Alexandros Kanelakos...
When I was a young boy, I would look up at the night sky and ponder how a person could walk among the stars in the never-ending abyss of space. That question was answered when I was chosen in sixth grade to interview Russian Cosmonaut Alexi Leonov. He was the first person to perform an EVA or Extravehicular Activity. One impression Cosmonaut Leonov left with me was his excitement for space exploration and his wish that "more young people were interested in space." From that point on, my career goal has been to work for NASA.
I am 23 years old and from Topeka, Kansas. My full name is Alexandros Demetrios Phillip Kanelakos, and as you can tell from my name, I am Greek. Majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Mathematics, I attend Wichita State University located in Wichita, Kansas, "The Air Capital of the World." Some of my organizations and interests include: Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, the Student Ambassador Society, intramurals, coaching the Wichita State Aquashocks swim team, and scuba diving. I love Wichita State University and am proud to call it my Alma Mater. GO SHOCKERS!
Working at Johnson Space Center (JSC) is an unbelievable dream! My first semester as a co-op was awesome. I worked in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF). This building houses all of the full-size mockups of the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. It is by far one of the coolest buildings at NASA JSC! Working in the SVMF, I was able to tour all of the mockups and other equipment in the high-bay area and gain first-hand knowledge of the systems and operations of the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. My tasks included analyzing the schematics and part drawings and assembling installation packets for procedural based labels for the high-fidelity Node 2 mockup, evaluating and updating the current hardware and procedures in the Station Hardware Equipment Laboratory, and researching, developing the drawings, managing, and constructing a Life Science Glovebox mockup that will be used to train astronauts.
The next semester, I worked with EVA tools in the EVA and Spacesuit Systems Branch. This area was really interesting and challenging. I served as the subsystem manager, making decisions and test plans, for the RET or Retractable Equipment Tether cord replacement project. The RET is used to attach tools and other equipment to the astronaut during an EVA. Through testing and research, our team made a suggestion for a material to replace the current cord. Another project that I worked on was load-testing the shuttle and station slidewires, which run along the payload pay or modules. I also refurbished a piece of EVA hardware used on the space station that allows a crewmember to extend from his current location. Finally, I designed test plates for Tile-Repair testing that was performed on the KC-135 microgravity research plane.
Last Spring, I completed my semester in the EVA Tasks group. This group's responsibilities are to train astronauts for EVA tasks, sit as flight controllers in Mission Control during EVAs, and solve real-time mission problems. Some of my projects included certifying in three EVA tools classes to train astronauts, sitting on console in Mission Control during two International Space Station EVAs, and providing analysis and documentation for tile repair and the Return to Flight effort.
The following fall, I worked in the Advanced Spacesuit Systems group. This group's responsibilities include the research and development of planetary suits, rovers, and habitats for the moon and Mars. My main projects involved operating as the lead data coord flight controller in Mission Control, collecting and analyzing data for our desert study of our new suits, abrasion testing and analyzing a candidate fabric for the planetary suits, and designing hardware integration for a weight-relief waist belt for the prototype moon and Mars spacesuit.
This summer is my fifth and final semester here as a co-op at JSC. I have returned to EVA Tasks group and am currently supporting the next shuttle crew of STS-121. Other projects that I am working on include certifying in EVA classes to train astronauts and creating tool and other component databases which will help assist flight controllers for real-time mission support.
The social life of a coop is awesome; there is something fun going on almost every night! Everyone is so energetic and excited about being in Houston and working for NASA. Some of the activities that I have taken part in include: coop lunches, Super Bowl parties, scuba diving, country and salsa dancing, playing intramural soccer and softball, running with other coops, skydiving, and trips to Mardi Gras, Austin, San Antonio, Cozumel, Galveston beach, and Six Flags.
If you have any questions about cooping or Wichita State University, please email me at akanelakos@yahoo.com or alexandros.kanelakos-1@nasa.gov. I would be pleased to answer any inquiry you had. NASA is an awe-inspiring place, and I am truly grateful for all the people who have spurred and encouraged me along the way. I now leave you with the Kansas State Motto, which I have adapted for my own: "Ad Astra per Aspera;" Travel "to the stars, through [any] difficulties" that may come your way.
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