ProjectDescription Nanomaterialssuchascarbonnanotubes(CNTs),grapheneandavarietyofinorganicnanowiresoffertremendouspotentialforfuturenanoelectronics,nanosensorsandrelateddevices.Wehaveactiveongoingprogramsintheseareas.Severalexamplesaregivenbelow.Chemicalsensorstodetecttraceamountsofgasesandvaporsareneededinplanetaryexploration,crewcabinairqualitymonitoringandleakdetection;therearenumeroussocietalapplicationsaswell.WehavebeenworkingonCNTbasedsensorsamenableforvariousplatformsincludingsmartphones.

Flexibleelectronicsonsubstratessuchastextileandpaperisofgreatdealofinteresttous.Wehavefabricatedgas/vaporsensorsoncottontextileaswellascellulosepaper.Otherinterestsinpaperelectronicsandflexiblesubstratesincludememorydevices,energystoragedevices,displaysanddetectors.Finally,wehavealsobeenrevisitingvacuumtubesalthoughinthenanoscale,usingentirelysiliconbasedtechnology.Theseradiationresistantdevicesofferexceptionallyhighfrequencyperformance.OurinteresthereextendstoexploringthenanovacuumtubesforTHzelectronicsapplications.

Inalltheareas,theprojectsincludematerialgrowth,characterization,devicefabrication,devicetestingandevaluation,reliabilityandlifetimeassessment.

SpecificRequirements Fordevicerelatedaspects,majoringinelectricalengineeringorphysicsispreferred.Fortheremainingaspectsoftheproject,majorsinmaterialscience,chemistryandotherengineeringdisciplinesarewelcome.PhDcandidatesandtalentedundergraduateswillgetpreference.


24

ProjectTitle StudiesoftheAqueousHistoryofMars

MentorName EldarNoe

ProjectDescription Internwillanalyzedatafromavarietyofspacecrafttounderstandthegeologichistoryofsitesofinterest,inordertobetterunderstandtheroleofwaterinthehistoryofMars.Thisopportunitymayincludecomputermodeling,dataanalysis,andlaboratorywork.Iftimesallows,preparationofamanuscript.Potentially,thesiteswillbeproposedaslandingsitesforthe2020MarsRover.InternwillalsodevelopsoftwarefortheanalysisofCRISMdata.

SpecificRequirements ExperienceinUnixorequivalentfluencyinIDLpreferred.


25

ProjectTitle TheInfluenceofMechanicalUnloadingonBiologicalFunction

MentorName ElizabethBlaber

ProjectDescription Thespaceflightenvironment,includingmicrogravityandspaceradiation,isknowntonegativelyimpactmammalianphysiology,includingsomaticstemcell-basedtissueregeneration.Thedegenerativeeffectsofspaceflightthatweunderstandbestincluderapidmicrogravity-adaptiveboneandmuscleloss,lossofcardiovascularcapacity,defectsinwoundandbonefracturehealingandimpairedimmunefunction.Theseimplicationsposeasignificantriskforlong-termhumanspaceexploration.Ourworkfocusesontheinfluenceofmechanicalunloadingonstemcellproliferation,differentiationandregenerationandhowalterationsinstemcellfunctionmaybethecauseofwidespreadtissuedegenerationinspace.Inthisopportunity,theselectedcandidatewillworkwithresearchscientiststoanalyzetheresponseofmouseboneandbonemarrowstemcellstomechanicalunloadingusingbothspaceflightsamplesandmousehindlimbunloadingexperiments.Theinternwillinvestigatestemcellresponsestomicrogravityandmechanicalunloadingusinggeneexpressionandproteinanalysisandfurthermore,willinvestigatetheinfluenceofstemcellfunctiononwholebonetissueproperties-includingstructuralandmolecularanalysis.Furthermore,theinternwillalsoworkwithscientistsonoptimizingconditionsforanupcomingspaceflightexperimentwhereweaimtoidentifykeymolecularmechanismsthatcausedegenerativeeffectsinbonetissuethroughimpaireddifferentiationofmesenchymalstemcells.Theinternwillconductcellcultureandgeneexpression/proteinassaystocharacterizewildtypestemcellscomparedtothetransgenicmodel.Theinternwillthenworkwithresearchscientiststodeterminetheoptimalcellcultureparameterstoconducttheexperimentinspaceflighthardware.

SpecificRequirements Laboratoryexperienceispreferred


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ProjectTitle UpgradingaSpaceDebrisSimulationSoftwareforPlanetaryDefenseAssessments

MentorName ChadFrost

ProjectDescription NASAAmesResearchCenterhasdevelopedasimulationsoftwarethatmodelsthespacedebrisenvironmentinLowEarthOrbit(LEO).Thegoalofthecurrentsoftwareistoassesstheefficiencyofaconceptforcollisionavoidancebetweendebrisandactivesatellites.Theinvestigatedsystemwouldusephotonpressurefromgroundbasedlaserstoslightlychangeorbitstoavoidcollisionsonwarning.

Fortheinternship,themaintaskwillbetoupgradethesimulationsoftwaretoincludethenearearthobject(NEO)environment(asteroids)andenabletheassessmentofcubesatbasedasteroiddetectionsystems.Youwillchangethemainbodyoftheprevioussimulationfromthesuntotheearth,introduceapopulationofasteroidsintothemodelandinvestigatetheutilityofcubesatstodetectthoseasteroidsastheycomeclosetoEarth.Inaddition,youalsowillhelptomaintaintheoriginalsoftwareforspacedebrismodeling.

SpecificRequirements Theinternshouldhaveabackgroundinthesciencesorengineering,andideallyAerospaceEngineeringorPhysics.TheprojectrequiresprogrammingskillsinCandMatlabandanunderstandingoforbitaldynamics.


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ProjectTitle RotorcraftAeromechanics

MentorName WilliamWarmbrodt

ProjectDescription TheAeromechanicsBranchisresponsibleforaeromechanicsresearchactivitiesthatdirectlysupportthecivilcompetitivenessoftheU.S.helicopterindustryandtheDepartmentofDefense.Branchprogramsaddressallaspectsoftherotorcraftwhichdirectlyinfluencethevehicle'sperformance,structural,anddynamicresponse,externalacoustics,vibration,andaeroelasticstability.Thespanofresearchalsoincludesunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)platforms,includingquadcoptersandotheradvanced,smallremotelypilotedverticaltakeoffandlanding(VTOL)aircraft.Theprogramsareboththeoreticalandexperimentalinnature.Advancedcomputationalmethodologyresearchusingcomputationalfluiddynamicsandmultidisciplinarycomprehensiveanalysesseekstounderstandthecompleterotorcraft'soperatingenvironmentandtodevelopanalyticalmodelstopredictrotorcraftaerodynamic,aeroacoustic,anddynamicbehavior.Experimentalresearchseekstoobtainaccuratedatatovalidatetheseanalyses,investigatephenomenacurrentlybeyondpredictivecapability,andtoachieverapidsolutionstoflightvehicleproblems.Databasesfromtheflightandwindtunnelexperimentalprogramsarevalidated,documentedandmaintainedforthebenefitoftheU.S.rotorcrafttechnologybase.

SpecificRequirements Broadbackgroundinscienceandmathclassestypicalofanupperdivisionundergraduateinmechanical,aeronauticaloraerospaceengineering.KnowledgeofMatLab,Simulink,CREOProE/SolidWorks/AutoCad,,VSP,Rhino,C++,python,orotherprogramming/softwarelanguagesisdesired,butnotmandatory.


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ProjectTitle TensegrityRoboticsProject


ProjectDescription TheparticipantwillconductbasicresearchinroboticsintheIntelligentRoboticsGroup(IRG)attheNASAAmesResearchCenter.Researchwillinvolvedevelopmentofadvancedmobilerobots,includingconception,design,prototyping,andtestingofnovelmechatronicsystems.DevelopingadvancedmobileroboticsystemsiscriticaltoimprovingtheperformanceandproductivityoffutureNASAexplorationmissions.Inparticular,methodsthatenablemobilerobotstofunctionrobustlyunderawiderangeofenvironmentalandoperationalconditionswillenablerobotstobeusedforabroadersetofmissionsthaniscurrentlypossible.Allrobotsbuiltduringthisprojectwillbeterrestrialresearchprototypesandarenotdesignedforuseinspace.



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ProjectTitle IntelligenceforChoosingIcyLandingandExplorationSites(ICICLES)


ProjectDescription Landersforicymoonswillwanttolandatregionsthatarebothsafeandscientificallyinteresting.Communicationsrestrictionsthatresultfromtheseremoteoperationsmeanthathumanscannotbeinvolvedinupdatinglandingsiteselectionduringdescent,justwhenthemostreliabledatabecomesavailable.TheobjectiveofICICLESistoautomaticallyselectcandidatelandingsitesfromorbitandtocontiunallyupdatetheEDLplanwhiledescending.

TheinternwillassisttheIntelligentRoboticsGroup(IRG)indesigningorbitswhichobservescientificallyinterestingcandidatelandingsites,aswellasattemptingtoinformthegeometryofthesurfaceatthosesites.Inparticular,theinternwillhelpdevelopoptimalcontrolmethodstodesignorbittrajectoriesthatprovideoptimalviewsofthesurface.Verystrongemphasiswillbeplacedonincorporatingandintegratingtheintern'sresearchintoIRG'son-goingprojects.



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ProjectTitle MADCATProject

MentorName KennethCheung

ProjectDescription TheCodedStructuresLaboratoryconductsresearchacrossmaterialscience,robotics,andalgorithms,forapplicationtoaeronauticsandspacesystems.Thelab'sprimarycurrentprojectincorporatesabuilding-blockbasedapproachtoultralightlattice-basedstructuresforshapemorphingaircraft.Expectedactivitiesforthispositionwillbeboththeoreticalandexperimentalinnature,insupportofadvancedresearchusingmultidisciplinaryanalysestounderstandthemechanicsofnewstructuralstrategiesandtodeveloppredictiveanalyticalmodelsforthedesignofsystemswithnovelbehavior.Experimentalworkisaimedattestingtheseanalyseswithmechanicalloadtestingandawindtunnelexperiment.



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ProjectTitle Closed-LoopLifeSupport

MentorName JonathanTrent

ProjectDescription Theprojectisrelatedtoclosed-looplife-supportandisfocusedon

buildinganexusbetweenwater,food,andenergy.

Morespecifically,inthelaboratorytherearetwoprojects:1)

developingamonitoringsystemformicroalgaecultivationand2)

testingacombinedforward/reverseosmosissystemforpurifying

wastewatertopotablestandards.Bothofthesesystemshave

automation/monitoringissues.Samplesarenon-toxicandutilizestandardscientificequipment.



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ProjectTitle DesignaPumpControlSystemwithFlowFeedbackfortheCellScienceProject

MentorName TerryLusby

ProjectDescription 1.Re-designachargepre-amplifiertocustomfitaFarWestproportionalcounter(agas-basedsensor).

2.Assistwiththebuild-upofanengineeringdesignunit(EDU)fortheCellScienceProject.ThisisacellgrowthmodulethatwillbeflowntotheISS.



Documents

2018 NASA I^2 Project List - mita.lrv.lt · 2018 NASA International Internship Project List 1 ... , Java, Python, Android Apps, and Linux scripting, Computer Networking - Spacecraft,