NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Greg Papp (l) and Reid Berdanier (r) ponder possible futures at NASA.
Image credit: NASA/Maria Werries
› Link to larger photo
A NASA Chat Event
Thursday, September 24, 2009
5:30-6:30 pm EDT
›  Chat Transcript

What's it like to work at NASA?

Undergraduate and graduate students who are on NASA aeronautics scholarships spent this past summer working at NASA centers across the country.

They worked on everything from hypervelocity impact experiments to damage mitigation for aircraft and flight tests for future aircraft design concepts.

What was the work like? What were the people like?

What did they learn about NASA they didn't know before?

The scholarship application period for the fall 2010 academic year is now open. Are you interested? Ask our guests what motivated them to apply.

Chat with Eric, Greg, Reid, Emily and Leslie about their summers at NASA and their experiences applying for the NASA Aeronautics Scholarship.

Chat Guests

Reid Berdanier
NASA Center: Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
Work Focus: Ultrasonic detection of damage in composite materials used for aircraft
School: Syracuse University. (undergraduate)
Chat User Name: ReidLangley

Eric Blood
NASA Center: Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Ca.
Work Focus: Data capture of flight maneuvers of X-48B Blended Wing Body prototype
School: Carnegie Mellon University (undergraduate)
Chat User Name: EricDryden

Emily Head
NASA Center: Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
Work Focus: Synthesis of pure silicon carbide nanotubes and research on aluminum composites for potential use in aircraft parts
School: University of Cincinnati (undergraduate)
Chat User Name: EmilyGlenn

Leslie Lamberson
NASA Center: Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Ca.
Work Focus: Hypervelocity impact experiments on various types of thermal protection materials for micrometeoroid and orbital debris damage assessment
School: California Institute of Technology (CalTech) (graduate)
Chat User Name: LeslieAmes

Greg Papp
NASA Center: Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
Work Focus: Flight performance and recovery of damaged aircraft
School: Syracuse University (undergraduate)
Chat User Name: GregLangley

Tony Springer
NASA Headquarters, Washington
Lead for Communications and Education
(Coordinator, NASA Aeronautics Research Scholarship Program)


›  Read the My Summer at NASA Feature Story
Apply for the NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program → 
Find Other NASA Internships and Education Projects → 

Karen Rugg
NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate