NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - BETTII
Joe
Experience Information
Employer: NASA
Job Title: Computer Engineering Intern
Major: Computer Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
NASA is the universal acronym for the coolest organization on the planet: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Established in 1958, NASA has empowered civilian scientists from all over the world to make some of the most breathtaking discoveries in human history, while at the same time inspiring generations of young future scientists and engineers.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I worked on a project called BETTII - Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope Infrared Interferometry. BETTII looks at star formation using far-infrared wavelength light and a twin telescope configuration. My specific tasks were writing computer software that allowed a very expensive camera to take pictures of stars, process the image to determine BETTII's position in space based of known star patterns, and return the position for analysis so that BETTII can be successfully moved and pointed in a specific direction.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I gained a great number of skills through my experience at NASA, mainly a deeper understanding of the fields of cosmology and astrophysics and how science and engineering combine at a practical level. Specifically, I gained a more profound knowledge of C and C++ programming on Unix systems, dealing with shared memory segments, RS-422 communication, and image processing.
Favorite Part of the Experience
The entire experience was incredible, and I'm not sure I can pick one thing. From getting to see the famous James Webb Space Telescope in its enormous cleanroom, to working with what are undoubtedly some of the smartest people on the planet on a daily basis, NASA was a wonderful experience, to say the least.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Working for NASA has always been a dream of mine, and after being privileged enough to spend a semester there, it is clear to me that my career goal is to return for permanent employment. I would be honored to serve my country working for the greatest space agency on the planet.