Gregory Price...

It is the _________ PingTong in action at NASA!!! My name is Gregory Price, and I am a EE junior at the University of Texas at Austin, yeah, HOOK EM HORNS!!! Holy pocket protectors....

If you are like me, which you are most certainly not, then you are probably wondering where you are, or what are you doing looking at NASA biographies. Well you are trying to find out what co-ops do here, and man is it cool. I didn't think I would ever have the brilliance to work here, but let me tell you, with some hard work and a good interview with Bob Musgrove, you will be on your way. When I first arrived at NASA my initial feelings where of amazement, curiosity, bemusement, and reverence; it has been 4 months and I assure you those feelings haven't waned at all. You will get here, you will have a great time, you will learn, and you will get the experience you so desire.

My first tour took place in the Biomedical System's Division, where I was asked to be creative, hardworking, and to have fun, that's right, have fun, but I didn't just have fun, I had a blast. The project that I first worked is called ARED (Advanced Resistive Exercise Device), which is basically a weightless weight machine that the astronauts are going to use to reduce muscle atrophy and bone deterioration on the ISS. I programmed various data acquisition modules to sample an array of transducers and store data pertinent to the workout. In addition, I also programmed software for the life testing of ARED, as well as radiation testing.

During the middle of my tour, I was given the task of designing a test cable assembly for a project called microTAU (micro Transaxial Accelerometer Unit). My mentor John ask me to use a previous cable design as a template for testing RTD sensors that are going to be placed on these microTAU units bonded to the shuttle. For this project, I had an engineering drawing done, obtained the parts, had the cable built and shipped it to KSC; my very first design was done.

For the last part of my first tour I was asked to go a little outside my major, as I worked on something called the HFB (hydrodynamic Focusing Bioreactor), which is a vessel that scientists use to grow cells, in vitro, 3D. It was the most interesting project of the semester, as I had to learn about Biology, Physiology, and many other things. I worked collaboratively with Dr. Hudson to fit the system with an oxygenator, which is going to gasify a medium to support a metabolizing cell culture, and ended up designing my own, while optimizing the current system. I was able to do things that I have only dreamed that I could do, as I got to grow cells, run experiments, and let my mind really open up. Not only was this exciting it was indelibly insightful, for I now know what I would like to get my PhD in.

Well work was fun, however, I also had gobs of free time for extracurricular activities. I took piano lessons (ohhh John Lennon), worked out at the gym (the gilruth most likely has the oldest masterflex equipment known to man), played co-op sports (just ask Jeff Hegedus if he remembers football), wrote articles for the co-op newsletter, went to parties (I dance with hot English/Japanese/Danish/Polish/German women), and met some of the most interesting people this side of the Mississippi. There is a gianormous amount of things to do here so don't worry about being bored cause it just won't happen. Be prepared for one of the most fulfilling semesters of your life if you decide to co-op with NASA...Ps you have any questions just give me a call 512-775-5411 or try my email gprice@ece.utexas.edu.