Sometimes Engineering IS Rocket Science: A JMT Intern’s Journey with NASA’s Micro-g NExT Challenge
Co-written by: Anne Lindsey Jenkins and Jennifer Manzo
The transition from academic learning to practical application is a critical phase in the career of any engineering student. Ryan de Jager , an intern at the JMT Mt. Pleasant, SC office until August, embodies this journey perfectly. Recently graduated from Clemson University with a degree in civil engineering, Ryan has taken his academic experience to new heights through a unique opportunity provided by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration .
Ryan’s journey with JMT began two years ago when he interned with us before his junior year. His passion and commitment to engineering were evident early on, and it was clear he was destined for remarkable achievements. This year, Ryan and his team participated in NASA’s Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams (Micro-g NExT) contest, a prestigious competition that challenges undergraduate students to design, build, and test tools or devices for the Artemis space missions.
The Micro-g NExT contest is more than just a competition; it is an immersive experience that includes hands-on full-scale engineering design, test operations, and public outreach. Ryan shared insights into this challenging yet rewarding project. “NASA asked participating schools to choose one of four tools to design for the upcoming Artemis missions. We chose the tool carrier. We designed everything from scratch, including the testing procedure and what constituted a test pass/failure. Then at the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), we directed the diver on how to use and test our device,” he explained.
The dedication and ingenuity of Ryan and his team paid off. Their tool carrier design was selected as the winner and could be used as a tool carrier blueprint in the upcoming Artemis missions to the moon. This achievement is a testament to the rigorous academic training and innovative thinking fostered at Clemson and through internships like those offered at JMT.
Ryan elaborated on the design process, “We were given a list of requirements our device had to meet by NASA, such as volume and weight restrictions, and received additional directions through face-to-face meetings with NASA employees and mentors. Other than that, it was a two-semester design project that we had to design from scratch. We used information gathered from the Apollo missions and several NASA standards to develop our tool carrier design in the first semester. Then, we fully 3D modeled and refined the design in the second semester. Everything on the carrier is either off-the-shelf aluminum, machined aluminum, or 3D printed. We also did stress analysis on every part of the device, aiming for a factor of safety of two,?which we (barely) hit on every part. This factor of safety ensured that the maximum stress any part experienced was less than half of its yield stress.
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The journey did not end with the design phase. Ryan and his team traveled to Houston to test their device in the NBL, a 6.2-million-gallon pool used by NASA to train astronauts. “This was the first time we had access to the tools we designed the carrier for. We had to design and direct the tests we wanted the test diver to perform, so we were the ones talking to the divers. In addition to micro-g tests, it [the tool] also had to be dust-compliant because of how abrasive the lunar regolith is. It’s like microscopic shards of volcanic glass, and it's electrostatically charged, so it gets into everything, sticks there, and then tears it apart. It’s great stuff!” Ryan remarked.
NASA’s description of the Micro-g NExT challenge highlights the rigor and significance of the competition. Students submit proposed designs and complete a series of reviews with NASA employees. Test operations are conducted in the lunar analog testing environment of the NBL, where professional NBL divers test the tools, and students direct the divers from the Test Conductor Room. The 2024 Micro-g NExT challenges focus on Orion crew safety and lunar extravehicular activities operations during the Artemis missions.
Ryan de Jager’s experience underscores the value of internships that bridge the gap between academia and industry. At JMT, we are proud to support and nurture the talents of young engineers like Ryan, providing them with opportunities to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings. These experiences not only enhance their skills but also contribute to significant advancements in engineering and technology. Ryan’s journey with NASA’s Micro-g NExT is a shining example of what can be achieved when academic excellence meets practical application.
Additional Resources:
Images of the NBL tests as well as the video link: https://youtu.be/uKgRMsTbqAU
Challenge Description: