A whole bunch of new interns are here, which means summer has
arrived at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. We’re excited to
welcome over 400 interns from across the U.S. studying Earth
Science, planetary science, astrophysics, heliophysics, and
a multitude of other things. And a lot of them are in the visitor
center right now getting their badges and everything they need
to start their first day. So let's go meet a few and ask them
some questions.
[up-tempo music]
Good morning, Zane! Good morning. What are you
going to be working on this summer? I’m gonna be working
with the MAIANSE project, the American-Indian Alaskan Native
STEM Engagement program. What are you going to be working on
this summer? Um, I’ll be working on the Europa Clipper Mission.
I’ll be modeling the propellant slosh. This summer I’m working
with the Equal Opportunity Programs office, and I’m really
excited to use my mass communication skills.
Heliophysics Sonification User-Interface in HTML5 and
JavaScript. This project is really about, um, about making
data more accessible to people who have visual problems.
Spectrometer this summer. I’m more of a computer scientist, so
I’m gonna be doing code on that. I’m gonna be doing an
environmental analyst position, working with doing a
cost-benefit analysis of land-surface covers here on the
Goddard Space Flight Center. How did you hear about that
internship? My mom, actually, told me to apply online. And at
first I was like, “No, you know. They want engineers.” Because I
majored in geography with an emphasis on water resources. And
she was like, “No, they do a lot of things with Earth sciences,
too.” Um, actually my cousin down in Florida, he actually
works for NASA down in the Kennedy Space Center. And he’s
like “Hey, go to Google and type in this ‘OSSI NASA’.” And I was
like, “Uh, okay.” So, I applied for four jobs down there. I
didn’t get the ones down in Florida, but I got this one. So,
I was pretty stoked. Well, we’re better anyway. Just Googled it.
I just Googled “NASA Internships” and applied to a
lot of them that had to do with mass communication. What made
you want to work for NASA? Um, just the endless opportunities
cause NASA, it’s not only about space, but it’s about expanding
your mind and the imagination. What is one thing about space
that you find really baffling or confusing or just really cool?
It’s way too infinite. It’s way too infinite. Like, we may study
for like, years and like, decades. We can never learn
everything about it. What is one thing about space that you find
totally baffling? I guess that it’s just so big and there’s
endless things that you can explore and learn. We’re finding
new things out every single day, and so who knows if there’s life
out there? What are you looking forward to exploring in the DC
area this summer? I heard there’s lots of great food, I’d
like to check out all the museums on the National Mall,
just see what’s out there. Man, I’m really looking forward to
exploring the area a lot more and taking tours, eating good
food. I want to find the mom n’ pop restaurants that have been
around for thirty years. ‘Cause everyone’s like, “you gotta try
the crab”, and this that and the other. Is there anything you’re
looking forward to exploring in DC or Baltimore and Maryland
area this summer? I’m looking for some good hiking trails.
Billy Goat Trail, I highly recommend. What’s something that
you’re really excited about with your internship this summer? I’m
generally excited about all of it. It’s something I’ve wanted
to do for a long time, since I was young. I’m looking forward
to working with the great team at NASA and the contractors that
I’ll be working with and just seeing the collaborative effort
we use which is making the mission possible. I’m really
looking forward to expanding on what I don’t know, which is in
web development. I’ve taken a class, but I haven’t really been
able to put it into practice. This is actually my second time
with this group, so I’m looking forward to getting to do work
with what I started last year and get into it a bit more in
depth. Honestly, working with circuits. I love circuits. I
really love circuits. That may sound weird. I just want to work
with them. All my hype is there. Just working with electronics.
I’m sure there are lots of circuits here for you to play with.
with. [laughter]
[up-beat music]
Now that the summer interns are finished with their
first day of orientation, it’s time for them to meet their
mentors and start their projects. If you’re interested
in pursuing a NASA internship, visit intern.nasa.gov for more
information. Also, stay tuned to nasa.gov/goddard this summer to
hear more intern stories.
[music ends]
[whoosh, beep beep, beep beep, beep beep]