Class of 2021 Exploration Science Summer Interns
April 9, 2021
The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) is hosting a special summer intern program to involve students in activities that support missions to the Moon that utilize the Orion crew vehicle, the Deep Space Gateway, and robotic assets on the lunar surface. It is a unique opportunity to integrate scientific input with exploration activities in a way that mission architects and spacecraft engineers can use. Activities may involve assessments of landing sites and traverse plans for multiple destinations that are responsive to NASA objectives.
The Exploration Science Summer Intern Program builds on the success of the Lunar Exploration Summer Intern Program that was designed to evaluate possible landing sites on the Moon for robotic and human exploration missions. Over a five-year period (2008–2012), teams of students worked with LPI science staff and their collaborators to produce A Global Lunar Landing Site Study to Provide the Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon. The program for 2021 is designed to have the same impact on future exploration activities.
The 10-week program runs June 1–August 6, 2021. Applications were accepted from graduate students in geology, planetary science, planetary astronomy, and related topics.
Congratulations to the ten students chosen to participate in this summer’s program:
- Katelyn Frizzell (Rutgers University)
- Megan Kopp (Boston College)
- Gayantha Loku Kodikara (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
- Kristen Luchsinger (New Mexico State University)
- Alissa Madera (Rutgers University)
- McKayla Meier (University of Idaho)
- Tyler Paladino (Idaho State University)
- Ruby Patterson (University of Houston)
- Christian Tai Udovicic (Northern Arizona University)
- Frank Wroblewski (University of Idaho)
The Exploration Science Summer Intern Program is supported with funding from the LPI and the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute at NASA Ames Research Center.
