📋 Tender Overview
Michael Klooster an Aerospace Engineering senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University knew he wanted to work in the space industry since fifth grade and this past summer he took one giant leap toward his dream by earning a 10-week internship at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center GSFC along with funding from the NASA Arizona Space Grant Consortium.I didnt know the correct path to take towards my goal of working at NASA he said. But I knew starting as an Aerospace Engineering major at Embry-Riddle on the Astronautics track that I could find the right advice knowledge and technical skills to get there.That proved to be true but the most important piece of the puzzle he noted involvement.As soon as he arrived on the Prescott Campus Klooster sought out extracurricular activities starting with the Altitunes choir through the Prescott Music Club a group hes been the leader of now for three years. Second he started working for Housing and Residence Life which taught him skills hed use in his next position participating in a NASA Big Idea Challenge for In-Situ Resource Utilization or developing a system to extract ice water and other resources from lunar regolith.As one of the team leaders I aided in developing an Undergraduate Research Institute proposal and leading a 20-person team the Prescott Arizona native said. Overall this is where I discovered my interest in space system engineering.Working in the Electromechanical Systems Branch of the NASA center Klooster partnered with two other interns from across the United States to develop new designs for a reconfigurable modular rover to serve as a testbed for space exploration. They then presented their plans at the NASA GSFC Summer 2021 Intern Symposium where NASA engineers offered advice on their concept as well as on their career goals.During the summer I was also able to attend incredible virtual seminars with NASA employees and leadership Klooster said. Through these I became fascinated with future NASA missions.Internships like Kloosters according to Dr. Elliot Bryner assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering who initially informed Klooster that he was a finalist for the position are at the core of Embry-Riddles mission to offer students hands-on work solving real-world problems. Its that type of experience he said that sets candidates apart to future employers and Eagles continually rise to the challenge of these opportunities.The fact that NASA repeatedly selects our students for these prestigious internships is a testament to the quality of our students Bryner said. They go to NASA and represent Embry-Riddle in a positive way such that the people at NASA want to select more of our students in the future.I am incredibly grateful for the NASA Arizona Space Grant Consortium for sponsoring my internship and for the opportunities that have now opened for me Klooster added noting that he doesnt plan take it easy in the final year of his undergraduate program.Next he will lead a group senior capstone project.Thinking ahead to graduation Im looking forward to taking what I have learned at NASA and implementing these lessons into my career search beyond Embry-Riddle he said.
