Nathanael Greene...

Hello from Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility (JSC-WSTF) in Las Cruces New Mexico. I am a graduate coop in Mechanical Engineering - Combustion Sciences from Iowa State University. This is my first coop term with NASA. This term I have been working on several projects for NASA. My research area at ISU is particle combustion in microgravity. My ISU research will use the NASA Glenn Research Center 2.2 second drop tower and the KC-135 aircraft to simulate a microgravity environment for doing combustion research. The projects at JSC-WSTF have been related to my research at ISU. Some of my projects and accomplishments for this term follow:

• Design and manufacture of a new retainer system for microgravity sample containment
• Build of a digital camera system for recording microgravity combustion
• Update communication system design for the microgravity apparatus
• Train to be a test conductor for flow promoted combustion testing
• Collaborate with Adriana Soltero (a JSC-WSTF coop) to develop a hypervelocity projectile tracking system
• Certify to fly aboard the KC-135 aircraft
• Teach science at local schools (SCIAD)

One thing that I value about working for NASA is the opportunity to apply engineering skills learned in the classroom. Some of the engineering skills that I used this term include:

• Performing factor of safety calculations - Machine Design
• Optics design calculations - Calculus
• Analysis of structure loading - Mechanics of Materials
• Development of a new shuttle valve seat material using - Material Science
• Create design drawings - Pro Engineer
• Proofing electrical schematics - Circuit Analysis
• Specifying bolt number and torque - Machine Design

I recommend working for NASA if you have the opportunity. I have learned so much from my mentor (Miguel Maes) and other people our engineering group.

You can contact me if you have any questions about a coop experience at nathanael.j.greene@nasa.gov or ngreene@iastate.edu. My website is www.public.iastate.edu/~ngreene.