NASA Electrical Engineering Pathways Intern

Advanced Research Team 

Full Time from January 2024 to August 2024

Advanced of Exploration Components for In-space Servicing (AXCIS)

- During my first co-op, I helped pitch AXCIS as an Early Career Initiative (ECI) proposal and was awarded $2.5 million.

- The project consisted of two in-house electronic projects: a Coriolis flow meter and the Variable Output Regulator (an in-space refueling device).

- My primary project was the Variable Output Regulator. I created a series of prototypes using commercial components, then gradually upgraded the system with more custom flight forward hardware. I developed and got turn-key assembly for a flight forward motor controller, which controlled the entire system. The circuit board being flight forward means that each component had direct radiation hardened alternatives. The circuit board was designed in Altium and completely simulated in LTSpice. I then programmed the control algorithm for the system in embedded C. 

- For the Coriolis flow meter, I helped in the development of circuit simulations and created a prototype discrete operational amplifier driver circuit board that was tested in a thermal chamber to confirm reliability over a wide range of temperature.

Ohalo III Crop Production System 

- Helped in assembly of qualification unit (see above picture).

- Developed UV biofilm mitigation circuit board to prevent growth of bacteria in payload.

- Made new revision of airflow and temperature measurement board to solve thermal issues.

- Designed and breadboarded humidifier circuit for chamber.

NASA Electrical Engineering Pathways Intern

Exploration Payloads Team 

Full Time from January 2023 to July 2023

Ohalo III Crop Production System

- Created evaluation circuit board with majority of untested circuits throughout payload to act as a testbed for programming and development. Basically acted as a mini-version of the payload with sensors, driving circuitry, and communication protocols such as USB, RS232, I2C, SPI, and UART.

- Iterated upon previous board design to create new revision of time-of-flight circuit board with added redundancy to measure small amounts of fluid in microgravity. Experimented with modal propellant gauging as an alternative method and developed experiments to showcase its usage within system.

- Developed airflow control board to stimulate airflow within chamber and report environmental conditions. Researched different sensors that could possibly be used within chamber.

International Space Station Operations

- Transported time-critical ISS experiments and cargo to the launchpad for installation into SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Supported from crew arm during payload installation to ensure proper protocol was followed and electrical power integrity was maintained. 

- Charged and shipped batteries for late stow operations. 

- Participated in the following missions: Crew-6, CRS-27, and CRS-28.

DesktopMetal Electrical Engineering Co-op

Full Time from January 2022 to July 2022

Furnace Safety Board Test Fixture

- Designed a custom safety board tester PCB within Altium, reducing testing time of boards from two days to seven minutes. Took the project from concept stage to schematic capture to fabrication and assembly.

- Worked with a mechanical engineer to design a custom enclosure.

- Wrote microcontroller firmware to communicate with tester over SPI.

- Developed custom graphical user interface using Qt and C++ to communicate over the serial port sixty individualized tests simulating furnace function, log all results, and show the location on the board causing issues. 

Interim Safety Board

- Debugged and assembled previous co-op’s design, overhauled most of the previous code, and then installed it in a printer.

- Redesigned the board (new schematic and layout) to fit new product requirements.