NASA
Hi-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing Project 2025 Spring Review
1 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) Advanced Composites Consortium team members gathered during May 2025 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia for a technical review of activities in the Hi-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing project.NASANASA and its partners in the Advanced Composites Consortium gathered at the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, on April 29-May 1, 2025.
Team members from 22 organizations in the public-private partnership are collaborating to increase the production rate of composite aircraft, reduce costs, and improve performance.
The team discussed results from the Technology Development Phase of NASA’s Hi-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing (HiCAM) project.
The project is evaluating concepts and competing approaches at the subcomponent scale to determine technologies with the greatest impact on manufacturing rate and cost. The most promising concepts will be demonstrated on full-scale wing and fuselage components during the next four years.
Through collaboration and shared investment, the team is increasing the likelihood of technologies being adopted for next-generation transports, ultimately lowering costs for operators and improving the U.S. competitive advantage in the commercial aircraft industry.
Want to Learn More About Composite Aircraft Research? Go to the HiCAM project page here Facebook logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Instagram logo @NASA@NASAaero@NASA_es Linkedin logo @NASA Explore More 2 min read NASA Composite Manufacturing Initiative Gains Two New Members Article 9 months ago 1 min read HiCAM 2023 Spring Review Article 2 years ago 1 min read HiCAM Research Team at ElectroimpactHiCAM Research Team at Electroimpact
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Share Details Last Updated May 13, 2025 EditorJim BankeContactShannon Eichornshannon.eichorn@nasa.gov Related TermsLa NASA calibra una segunda sonda de detección de impactos para las pruebas del X-59
3 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) El piloto de pruebas de la NASA Nils Larson inspecciona el avión de investigación F-15D de la agencia en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, antes de un vuelo de calibración para una sonda de detección de impactos de campo cercano recién instalada. Montada en el F-15D, la sonda está diseñada para medir las ondas de choque generadas por el silencioso avión supersónico X-59 durante el vuelo. Los datos ayudarán a los investigadores a comprender mejor cómo se comportan las ondas de choque en las proximidades de la aeronave, apoyando la misión Quesst de la NASA para permitir vuelos supersónicos silenciosos sobre tierra.NASA/Steve Freeman El piloto de pruebas de la NASA Nils Larson inspecciona el avión de investigación F-15D de la agencia en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, antes de un vuelo de calibración para una sonda de detección de impactos de campo cercano recién instalada. Montada en el F-15D, la sonda está diseñada para medir las ondas de choque generadas por el silencioso avión supersónico X-59 durante el vuelo. Los datos ayudarán a los investigadores a comprender mejor cómo se comportan las ondas de choque en las proximidades de la aeronave, apoyando la misión Quesst de la NASA para permitir vuelos supersónicos silenciosos sobre tierra.NASA/Steve Freeman El avión de investigación F-15D de la NASA realiza un vuelo de prueba cerca de Edwards, California, con una sonda de detección de impactos de campo cercano. Idéntica a una versión previamente volada que estaba prevista como reserva, esta nueva sonda captará datos de ondas de choque cerca del X-59 mientras vuela a velocidad más rápida que la del sonido apoyando la misión Quesst de la NASA.NASA/Jim Ross El avión de investigación F-15D de la NASA realiza un vuelo de prueba cerca de Edwards, California, con una sonda de detección de impactos de campo cercano. Idéntica a una versión previamente volada que estaba prevista como reserva, esta nueva sonda captará datos de ondas de choque cerca del X-59 mientras vuela a velocidad más rápida que la del sonido apoyando la misión Quesst de la NASA.NASA/Jim RossRead this story in English here.
Cuando se prueba un avión de última generación de la NASA, se necesitan herramientas especializadas para realizar pruebas y capturar datos, pero si esas herramientas necesitan mantenimiento, hay que esperar hasta que se reparen. A menos que tengas un respaldo. Por eso, recientemente la NASA ha calibró una nueva sonda de deteccíon de impactos para capturar datos de ondas de choque cuando el silencioso avión de investigación supersónico X-59 de la agencia inicie sus vuelos de prueba.
Cuando un avión vuela más rápido que la velocidad del sonido, produce ondas de choque que viajan a través del aire, creando fuertes estampidos sónicos. El X-59 desviará esas ondas de choque, produciendo sólo un silencioso golpe supersónico. En las últimas semanas, la NASA ha completado los vuelos de calibración de una nueva sonda de detección de impactos de campo cercano, un aparato en forma de cono que captará datos sobre las ondas de choque que generará el X-59.
Esta sonda está montada en un avión de investigación F-15D que volará muy cerca del X-59 para recopilar los datos que necesita la NASA. La nueva unidad servirá como la sonda de campo cercano principal de la NASA, con un modelo idéntico desarrollado por la NASA el año pasado actuará como reserva montada en otro F-15B.
Las dos unidades significan que el equipo del X-59 tiene una alternativa lista en caso de que la sonda principal necesite mantenimiento o reparaciones. Para pruebas de vuelo como las del X-59, donde la recopilación de datos es crucial y las operaciones giran en torno a plazos ajustados, condiciones meteorológicas y otras variables, las copias de respaldo de los equipos críticos ayudan a garantizar la continuidad, mantener los plazos y preservar la eficiencia de las operaciones.
“Si le ocurre algo a la sonda, como una falla en unsensor, no hay una solución fácil,” explica Mike Frederick, investigador principal de la sonda en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelos Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California. “El otro factor es el propio avión. Si uno necesita mantenimiento, no queremos retrasar los vuelos del X-59.”
Para calibrar la nueva sonda, el equipo midió las ondas de choque de un avión de investigación F/A-18 de la NASA. Los resultados preliminares indicaron que la sonda captó con éxito los cambios de presión asociados a las ondas de choque, de acuerdo con las expectativas del equipo. Frederick y su equipo ahora están revisando los datos para confirmar que se alinean con los modelos matemáticos en tierra y cumplen las normas de precisión requeridas para los vuelos X-59.
Los investigadores de la NASA en Armstrong se están preparando para vuelos adicionales con las sondas principal y de respaldo en sus aviones F-15. Cada avión volará a velocidad supersónico y recopilará datos de las ondas de choque del otro. El equipo está trabajando para validar tanto la sonda principal como la de respaldo para confirmar la redundancia total;en otras palabras, asegurarse de que tengan un respaldo fiable y listo para usar.
Artículo Traducido por: Priscila Valdez
Share Details Last Updated May 13, 2025 EditorDede DiniusContactNicolas Cholulanicolas.h.cholula@nasa.gov Related Terms Explore More 5 min read Las carreras en la NASA despegan con las pasantías Article 1 day ago 4 min read El X-59 de la NASA completa las pruebas electromagnéticas Article 2 months ago 11 min read La NASA identifica causa de pérdida de material del escudo térmico de Orion de Artemis I Article 5 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAArmstrong Flight Research Center
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NASA’s Artemis III Core Stage Receives Thermal Protection Coating
NASA completed another step to ready its SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for the Artemis III mission as crews at the agency’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans recently applied a thermal protection system to the core stage’s liquid hydrogen tank.
Building on the crewed Artemis II flight test, Artemis III will add new capabilities with the human landing system and advanced spacesuits to send the first astronauts to explore the lunar South Pole region and prepare humanity to go to Mars. Thermal protection systems are a cornerstone of successful spaceflight endeavors, safeguarding human life, and enabling the launch and controlled return of spacecraft.
The tank is the largest piece of SLS flight hardware insulated at Michoud. The hardware requires thermal protection due to the extreme temperatures during launch and ascent to space – and to keep the liquid hydrogen at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit on the pad prior to launch.
“The thermal protection system protects the SLS rocket from the heat of launch while also keeping the thousands of gallons of liquid propellant within the core stage’s tanks cold enough. Without the protection, the propellant would boil off too rapidly to replenish before launch,” said Jay Bourgeois, thermal protection system, test, and integration lead at NASA Michoud. “Thermal protection systems are crucial in protecting all the structural components of SLS during launch and flight.”
In February, Michoud crews with NASA and Boeing, the SLS core stage prime contractor, completed the thermal protection system on the external structure of the rocket’s liquid hydrogen propellant fuel tank, using a robotic tool in what is now the largest single application in spaceflight history. The robotically controlled operation coated the tank with spray-on foam insulation, distributing 107 feet of the foam to the tank in 102 minutes. When the foam is applied to the core stage, it gives the rocket a canary yellow color. The Sun’s ultraviolet rays naturally “tan” the thermal protection, giving the SLS core stage its signature orange color, like the space shuttle external tank.
Having recently completed application of the thermal protection system, teams will now continue outfitting the 130-foot-tall liquid hydrogen tank with critical systems to ready it for its designated Artemis III mission. The core stage of SLS is the largest ever built by length and volume, and was manufactured at Michoud using state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. (NASA/Steven Seipel)While it might sound like a task similar to applying paint to a house or spraying insulation in an attic, it is a much more complex process. The flexible polyurethane foam had to withstand harsh conditions for application and testing. Additionally, there was a new challenge: spraying the stage horizontally, something never done previously during large foam applications on space shuttle external tanks at Michoud. All large components of space shuttle tanks were in a vertical position when sprayed with automated processes.
Overall, the rocket’s core stage is 212 feet with a diameter of 27.6 feet, the same diameter as the space shuttle’s external tank. The liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks feed four RS-25 engines for approximately 500 seconds before SLS reaches low Earth orbit and the core stage separates from the upper stage and NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
“Even though it only takes 102 minutes to apply the spray, a lot of careful preparation and planning is put into this process before the actual application of the foam,” said Boeing’s Brian Jeansonne, the integrated product team senior leader for the thermal protection system at NASA Michoud. “There are better process controls in place than we’ve ever had before, and there are specialized production technicians who must have certifications to operate the system. It’s quite an accomplishment and a lot of pride in knowing that we’ve completed this step of the build process.”
The core stage of SLS is the largest NASA has ever built by length and volume, and it was manufactured at Michoud using state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. Michoud is a unique, advanced manufacturing facility where the agency has built spacecraft components for decades, including the space shuttle’s external tanks and Saturn V rockets for the Apollo program.
Through Artemis, NASA will send astronauts to explore the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and build the foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars.
For more information on the Artemis Campaign, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis/
News Media ContactJonathan Deal
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034
jonathan.e.deal@nasa.gov
NASA Hosts Industry, Government, Academia to Explore Partnerships
On April 29, more than 90 representatives from industry, U.S. federal labs, government agencies, and academia gathered at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley to learn about the center’s groundbreaking research and development capabilities. The three-day event provided insight into the many ways to collaborate with NASA, including tapping into the agency’s singular subject matter expertise and gaining access to state-of-the-art facilities at NASA Ames and centers across the country. Partnerships help the agency to advance technological innovation, enable science, and foster the emerging space economy.
Terry Fong, senior scientist for autonomous systems at NASA Ames, summed up the objective of the event when he noted, “I don’t believe anyone – government, academia, industry – has a monopoly on good ideas. It’s how you best combine forces to have the greatest effect.”
Terry Fong, senior scientist at NASA Ames, center, discusses the center’s capabilities in intelligent adaptive systems and potential applications with Jessica Nowinski, chief of the Human Systems Integration division, left, and Alonso Vera, senior technologist, right, on April 29, 2025, at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.NASA/Brandon Torres NavarreteAuthor: Jeanne Neal
Share Details Last Updated May 13, 2025 Related Terms Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA SmallSats and CubeSatsThese miniaturized spacecrafts are used to deliver small payloads into space. LTB (Lunar Trailblazer) is an example of a SmallSat…
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Take a Tour of the Cosmos with New Interactives from NASA’s Universe of Learning
4 min read
Take a Tour of the Cosmos with New Interactives from NASA’s Universe of LearningReady for a tour of the cosmos? NASA’s Universe of Learning has released a new, dynamic way for lifelong learners to explore NASA’s breathtaking images of the universe—ViewSpace interactive Image Tours. ViewSpace has an established track record of providing museums, science centers, libraries, and other informal learning environments with free, web-based videos and digital interactives—like its interactive Image Sliders. These new Image Tours are another unique experience from NASA’s Universe of Learning, created through a collaboration between scientists that operate NASA telescopes and experts well-versed in the most modern methods of learning. Hands-on, self-directed learning resources like these have long been valued by informal learning sites as effective means for engaging and intriguing users with the latest discoveries from NASA’s space telescope missions—while encouraging lifelong learners to continue their passionate exploration of the stars, galaxies, and distant worlds.
With these new ViewSpace Image Tours, visitors can take breathtaking journeys through space images that contain many exciting stories. The “Center of the Milky Way Galaxy” Tour, for example, uses breathtaking images from NASA’s Hubble, Spitzer, and Chandra X-ray telescopes and includes eleven Tour Stops, where users can interact with areas like “the Brick”—a dense, dark cloud of hydrogen molecules imaged by Spitzer. Another Tour Stop zooms toward the supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, offering a dramatic visual journey to the galaxy’s core.
In other tours, like the “Herbig-Haro 46/47” Tour, learners can navigate through points of interest in an observation from a single telescope mission. In this case, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope provides the backdrop where lifelong learners can explore superheated jets of gas and dust being ejected at tremendous speeds from a pair of young, forming stars. The power of Webb turns up unexpected details in the background, like a noteworthy distant galaxy famous for its uncanny resemblance to a question mark. Each Interactive Image Tour allows people to examine unique features through videos, images, or graphical overlays to identify how those features have formed in ways that static images alone can’t convey.
These tours, which include detailed visual descriptions for each Tour Stop, illuminate the science behind the beauty, allowing learners of all ages to develop a greater understanding of and excitement for space science, deepening their engagement with astronomy, regardless of their prior experience. Check out the About the Interactives page on the ViewSpace website for a detailed overview of how to use the Image Tours.
ViewSpace currently offers three Image Tours, and the collection will continue growing:
Center of the Milky Way Galaxy:
Peer through cosmic dust and uncover areas of intense activity near the Milky Way’s core, featuring imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Herbig-Haro 46/47:
Witness how a tightly bound pair of young stars shapes their nebula through ejections of gas and dust in an image from the James Webb Space Telescope.
The Whirlpool Galaxy:
Explore the iconic swirling arms and glowing core of a stunning spiral galaxy, with insights into star formation, galaxy structure, and more in a Hubble Space Telescope image.
“The Image Tours are beautiful, dramatic, informational, and easy to use,” explained Sari Custer, Chief of Science and Curiosity at Arizona Science Center. “I’m excited to implement them in my museum not only because of the incredible images and user-friendly features, but also for the opportunity to excite and ignite the public’s curiosity about space.”
NASA’s Universe of Learning is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC65A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
Select views from various Image Tours. Clockwise from top left: The Whirlpool Galaxy, Center of the Milky Way Galaxy, Herbig-Haro 46/47, detail view in the Center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Share Details Last Updated May 13, 2025 EditorNASA Science Editorial Team Related Terms Explore More 5 min read NASA’s Webb Reveals New Details, Mysteries in Jupiter’s Aurora Article 1 day ago 2 min read Hubble Comes Face-to-Face with Spiral’s Arms Article 4 days ago 7 min read NASA’s Hubble Pinpoints Roaming Massive Black Hole Article 5 days ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASA James Webb Space TelescopeWebb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the…
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Lightning in Southeast Asia
Lightning in Southeast Asia
A flash of lightning shines brighter than the lights of nearby cities in this Oct. 29, 2024, image taken by astronaut Don Pettit while aboard the International Space Station. At the time of this photograph, little to no moonlight illuminated the scene. This allows astronauts to see and photograph a variety of light sources with a high degree of contrast against the dark land and water surfaces. Bright light associated with lightning is a common occurrence during the monsoon season across Southeast Asia.
Text credit: NASA/Andrea Wenzel
Image credit: NASA/Don Pettit
What is a Black Hole? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 59
2 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)What is a black hole?
Well, the name is actually a little misleading because black holes aren’t actually holes. They’re regions in space that have a gravitational pull that is so strong that nothing can escape, not even light. Scientists know about two different sizes of black holes — stellar-mass black holes and supermassive black holes.
A stellar-mass black hole is born when a massive star dies. That’s a star that’s larger than our own Sun. These stars burn up all the nuclear fuel in their cores, and this causes them to collapse under their own gravity. This collapse causes an explosion that we call a supernova. The entire mass of the star is collapsing down into a tiny point, and the area of the black hole is just a few kilometers across.
Supermassive black holes can have a mass of millions to tens of billions of stars. Scientists believe that every galaxy in the universe contains a supermassive black hole. That’s up to one trillion galaxies in the universe. But we don’t know how these supermassive black holes form. And this is an area of active research.
What we do know is that supermassive black holes are playing a really important part in the formation and evolution of galaxies, and into our understanding of our place in the universe.
[END VIDEO TRANSCRIPT]
Share Details Last Updated May 13, 2025 Related Terms Explore More 1 min read NASA Hosts Industry, Government, Academia to Explore Partnerships Article 7 hours ago 1 min read NASA Ames Stars of the Month: May 2025 Article 1 day ago 3 min read NASA Earns Two Emmy Nominations for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Coverage Article 5 days ago Keep Exploring Discover Related TopicsMissions
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What is a Black Hole? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 59
2 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)What is a black hole?
Well, the name is actually a little misleading because black holes aren’t actually holes. They’re regions in space that have a gravitational pull that is so strong that nothing can escape, not even light. Scientists know about two different sizes of black holes — stellar-mass black holes and supermassive black holes.
A stellar-mass black hole is born when a massive star dies. That’s a star that’s larger than our own Sun. These stars burn up all the nuclear fuel in their cores, and this causes them to collapse under their own gravity. This collapse causes an explosion that we call a supernova. The entire mass of the star is collapsing down into a tiny point, and the area of the black hole is just a few kilometers across.
Supermassive black holes can have a mass of millions to tens of billions of stars. Scientists believe that every galaxy in the universe contains a supermassive black hole. That’s up to one trillion galaxies in the universe. But we don’t know how these supermassive black holes form. And this is an area of active research.
What we do know is that supermassive black holes are playing a really important part in the formation and evolution of galaxies, and into our understanding of our place in the universe.
[END VIDEO TRANSCRIPT]
Share Details Last Updated May 13, 2025 Related Terms Explore More 1 min read NASA Ames Stars of the Month: May 2025 Article 1 day ago 3 min read NASA Earns Two Emmy Nominations for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Coverage Article 5 days ago 2 min read NASA Expands Youth Engagement With New Scouting America Agreement Article 6 days ago Keep Exploring Discover Related TopicsMissions
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NASA Enables Construction Technology for Moon and Mars Exploration
5 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) ICON’s next generation Vulcan construction system 3D printing a simulated Mars habitat for NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) missions.ICONOne of the keys to a sustainable human presence on distant worlds is using local, or in-situ, resources which includes building materials for infrastructure such as habitats, radiation shielding, roads, and rocket launch and landing pads. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is leveraging its portfolio of programs and industry opportunities to develop in-situ, resource capabilities to help future Moon and Mars explorers build what they need. These technologies have made exciting progress for space applications as well as some impacts right here on Earth.
The Moon to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) project, funded by NASA’s Game Changing Development program and managed at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is exploring applications of large-scale, robotic 3D printing technology for construction on other planets. It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but demonstrations using simulated lunar and Martian surface material, known as regolith, show the concept could become reality.
Lunar 3D printing prototype.Contour CraftingWith its partners in industry and academic institutions, MMPACT is developing processing technologies for lunar and Martian construction materials. The binders for these materials, including water, could be extracted from the local regolith to reduce launch mass. The regolith itself is used as the aggregate, or granular material, for these concretes. NASA has evaluated these materials for decades, initially working with large-scale 3D printing pioneer, Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis, a professor of civil, environmental and astronautical engineering at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Khoshnevis developed techniques for large-scale extraterrestrial 3D printing under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. One of these processes is Contour Crafting, in which molten regolith and a binding agent are extruded from a nozzle to create infrastructure layer by layer. The process can be used to autonomously build monolithic structures like radiation shielding and rocket landing pads.
Continuing to work with the NIAC program, Khoshnevis also developed a 3D printing method called selective separation sintering, in which heat and pressure are applied to layers of powder to produce metallic, ceramic, or composite objects which could produce small-scale, more-precise hardware. This energy-efficient technique can be used on planetary surfaces as well as in microgravity environments like space stations to produce items including interlocking tiles and replacement parts.
While NASA’s efforts are ultimately aimed at developing technologies capable of building a sustainable human presence on other worlds, Khoshnevis is also setting his sights closer to home. He has created a company called Contour Crafting Corporation that will use 3D printing techniques advanced with NIAC funding to fabricate housing and other infrastructure here on Earth.
Another one of NASA’s partners in additive manufacturing, ICON of Austin, Texas, is doing the same, using 3D printing techniques for home construction on Earth, with robotics, software, and advanced material.
Construction is complete on a 3D-printed, 1,700-square-foot habitat that will simulate the challenges of a mission to Mars at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The habitat will be home to four intrepid crew members for a one-year Crew Health and Performance Analog, or CHAPEA, mission. The first of three missions begins in the summer of 2023.The ICON company was among the participants in NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, which aimed to advance the technology needed to build housing in extraterrestrial environments. In 2021, ICON used its large-scale 3D printing system to build a 1,700 square-foot simulated Martian habitat that includes crew quarters, workstations and common lounge and food preparation areas. This habitat prototype, called Mars Dune Alpha, is part of NASA’s ongoing Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, a series of Mars surface mission simulations scheduled through 2026 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
With support from NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research program, ICON is also developing an Olympus construction system, which is designed to use local resources on the Moon and Mars as building materials.
The ICON company uses a robotic 3D printing technique called Laser Vitreous Multi-material Transformation, in which high-powered lasers melt local surface materials, or regolith, that then solidify to form strong, ceramic-like structures. Regolith can similarly be transformed to create infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental hazards like corrosive lunar dust, as well as radiation and temperature extremes.
The company is also characterizing the gravity-dependent properties of simulated lunar regolith in an experiment called Duneflow, which flew aboard a Blue Origin reusable suborbital rocket system through NASA’s Flight Opportunities program in February 2025. During that flight test, the vehicle simulated lunar gravity for approximately two minutes, enabling ICON and researchers from NASA to compare the behavior of simulant against real regolith obtained from the Moon during an Apollo mission.
Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/space-technology-mission-directorate/
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Share Details Last Updated May 13, 2025 EditorLoura Hall Related TermsNASA Enables Construction Technology for Moon and Mars Exploration
5 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) ICON’s next generation Vulcan construction system 3D printing a simulated Mars habitat for NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) missions.ICONOne of the keys to a sustainable human presence on distant worlds is using local, or in-situ, resources which includes building materials for infrastructure such as habitats, radiation shielding, roads, and rocket launch and landing pads. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is leveraging its portfolio of programs and industry opportunities to develop in-situ, resource capabilities to help future Moon and Mars explorers build what they need. These technologies have made exciting progress for space applications as well as some impacts right here on Earth.
The Moon to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technology (MMPACT) project, funded by NASA’s Game Changing Development program and managed at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is exploring applications of large-scale, robotic 3D printing technology for construction on other planets. It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but demonstrations using simulated lunar and Martian surface material, known as regolith, show the concept could become reality.
Lunar 3D printing prototype.Contour CraftingWith its partners in industry and academic institutions, MMPACT is developing processing technologies for lunar and Martian construction materials. The binders for these materials, including water, could be extracted from the local regolith to reduce launch mass. The regolith itself is used as the aggregate, or granular material, for these concretes. NASA has evaluated these materials for decades, initially working with large-scale 3D printing pioneer, Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis, a professor of civil, environmental and astronautical engineering at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Khoshnevis developed techniques for large-scale extraterrestrial 3D printing under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. One of these processes is Contour Crafting, in which molten regolith and a binding agent are extruded from a nozzle to create infrastructure layer by layer. The process can be used to autonomously build monolithic structures like radiation shielding and rocket landing pads.
Continuing to work with the NIAC program, Khoshnevis also developed a 3D printing method called selective separation sintering, in which heat and pressure are applied to layers of powder to produce metallic, ceramic, or composite objects which could produce small-scale, more-precise hardware. This energy-efficient technique can be used on planetary surfaces as well as in microgravity environments like space stations to produce items including interlocking tiles and replacement parts.
While NASA’s efforts are ultimately aimed at developing technologies capable of building a sustainable human presence on other worlds, Khoshnevis is also setting his sights closer to home. He has created a company called Contour Crafting Corporation that will use 3D printing techniques advanced with NIAC funding to fabricate housing and other infrastructure here on Earth.
Another one of NASA’s partners in additive manufacturing, ICON of Austin, Texas, is doing the same, using 3D printing techniques for home construction on Earth, with robotics, software, and advanced material.
Construction is complete on a 3D-printed, 1,700-square-foot habitat that will simulate the challenges of a mission to Mars at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The habitat will be home to four intrepid crew members for a one-year Crew Health and Performance Analog, or CHAPEA, mission. The first of three missions begins in the summer of 2023.The ICON company was among the participants in NASA’s 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, which aimed to advance the technology needed to build housing in extraterrestrial environments. In 2021, ICON used its large-scale 3D printing system to build a 1,700 square-foot simulated Martian habitat that includes crew quarters, workstations and common lounge and food preparation areas. This habitat prototype, called Mars Dune Alpha, is part of NASA’s ongoing Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, a series of Mars surface mission simulations scheduled through 2026 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
With support from NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research program, ICON is also developing an Olympus construction system, which is designed to use local resources on the Moon and Mars as building materials.
The ICON company uses a robotic 3D printing technique called Laser Vitreous Multi-material Transformation, in which high-powered lasers melt local surface materials, or regolith, that then solidify to form strong, ceramic-like structures. Regolith can similarly be transformed to create infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental hazards like corrosive lunar dust, as well as radiation and temperature extremes.
The company is also characterizing the gravity-dependent properties of simulated lunar regolith in an experiment called Duneflow, which flew aboard a Blue Origin reusable suborbital rocket system through NASA’s Flight Opportunities program in February 2025. During that flight test, the vehicle simulated lunar gravity for approximately two minutes, enabling ICON and researchers from NASA to compare the behavior of simulant against real regolith obtained from the Moon during an Apollo mission.
Learn more: https://www.nasa.gov/space-technology-mission-directorate/
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Share Details Last Updated May 13, 2025 EditorLoura Hall Related TermsAubrie Henspeter: Leading Commercial Lunar Missions
As NASA partners with American industry to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon, a dedicated team behind the scenes ensures every mission is grounded in strategy, compliance, and innovation. Leading that effort is Aubrie Henspeter, who advises all aspects of procurement for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative—one of the cornerstone projects supporting the Artemis campaign.
Official portrait of Aubrie Henspeter. NASA/Bill StaffordWith 20 years at NASA, Henspeter brings multifaceted experience to her role as CLPS procurement team lead in the Lunar & Planetary Exploration Procurement Office at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Her job is equal parts problem-solving, mentoring, and strategizing—all focused on enabling commercial partners to deliver NASA payloads to the lunar surface faster, more affordably, and more efficient than ever before.
“It’s been a great experience to see the full lifecycle of a project—from soliciting requirements to launching to the Moon,” said Henspeter. “We work to continuously adjust as the lunar industry grows and improve procurement terms and conditions by incorporating lessons learned.”
Henspeter leads a team of six contracting officers and contract specialists, managing workload priorities and supporting the continuity of seven commercial missions currently on contract. She also helps shape upcoming contract opportunities for future lunar deliveries, constantly seeking creative procurement strategies within a commercial firm-fixed-price framework.
NASA launched the CLPS initiative in 2018 to create a faster, more flexible way to partner with commercial companies for lunar deliveries. Thirteen vendors are participating as part of a multi-award contract, each eligible to compete for individual task orders to deliver NASA science and technology payloads to the Moon. These deliveries support Artemis goals by enabling new discoveries, testing key technologies, and preparing for long-term human exploration on the lunar surface.
Aubrie Henspeter receives the 2023 JSC Director’s Commendation Award from NASA Acting Associate Administrator Vanessa Wyche, right, and Johnson Space Center’s Acting Director Steve Koerner, far left, joined by her sons Elijah and Malik Merrick.NASA/James BlairIn May 2023, Henspeter received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for her leadership on CLPS from 2018–2023. For her, the recognition reflects the team’s spirit and collaboration.
“I genuinely enjoy working on this project because of its lean, adaptable approach and the amazing team involved,” she said. “When all of us across NASA work together we are the most successful and can achieve our mission.”
That sense of collaboration and adaptability has shaped many of the insights Henspeter has gained throughout her career—lessons she now applies daily to help the team stay aligned and prepared.
One of those key lessons: always keep the contract current.
“It’s all good until it isn’t, and then everyone asks—what does the contract say?” she said. “Open communication and up-to-date documentation, no matter how minor the change, are essential.”
Over the course of her career, Henspeter has learned to prioritize preparation, adaptability, and strong working relationships.
“Preparation in procurement is conducting thorough market research, understanding the regulations, finding the gray areas, and developing a strategy that best meets the customer’s needs,” she said. “Adaptability means staying committed to the goal while remaining open and flexible on how to get there.”
That philosophy has helped her navigate everything from yearlong international contract negotiations with foreign partners to pivoting a customer from a sole-source request to a competitive procurement that ultimately saved costs and expanded opportunity.
“NASA is full of brilliant people, and it can be challenging to present alternatives. But through clear communication and data-driven recommendations, we find solutions that work,” Henspeter said.
NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) team members at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the launch of Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, including Aubrie Henspeter (second from left) and teammates Joshua Smith, LaToya Eaglin, Catherine Staggs, Shayla Martin, Tasha Beasley, Jennifer Ariens, Derek Maggard, and guests.As she looks to the Artemis Generation, Henspeter hopes to pass along a deep respect for teamwork and shared purpose.
“Every contribution matters. Whether it seems big or small, it makes a difference in achieving our mission,” she said. “I take pride in my role and in being part of the NASA team.”
Explore More 2 min read NASA Expands Youth Engagement With New Scouting America Agreement Article 6 days ago 5 min read NASA Progresses Toward Crewed Moon Mission with Spacecraft, Rocket Milestones Article 7 days ago 5 min read Nilufar Ramji: Shaping Johnson’s Giant Leaps Forward Article 1 week agoLas carreras en la NASA despegan con las pasantías
5 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) La clase de pasantía 2025 del Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, frente al histórico avión X-1E expuesto en el centro. De izquierda a derecha, los estudiantes: Tyler Requa, Gokul Nookula, Madeleine Phillips, Oscar Keiloht Chavez Ramirez y Nicolas Marzocchetti. NASA/Steve FreemanRead this story in English here.
¿Sueñas con trabajar para la NASA y contribuir a la exploración y la innovación en beneficio de la humanidad? Los programas de pasantías de la agencia ofrecen a los estudiantes de secundaria y universitarios la oportunidad de avanzar en la misión de la NASA en aeronáutica, ciencia, tecnología y espacio.
Claudia Sales, Kassidy McLaughlin y Julio Treviño empezaron sus carreras como pasantes en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, donde siguen explorando los secretos del universo. Sus experiencias ponen de ejemplo el impacto a largo plazo de los programas STEM de la NASA. STEM es un acrónimo en inglés que hace referencia a las materias de ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas.
Claudia Sales, ingeniera jefa interina adjunta del X-59 de la NASA y líder de certificación de navegabilidad para la aeronave de investigación supersónica silenciosa, apoya las pruebas en tierra para los vuelos de Medidas de Investigación Acústica (ARM, por su acrónimo en inglés). La campaña de pruebas para evaluar las tecnologías que reducen el ruido de las aeronaves se llevó a cabo en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, en 2018.NASA/Ken Ulbrich Claudia Sales“Desde niña supe que quería trabajar para la NASA,” dijo Claudia Sales, ingeniera jefa adjunta en funciones del X-59 y líder de certificación de navegabilidad del avión supersónico silencioso experimental de la agencia.
La trayectoria de Sales en la NASA comenzó en 2005 como pasante de Pathways, un programa de trabajo y estudio (cooperativo) de la NASA. Ella trabajó en las ramas de propulsión y estructuras y proyectos como el avión de investigación hipersónico X-43A (Hyper-X) y el vehículo de lanzamiento orbital reutilizable X-37, donde tuvo la oportunidad de realizar cálculos para estimaciones térmicas y análisis de trayectorias. También realizó trabajos de diseño en el taller de Fabricación Experimental de la NASA Armstrong.
“Mi sueño era formar parte de proyectos de investigación en vuelos únicos,” dijo Sales. “Mi mentor fue increíble al exponerme a una amplia variedad de experiencias y trabajar en algo singular que algún día se implementará en un vehículo aéreo para hacer del mundo un lugar mejor.”
Claudia Sales, ingeniera jefe interina adjunta del X-59 de la NASA y líder de certificación de aeronavegabilidad para el avión de investigación supersónico silencioso, se encuentra frente a un Gulfstream G-III, también conocido como Pruebas de Aviones de Investigación Subsónicos (SCRAT, por su acrónimo inglés). Sales apoyó las pruebas en tierra como conductor de pruebas para los vuelos de Medidas de Investigación Acústica (ARM, por su acrónimo inglés) en el Centro de Vuelos de Investigación Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, en 2018. NASA/Ken Ulbrich Ingeniera de sistemas de vuelo de la NASA, Kassidy Mclaughlin lleva a cabo pruebas ambientales en una paleta de instrumentación. La paleta se utilizó durante el proyecto Campaña Nacional 2020 de la NASA en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California. NASA/Lauren Hughes Kassidy McLaughlinAsimismo, Kassidy McLaughlin, ingeniera de sistemas de vuelo, descubrió que la mentoría y la experiencia práctica como pasante fueron clave para su desarrollo profesional. Actualmente ella dirige el desarrollo de una estación de control terrestre en la NASA Armstrong.
En la secundaria y la universidad, McLaughlin se inscribió a clases STEM, sabiendo que quería seguir una carrera en ingeniería. Animada por su madre a solicitar una pasantía en la NASA, la carrera de McLaughlin comenzó en 2014 como pasante de la Oficina de Participación STEM de la NASA Armstrong. Más adelante hizo la transición al programa Pathways.
“Mi mentor me dio las herramientas necesarias y me animó a hacer preguntas,” dijo McLaughlin. “Me ayudó a ver que era capaz de cualquier cosa si me lo proponía.”
Durante cinco rotaciones como pasante, ella trabajó en el proyecto Sistemas de Aeronaves no tripulados integrados en el Sistema Nacional del Espacio Aéreo (UAS in the NAS, por su acrónimo inglés). “Es una sensación muy gratificante estar en una sala de control cuando algo en lo que has trabajado está volando,” dijo McLaughlin. Esa experiencia la inspiró a seguir la carrera de ingeniería mecánica.
“La NASA Armstrong ofrecía algo especial en cuanto a la gente,” dijo McLaughlin. “La cultura en el centro es muy amable y todos son muy acogedores.”
Julio Treviño, ingeniero jefe de operaciones del proyecto Global Hawk SkyRange de la NASA, se para en frente de un avión F/A-18 de apoyo a misiones en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelos Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California. NASA/Joshua Fisher Julio TreviñoJulio Treviño, ingeniero jefe de operaciones del proyecto Global Hawk SkyRange de la NASA, garantiza la navegabilidad a lo largo de las fases de planificación, integración y vuelo de sistemas y vehículos singulares. También es controlador de misión certificado, director de misión e ingeniero de pruebas de vuelo para varias aeronaves de la agencia.
Al igual que McLaughlin, Treviño comenzó su carrera en 2018 como pasante de Pathway en la rama de Dinámica y Controles en la NASA Armstrong. Esa experiencia le abrió el camino hacia el éxito tras graduarse en ingeniería mecánica.
“Como pasante, tuve la oportunidad de trabajar en el diseño y la creación de un modelo de batería para un avión totalmente eléctrico,” dijo Treviño. “Se publicó oficialmente como modelo de software de la NASA para que lo utilice cualquier persona en la agencia.”
Treviño también reconoce la cultura y la gente de la NASA como lo mejor de su pasantía. “Tuve mentores que me apoyaron mucho durante mi tiempo como pasante, y el hecho de que todos aqui realmente amen el trabajo que hacen es increíble,” él dijo.
2025 Application DeadlinesCada año, la NASA ofrece a más de 2,000 estudiantes la oportunidad de influir en la misión de la agencia a través de pasantías. Las fechas de solicitud para el otoño de 2025 es el 16 de mayo.
Para obtener más información sobre los programas de pasantías de la NASA, las fechas límite de solicitud y elegibilidad, visite https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs/
Share Details Last Updated May 12, 2025 EditorDede DiniusContactPriscila Valdezpriscila.valdez@nasa.govLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related Terms Explore More 4 min read El X-59 de la NASA completa las pruebas electromagnéticas Article 2 months ago 11 min read La NASA identifica causa de pérdida de material del escudo térmico de Orion de Artemis I Article 5 months ago 10 min read Preguntas frecuentes: La verdadera historia del cuidado de la salud de los astronautas en el espacio Article 6 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAArmstrong Flight Research Center
Humans in Space
Climate Change
Solar System
Las carreras en la NASA despegan con las pasantías
5 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) La clase de pasantía 2025 del Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, frente al histórico avión X-1E expuesto en el centro. De izquierda a derecha, los estudiantes: Tyler Requa, Gokul Nookula, Madeleine Phillips, Oscar Keiloht Chavez Ramirez y Nicolas Marzocchetti. NASA/Steve FreemanRead this story in English here.
¿Sueñas con trabajar para la NASA y contribuir a la exploración y la innovación en beneficio de la humanidad? Los programas de pasantías de la agencia ofrecen a los estudiantes de secundaria y universitarios la oportunidad de avanzar en la misión de la NASA en aeronáutica, ciencia, tecnología y espacio.
Claudia Sales, Kassidy McLaughlin y Julio Treviño empezaron sus carreras como pasantes en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, donde siguen explorando los secretos del universo. Sus experiencias ponen de ejemplo el impacto a largo plazo de los programas STEM de la NASA. STEM es un acrónimo en inglés que hace referencia a las materias de ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas.
Claudia Sales, ingeniera jefa interina adjunta del X-59 de la NASA y líder de certificación de navegabilidad para la aeronave de investigación supersónica silenciosa, apoya las pruebas en tierra para los vuelos de Medidas de Investigación Acústica (ARM, por su acrónimo en inglés). La campaña de pruebas para evaluar las tecnologías que reducen el ruido de las aeronaves se llevó a cabo en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, en 2018.NASA/Ken Ulbrich Claudia Sales“Desde niña supe que quería trabajar para la NASA,” dijo Claudia Sales, ingeniera jefa adjunta en funciones del X-59 y líder de certificación de navegabilidad del avión supersónico silencioso experimental de la agencia.
La trayectoria de Sales en la NASA comenzó en 2005 como pasante de Pathways, un programa de trabajo y estudio (cooperativo) de la NASA. Ella trabajó en las ramas de propulsión y estructuras y proyectos como el avión de investigación hipersónico X-43A (Hyper-X) y el vehículo de lanzamiento orbital reutilizable X-37, donde tuvo la oportunidad de realizar cálculos para estimaciones térmicas y análisis de trayectorias. También realizó trabajos de diseño en el taller de Fabricación Experimental de la NASA Armstrong.
“Mi sueño era formar parte de proyectos de investigación en vuelos únicos,” dijo Sales. “Mi mentor fue increíble al exponerme a una amplia variedad de experiencias y trabajar en algo singular que algún día se implementará en un vehículo aéreo para hacer del mundo un lugar mejor.”
Claudia Sales, ingeniera jefe interina adjunta del X-59 de la NASA y líder de certificación de aeronavegabilidad para el avión de investigación supersónico silencioso, se encuentra frente a un Gulfstream G-III, también conocido como Pruebas de Aviones de Investigación Subsónicos (SCRAT, por su acrónimo inglés). Sales apoyó las pruebas en tierra como conductor de pruebas para los vuelos de Medidas de Investigación Acústica (ARM, por su acrónimo inglés) en el Centro de Vuelos de Investigación Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California, en 2018. NASA/Ken Ulbrich Ingeniera de sistemas de vuelo de la NASA, Kassidy Mclaughlin lleva a cabo pruebas ambientales en una paleta de instrumentación. La paleta se utilizó durante el proyecto Campaña Nacional 2020 de la NASA en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelo Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California. NASA/Lauren Hughes Kassidy McLaughlinAsimismo, Kassidy McLaughlin, ingeniera de sistemas de vuelo, descubrió que la mentoría y la experiencia práctica como pasante fueron clave para su desarrollo profesional. Actualmente ella dirige el desarrollo de una estación de control terrestre en la NASA Armstrong.
En la secundaria y la universidad, McLaughlin se inscribió a clases STEM, sabiendo que quería seguir una carrera en ingeniería. Animada por su madre a solicitar una pasantía en la NASA, la carrera de McLaughlin comenzó en 2014 como pasante de la Oficina de Participación STEM de la NASA Armstrong. Más adelante hizo la transición al programa Pathways.
“Mi mentor me dio las herramientas necesarias y me animó a hacer preguntas,” dijo McLaughlin. “Me ayudó a ver que era capaz de cualquier cosa si me lo proponía.”
Durante cinco rotaciones como pasante, ella trabajó en el proyecto Sistemas de Aeronaves no tripulados integrados en el Sistema Nacional del Espacio Aéreo (UAS in the NAS, por su acrónimo inglés). “Es una sensación muy gratificante estar en una sala de control cuando algo en lo que has trabajado está volando,” dijo McLaughlin. Esa experiencia la inspiró a seguir la carrera de ingeniería mecánica.
“La NASA Armstrong ofrecía algo especial en cuanto a la gente,” dijo McLaughlin. “La cultura en el centro es muy amable y todos son muy acogedores.”
Julio Treviño, ingeniero jefe de operaciones del proyecto Global Hawk SkyRange de la NASA, se para en frente de un avión F/A-18 de apoyo a misiones en el Centro de Investigación de Vuelos Armstrong de la NASA en Edwards, California. NASA/Joshua Fisher Julio TreviñoJulio Treviño, ingeniero jefe de operaciones del proyecto Global Hawk SkyRange de la NASA, garantiza la navegabilidad a lo largo de las fases de planificación, integración y vuelo de sistemas y vehículos singulares. También es controlador de misión certificado, director de misión e ingeniero de pruebas de vuelo para varias aeronaves de la agencia.
Al igual que McLaughlin, Treviño comenzó su carrera en 2018 como pasante de Pathway en la rama de Dinámica y Controles en la NASA Armstrong. Esa experiencia le abrió el camino hacia el éxito tras graduarse en ingeniería mecánica.
“Como pasante, tuve la oportunidad de trabajar en el diseño y la creación de un modelo de batería para un avión totalmente eléctrico,” dijo Treviño. “Se publicó oficialmente como modelo de software de la NASA para que lo utilice cualquier persona en la agencia.”
Treviño también reconoce la cultura y la gente de la NASA como lo mejor de su pasantía. “Tuve mentores que me apoyaron mucho durante mi tiempo como pasante, y el hecho de que todos aqui realmente amen el trabajo que hacen es increíble,” él dijo.
2025 Application DeadlinesCada año, la NASA ofrece a más de 2,000 estudiantes la oportunidad de influir en la misión de la agencia a través de pasantías. Las fechas de solicitud para el otoño de 2025 es el 16 de mayo.
Para obtener más información sobre los programas de pasantías de la NASA, las fechas límite de solicitud y elegibilidad, visite https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs/
Share Details Last Updated May 12, 2025 EditorDede DiniusContactPriscila Valdezpriscila.valdez@nasa.govLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related Terms Explore More 4 min read El X-59 de la NASA completa las pruebas electromagnéticas Article 2 months ago 11 min read La NASA identifica causa de pérdida de material del escudo térmico de Orion de Artemis I Article 5 months ago 10 min read Preguntas frecuentes: La verdadera historia del cuidado de la salud de los astronautas en el espacio Article 6 months ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAArmstrong Flight Research Center
Humans in Space
Climate Change
Solar System
NASA Careers Take Off with Internships
4 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) The 2025 internship class at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, stand in front of the historic X-1E aircraft on display at the center. From left are interns: Tyler Requa, Gokul Nookula, Madeleine Phillips, Oscar Keiloht Chavez Ramirez, and Nicolas Marzocchetti.NASA/Steve FreemanLee esta historia en español aquí.
Do you dream of working for NASA and contributing to exploration and innovation for the benefit of humanity? The agency’s internship programs provide high school and college students opportunities to advance NASA’s mission in aeronautics, science, technology, and space.
Claudia Sales, Kassidy McLaughlin, and Julio Treviño started their careers as interns at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, where they continue to explore the secrets of the universe. Their journeys highlight the long-term impact of the NASA’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.
Claudia Sales, NASA’s acting X-59 deputy chief engineer and airworthiness certification lead for the quiet supersonic research aircraft, supports ground testing for Acoustic Research Measurements (ARM) flights. The test campaign to evaluate technologies that reduce aircraft noise was conducted at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, in 2018.NASA/Ken Ulbrich Claudia Sales“I knew since I was a child that I wanted to work for NASA,” said Claudia Sales, acting X-59 deputy chief engineer X-59 deputy chief engineer and airworthiness certification lead for the agency’s quiet supersonic research aircraft.
Sales’ journey at NASA started in 2005 as a Pathways intern, a NASA work-study (co-op) program. She worked in propulsion and structures branches and supported such projects as the X-43A hypersonic research aircraft (Hyper-X) and the X-37 reusable orbital launch vehicle, where she had the opportunity to perform calculations for thermal estimations and trajectory analyses. She also completed design work with NASA Armstrong’s Experimental Fabrication Shop.
“It had been a dream of mine to be a part of unique, one-of-a-kind flight research projects,” Sales said. “My mentor was amazing at exposing me to a wide variety of experiences and working on something unique to one day be implemented on an air vehicle to make the world a better place.”
Claudia Sales, NASA’s acting X-59 deputy chief engineer and airworthiness certification lead for the quiet supersonic research aircraft, stands in front of a Gulfstream G-III, also known as Subsonic Research Aircraft Testbed (SCRAT). Sales supported ground testing as test conductor for Acoustics Research Measurements (ARM) flights at NASA’s Armstrong Research Flight Center in Edwards, California, in 2018.NASA/Ken Ulbrich NASA’s flight systems engineer, Kassidy Mclaughlin conducts environmental testing on an instrumentation pallet. The pallet was used during NASA’s National Campaign project in 2020 at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.NASA/Lauren Hughes Kassidy McLaughlinSimilarly, flight systems engineer Kassidy McLaughlin discovered that mentorship and hands-on experience as an intern were key to her professional development. She currently leads the development of a ground control station at NASA Armstrong.
In high school and college, McLaughlin enrolled in STEM classes, knowing she wanted to pursue a career in engineering. Encouraged by her mother to apply for a NASA internship, McLaughlin’s career began in 2014 as an intern for NASA Armstrong’s Office of STEM Engagement. She later transitioned to the Pathways program.
“My mentor gave me the tools necessary, and encouraged me to ask questions,” McLaughlin said. “He helped show me that I was capable of anything if I set my mind to it.”
During five rotations as an intern, she worked on the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace System (UAS in the NAS) project. “It is such a rewarding feeling to be in a control room when something you have worked on is flying,” McLaughlin said. That experience inspired her to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
“NASA Armstrong offered something special when it came to the people,” McLaughlin said. “The culture at the center is so friendly and everyone is so welcoming.”
Julio Treviño, lead operations engineer for NASA’s Global Hawk SkyRange project, stands in front of an F/A-18 mission support aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.NASA/Joshua Fisher Julio TreviñoJulio Treviño, lead operations engineer for NASA’s Global Hawk SkyRange project, ensures airworthiness throughout the planning, integration, and flight phases of unique systems and vehicles. He is also a certified mission controller, mission director, and flight test engineer for various agency aircraft.
Much like McLaughlin, Treviño began his journey in 2018 as a Pathway’s intern for the Dynamic and Controls branch at NASA Armstrong. That experience paved the way for success after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering.
“As an intern, I had the opportunity to work on designing and creating a battery model for an all-electric aircraft,” Treviño said. “It was officially published as a NASA software model for use by anyone throughout the agency.”
Treviño also credits NASA’s culture and people as the best part of his internship. “I had very supportive mentors throughout my time as an intern and the fact that everyone here genuinely loves the work that they do is awesome,” he said.
2025 Application DeadlinesEvery year, NASA provides more than 2,000 students the opportunity to impact the agency’s mission through hands-on internships. The 2025 application for fall is May 16, 2025.
To learn more about NASA’s internship programs, application deadlines, and eligibility, visit https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs/
Share Details Last Updated May 12, 2025 EditorDede DiniusContactPriscila Valdezpriscila.valdez@nasa.govLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related Terms Explore More 3 min read 5 Tips to Craft a Standout NASA Internship Application Article 1 day ago 3 min read NASA STEM Programs Ignite Curiosity Beyond the Classroom Article 2 weeks ago 4 min read Robots, Rovers, and Regolith: NASA Brings Exploration to FIRST Robotics 2025 Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAArmstrong Flight Research Center
Humans in Space
Climate Change
Solar System
NASA Careers Take Off with Internships
4 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) The 2025 internship class at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, stand in front of the historic X-1E aircraft on display at the center. From left are interns: Tyler Requa, Gokul Nookula, Madeleine Phillips, Oscar Keiloht Chavez Ramirez, and Nicolas Marzocchetti.NASA/Steve FreemanLee esta historia en español aquí.
Do you dream of working for NASA and contributing to exploration and innovation for the benefit of humanity? The agency’s internship programs provide high school and college students opportunities to advance NASA’s mission in aeronautics, science, technology, and space.
Claudia Sales, Kassidy McLaughlin, and Julio Treviño started their careers as interns at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, where they continue to explore the secrets of the universe. Their journeys highlight the long-term impact of the NASA’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.
Claudia Sales, NASA’s acting X-59 deputy chief engineer and airworthiness certification lead for the quiet supersonic research aircraft, supports ground testing for Acoustic Research Measurements (ARM) flights. The test campaign to evaluate technologies that reduce aircraft noise was conducted at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, in 2018.NASA/Ken Ulbrich Claudia Sales“I knew since I was a child that I wanted to work for NASA,” said Claudia Sales, acting X-59 deputy chief engineer X-59 deputy chief engineer and airworthiness certification lead for the agency’s quiet supersonic research aircraft.
Sales’ journey at NASA started in 2005 as a Pathways intern, a NASA work-study (co-op) program. She worked in propulsion and structures branches and supported such projects as the X-43A hypersonic research aircraft (Hyper-X) and the X-37 reusable orbital launch vehicle, where she had the opportunity to perform calculations for thermal estimations and trajectory analyses. She also completed design work with NASA Armstrong’s Experimental Fabrication Shop.
“It had been a dream of mine to be a part of unique, one-of-a-kind flight research projects,” Sales said. “My mentor was amazing at exposing me to a wide variety of experiences and working on something unique to one day be implemented on an air vehicle to make the world a better place.”
Claudia Sales, NASA’s acting X-59 deputy chief engineer and airworthiness certification lead for the quiet supersonic research aircraft, stands in front of a Gulfstream G-III, also known as Subsonic Research Aircraft Testbed (SCRAT). Sales supported ground testing as test conductor for Acoustics Research Measurements (ARM) flights at NASA’s Armstrong Research Flight Center in Edwards, California, in 2018.NASA/Ken Ulbrich NASA’s flight systems engineer, Kassidy Mclaughlin conducts environmental testing on an instrumentation pallet. The pallet was used during NASA’s National Campaign project in 2020 at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.NASA/Lauren Hughes Kassidy McLaughlinSimilarly, flight systems engineer Kassidy McLaughlin discovered that mentorship and hands-on experience as an intern were key to her professional development. She currently leads the development of a ground control station at NASA Armstrong.
In high school and college, McLaughlin enrolled in STEM classes, knowing she wanted to pursue a career in engineering. Encouraged by her mother to apply for a NASA internship, McLaughlin’s career began in 2014 as an intern for NASA Armstrong’s Office of STEM Engagement. She later transitioned to the Pathways program.
“My mentor gave me the tools necessary, and encouraged me to ask questions,” McLaughlin said. “He helped show me that I was capable of anything if I set my mind to it.”
During five rotations as an intern, she worked on the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace System (UAS in the NAS) project. “It is such a rewarding feeling to be in a control room when something you have worked on is flying,” McLaughlin said. That experience inspired her to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
“NASA Armstrong offered something special when it came to the people,” McLaughlin said. “The culture at the center is so friendly and everyone is so welcoming.”
Julio Treviño, lead operations engineer for NASA’s Global Hawk SkyRange project, stands in front of an F/A-18 mission support aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.NASA/Joshua Fisher Julio TreviñoJulio Treviño, lead operations engineer for NASA’s Global Hawk SkyRange project, ensures airworthiness throughout the planning, integration, and flight phases of unique systems and vehicles. He is also a certified mission controller, mission director, and flight test engineer for various agency aircraft.
Much like McLaughlin, Treviño began his journey in 2018 as a Pathway’s intern for the Dynamic and Controls branch at NASA Armstrong. That experience paved the way for success after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering.
“As an intern, I had the opportunity to work on designing and creating a battery model for an all-electric aircraft,” Treviño said. “It was officially published as a NASA software model for use by anyone throughout the agency.”
Treviño also credits NASA’s culture and people as the best part of his internship. “I had very supportive mentors throughout my time as an intern and the fact that everyone here genuinely loves the work that they do is awesome,” he said.
2025 Application DeadlinesEvery year, NASA provides more than 2,000 students the opportunity to impact the agency’s mission through hands-on internships. The 2025 application for fall is May 16, 2025.
To learn more about NASA’s internship programs, application deadlines, and eligibility, visit https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs/
Share Details Last Updated May 12, 2025 EditorDede DiniusContactPriscila Valdezpriscila.valdez@nasa.govLocationArmstrong Flight Research Center Related Terms Explore More 3 min read 5 Tips to Craft a Standout NASA Internship Application Article 13 hours ago 3 min read NASA STEM Programs Ignite Curiosity Beyond the Classroom Article 2 weeks ago 4 min read Robots, Rovers, and Regolith: NASA Brings Exploration to FIRST Robotics 2025 Article 2 weeks ago Keep Exploring Discover More Topics From NASAArmstrong Flight Research Center
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Jupiter’s Turbulent Atmosphere
Jupiter’s Turbulent Atmosphere
JunoCam, the visible light imager aboard NASA’s Juno spacecraft, captured this view of Jupiter’s northern high latitudes during the spacecraft’s 69th flyby of the giant planet on Jan. 28, 2025. Jupiter’s belts and zones stand out in this enhanced color rendition, along with the turbulence along their edges caused by winds going in different directions.
The original JunoCam data used to produce this view was taken from an altitude of about 36,000 miles (58,000 kilometers) above Jupiter’s cloud tops. JunoCam’s raw images are available for the public to peruse and process into image products. Citizen scientist Jackie Branc processed the image.
Since Juno arrived at Jupiter in 2016, it has been probing beneath the dense, forbidding clouds encircling the giant planet – the first orbiter to peer so closely. It seeks answers to questions about the origin and evolution of Jupiter, our solar system, and giant planets across the cosmos.
Learn more about NASA citizen science.
Image credit: Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS; Image processing: Jackie Branc (CC BY)
Jupiter’s Turbulent Atmosphere
JunoCam, the visible light imager aboard NASA’s Juno spacecraft, captured this view of Jupiter’s northern high latitudes during the spacecraft’s 69th flyby of the giant planet on Jan. 28, 2025. Jupiter’s belts and zones stand out in this enhanced color rendition, along with the turbulence along their edges caused by winds going in different directions.
The original JunoCam data used to produce this view was taken from an altitude of about 36,000 miles (58,000 kilometers) above Jupiter’s cloud tops. JunoCam’s raw images are available for the public to peruse and process into image products. Citizen scientist Jackie Branc processed the image.
Since Juno arrived at Jupiter in 2016, it has been probing beneath the dense, forbidding clouds encircling the giant planet – the first orbiter to peer so closely. It seeks answers to questions about the origin and evolution of Jupiter, our solar system, and giant planets across the cosmos.
Learn more about NASA citizen science.
Image credit: Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS; Image processing: Jackie Branc (CC BY)
