Utah Tech students selected for prestigious NASA internship

Utah Tech University was one of only eight universities nationwide selected to receive a competitive $50,000 grant to support a ten-week internship experience with the Kennedy Space Center.

Students Brayden Phillips, Arick Bird and Sean Gillam were selected to attend this once-in-a-lifetime internship opportunity.

What it’s all about?

This program begins with a one-week session at the Kennedy Space Center, where participants learn how NASA’s Systems Engineering model works. They also learn the most important aspects of a CubeSat, a type of miniaturized satellite, typically used for space research and exploration.

After the first week, participating students were well equipped to start moving forward with the project, and they traveled to Albuquerque for the next ten weeks.

“This internship represents a lot to me,” Braydon Phillips said. “It means talking to real industry experts and gaining real-world knowledge from mentors. It also represents joining a legacy network of student innovation that’s been bridging the gap between academia and the space industry for a long time. It validates what I’ve been working on so hard at Utah Tech and gives me confidence moving forward into the workforce.”

The students are working toward improving the CubeSat that Utah Tech currently has.

What is a CubeSat?

A CubeSat – short for Cube Satellite – is a type of mini satellite used for space research and technology demonstrations.

They are designed to be low-cost, quick-to-build satellites used by universities, research groups and even high school teams. They are used for technology testing, educational purposes and scientific experiments.

Utah Tech’s first CubeSat was limited by a lack of resources. The past students who have worked on it had no way of knowing the considerations it takes to get a satellite into orbit.

Arick, Sean and Braydon are learning exactly how to do that this summer.

“We’re confident that we can change the mindset of things going forward to ensure an amazing experience for everyone,” Arick Bird said. “We think this second CubeSat is going to take at least three or four years to complete.”

This experience offered these students direct insight into the world of engineering, bringing the “active learning. active life” motto that Utah Tech stands for to life.

“I’ve gained insight into some of the most critical considerations in designing electrical systems, especially in the context of multidisciplinary projects,” Sean Gillam said. “The networking opportunities have also been fantastic, and having the chance to speak with industry experts and receive feedback directly related to our project has been truly invaluable.”