IamA High School student who worked at NASA and will be flying in microgravity AMA!

DUDE! I'm a high school teacher who will be flying in microgravity in mid-April with some of my students as part of the HUNCH program.

Can my students and I skype / zoom with you some time after 3pm CST after these holidays? I've got a couple of kids who might love to chat with you. PM me if you're interested!

Really? That's awesome! I'd love to!

Great job in getting so far while 'only' being a senior!

Did you get all your knowledge from school, or did you have an interest in advanced technology while growing up, or how did you get to be that smart? I am really wondering.

Haha I'm not really as intelligent as people might assume. I honestly think its because I know how to market myself well.

Most, no. I've been interested in just about everything for the longest time; I'm an insomniac, so I spend a lot of nights just reading wikipedia. I did take a Physics course last year, though, which helped me understand the mathematical representations of the concepts I had already read. I've always been into computers and programming, which helped me get my foot in the door. However, it was my research on a more cost-effective hydrogen fuel cell that really got me there.

You sound pretty intelligent to me.

Thank you :)

Was it beacuase of CO-OP Also?

I wasn't a part of a co-op until HUNCH. However, I don't work on campus with HUNCH.

watch out for space rape kiddo. space rape is on the incline. No laws or legislation up there. space rape is not a joke kids.

Haha dang it was always my dream to be raped by a giant green alien:(

What experiment are you testing?

I was developing a model for plasma actuators, which are basically like mechanical flaps without any moving parts. They work by ionizing the air and creating a non-thermal plasma, which imparts a momentum on the nonionized air surrounding it. However, it can't be used in large aircraft because it doesn't create enough thrust; my team was trying to change that.

In microgravity, we are developing a project for a small local oxygen source for use on the ISS. Its basically just a fancy electrolysis unit.

Edit: since people are asking for an ELI5 version:

I was creating a lumped circuit model (just a circuit diagram like this for a device with a high voltage that breaks apart the air. When the air breaks apart, the electrons go flying around, bouncing into a bunch of things, imparting a momentum (think of someone running into you). However, the nucleus (which is ~99% of the weight) stays still. Plasma actuators look like this.

Electrolysis is relatively simple. It just separates the hydrogen and oxygen in water!

I know some of these words

Okay:

Plasma: state of matter existing at extreme levels of molecular excitation (basically high temperatures)

Actuator: a device that moves something. It's truly that simple.

Mechanical Flaps: are movable parts on aircraft that create additional lift at the cost of substantial drag (the end result is a slower moving aircraft. Flaps are used when landing to allow you to stay in the air at lower speeds.) You've probably seen the control surfaces on the tails (elevators) and wings (ailerons) of aircraft, this is one that's similar to those, but closer to the center of gravity, so the plane doesn't turn as much.

Ionized: Okay, I'm more of a mechanical / aerospace guy, but as I understand it, it's the separation of charges in a sample of molecules.

Non-thermal Plasma: You know when I said that plasma was basically just really hot, well this is where I explain that's not exactly true. The same properties can be accomplished without just rising ambient temperatures, this is accomplished by exciting whichever molecules are of interest via ionization.

ISS: International Space Station, the giant satellite with astronauts and stuff.

Electrolysis: again, out of my depth, but many of you guys probably played around with this in high school. You pass current through a material to generate a chemical reaction. The most common demonstration of this is using water to create oxygen and hydrogen bubbles (which is just the bonds breaking down.

Thank you so much!

Can you maybe do another AMA where you speak English?

Haha I'm sorry! What would you like me to expand on?

Yes, ELI5 please

done :)

good guy OP

I never thought I'd be GGG haha.

This sounds pretty neat! I've got a couple of questions:

1. Where does microgravity play a role in your test setup? Which part of this experiment requires a low gravity environment to work properly?
2. What do you mean that the plasma actuators do not create enough thrust? My understanding of flaps (we're talking the aerodynamic control surface, right?) is that they just affect the amount of lift/drag generated by the wing to change the stall speed.
3. At what level of detail are you modeling the actuators right now?

Anyway, good luck with your research!

To be perfectly honest - I don't think it will have any effect. The design of the experiment is kind of just to see "wow, it works" and get patted on the back. Its a whole class project that we do through the HUNCH program. Our original project had to be thrown out, so this was a quick one to make up for lost time.

1. They impart a momentum on the air, and are used for flow control. I'd assume they work in the same regard as flaps.

2. I was making a lumped circuit model of them.

Very cool. What are the actuators used for?

We're hoping to replace flaps in the near future. They have a lot of potential due to having no moving parts, relatively low power use, and greater flow control.

Ok so you say all this but it seems to me you are projecting a far greater degree of personal discovery than NASA would ever extend to even a Post-doc.

I'm not saying what you did wasn't cool, but don't try to over impress people by basically acting like you were a research scientist actually designing this study, by doing so you set unrealistic goals in people's mind for what it actually takes to become involved in science (just look at some of the posts praising you).

I'm not trying to exaggerate my work or understate it, honestly. These two projects are through completely different programs. One was actually on campus and the work was all mine (the plasma actuator), the other is through a high school program called HUNCH.

One was actually on campus and the work was all mine (the plasma actuator)

So from scratch you read the back literature, designed and tested a device you made by yourself?

Edit: Downvotes for asking questions in an AMA, pro work reddit.

I think you misunderstood what type of model I was making. I was developing an accurate lumped circuit model. And yes, I did read all the back literature...all of it, it seemed haha. If you want a better understanding of what I was doing, one of the experts in my work was a man named Orlov. He has a ton of literature published on the subject.

This deserves more attention. Just because someone younger than you is more accomplished doesn't mean you can't still appreciate what they're doing.

Haha thanks man!

Very cool man. Is anyone there at NASA talking about the SpacEx company led by Elon Musk? They want to populate Mars.

It's funny you mention Elon Musk, I'll be going to his alma mater next year :D (University of Pennsylvania).

As for SpaceX, not really. My department was actually in Advanced Materials Research, however there are projects like Orion that had private contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. I think part of the reason SpaceX was never brought up in serious conversation was the fact that I'm from the east coast and SpaceX is based in California. I think everyone on campus is excited for the possibilities, however. Aerospace engineers, fortunately and unfortunately, don't really have a lot of options in the private sector currently; they have to work with Big Brother.

What's your intended major at UPenn?

I was accepted to the Computer and Cognitive Science dual degree program!

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Hey thanks a lot man! I'm so excited, honestly. I couldn't believe I got in, and it still hasn't sunk it completely!

Y u no MIT?

I liked MIT, but I didn't really like Boston. I got the feeling MIT was more of a graduate school, also.

You must have gotten in ED, congrats!

Yep! I flipped out when I opened my decision!

How did you come across this opportunity to work for NASA?

My high school requires us to do a senior mentorship project. During my junior year, I designed a more cost-effective and efficient hydrogen fuel cell. I solicited some help from NASA (I literally just called the head of their Nanomaterials branch, since I was working with carbon nanotubes) and she got me in touch with my - former - boss. When the time came to find someone, I just asked him and he accepted!

What high school do you go to that requires this type of stuff? Is it a private one or a very well funded public school?

Neither actually. I go to a very small rural school; we're one of the poorest areas in the state. However, I go to a regional governors school as well, which is where most of my STEM courses are/were taught. It's just near a NASA campus.

How did you come around to the idea of designing a more cost efficient fuel cell? Were you just laying around doing nothing and started thingthinking "What if I..."?

EDIT: I skipped a few letters. Such is life.

Actually, from a HowStuffWorks article :)

/First off , Hats off to you..

and second , How does it feel to "work" at NASA? IT must feel awesome!

It's insanely awesome to just say, hey I work at NASA. However, the people there are VERY serious about their work. It honestly felt very stiffling at times haha, there was no personality whatsoever. Also the campus was bland as could be.

While there is that romanticism about working there, at the end of the day, it was still a job.

Working at NASA has one more advantage: It's a conversation starter. You can say "You know what? I WORK AT NASA" :P

Is everyone else helpful while you work there?

Haha I try to be humble about it. My family loves to tell people though ;)

And what do you mean?

I mean.. do they help you around while working or have a chat with you?

Apart from my introduction to the facilities, no. That was one of the worst parts about working there. I look a lot older than I am, so most just assumed I was either a graduate student or a new hire haha. I got lost plenty of times, truth be told!

Criticism of word usage aside, congrats on your notable achievement and self marketing skills, you and your family should be proud!

However, I am not sure that humble means what you think it does, (cough) "AskMe Anything I work at NASA". Humility would be not telling people unless they asked, rather than 'Hi my name is Zac I worked at NASA'.

Source: Bitter middle-aged underachiever that did not work at NASA

Haha I don't really announce it unless asked. However, I thought other high school students might be interested or inspired by this. NASA isn't as scary as people think!

My first job was at a pharmacy...

Haha mine was at a small time web development company...I learned in the eighth grade how much working makes you hate the things you used to love haha!

(Mech. Engineering student here) Very cool and I hope testing goes well and it gets advanced. Like you mentioned selling yourself is half the job. Many people don't realize that getting in touch with people in high places is as easy as sending them an email sometimes (with a good pitch of course). Anyway, congrats on your progress and hope to see big things from you in the future.

Haha thanks! At this point I'm just ready to go to college!!

Where are you applying to?

I applied early decision to the University of Pennsylvania's computer and cognitive science dual degrees program and was accepted. I was also looking at Tufts, MIT, Columbia, and Carnegie Mellon.

How did your friends react to you going to NASA?

Most don't really care past the novelty of it. I do a lot at my school, so they weren't really shocked. The only thing they hate is how busy I stay, which limits the amount of time I can just 'hang out' with them. That sucks.

People born in 1996 are working at NASA. FML.

Honestly, I'm just as scared as you are. It's easy to criticize others when you don't have any say in it. Now that I'm getting older, the responsibility to perform and do well is sometimes unbearable.

First of all congrats on that internship, and going to Penn next year.

Have you chosen a major yet? What are your plans/dreams for your future beyond college? Would you like to continue to work in the space exploration field, or is there something else you want to do?

Thanks so much man! You have no idea how excited I am to be a Quaker!

I have no idea what I'm planning on doing. Right now I'm going to focus on school - I was accepted to their computer and cognitive science dual degree program. So maybe AI?

Hey man best of luck at Penn! I have a friends there on the xc team and he loves it.

What's the xc team?

JESUS! Make me feel like shit, what is you IQ? and how did you get the opportunity to work there?

Haha, I have no idea to be honest. My school requires us to do a research mentorship senior year. The year before I had done some work with a PhD at the facility, and I just asked him if he wanted to work with me. Unfortunately, it didn't work out in the end :(

Hey! Shout-out to a fellow NASA intern high schooler. Senior too. Were you at GSFC?

No, unfortunately! I was based out of Langley.

Did you happen to meet the animation team at Langley?

Unfortunately, no. That's where I was based, actually; the campus is huge. I worked in the Advanced Materials Research Department.

Ahh, I'm part of the animation team (ACL). We had some interns come through a few times, didn't know if you were one of them. We're working on a video for Game Changing about the woven TPS.

Oh neat! I wasn't a part of an internship program like LaRSS unfortunately. I didn't get paid :(

Are you asian ?

I'm a white kid from the country actually hahah! I live in a pop. 300 town :p

How much did they pay you?

None at all. It was completely on my own time. However, I wouldn't advise working there if you want to make the big bucks...academia doesn't pay very well most of the time. It's sad, really. Now R&D for a company, there's where the money is!

Hi, I'm a sophomore in high school, and I've become really interested in working with NASA, (JPL in particular) any advice?

Don't be afraid to just put yourself out there! I cold called the head of the nanomaterials branch because I was curious about carbon nanotubes and it led me to working there. Just explore your passions and you'll make it. I know it sounds cheesy, but its the truth.

Why are you no longer working at NASA? What were your hours and duties there?

I worked six hours a week, and I left due to a two hour commute and a personality conflict.

whose personality?

My research mentor (basically my boss haha). He didn't really have a thorough understanding of the mentorship program and neither of us could communicate very well with each other (he was a foreign national). However, the man was one of the smartest people I've ever met, and I really appreciate the time I had with him. I learned a lot.

Flying in microgravity or simply free falling?

Technically, free falling haha. Its just easier to communicate in layman's terms!

Where is the vomit comet? JSC or Ellington?

Johnson Space Center! We'll actually be contracting a flight from Zero G Corporation, which uses a modified 727. You can find more information here: gozerog.com!

What do your parents do?

My mom never graduated college and works at a newspaper and my dad is a manager at a factory.

Any tips for someone the same age for getting into a position like this?

Just put yourself out there! NASA has a ton of educational opportunities for high school students, you just have to find them. Email a branch head or something, that's what I did.

What is NASA's (or your) opinion of the Mar's One mission?

While I can't speak for NASA, I wouldn't honestly get my hopes up. I remember the AMA with Lansdorp and it didn't seem like he really knew what he was doing. Such a monumental trip with such a relatively small time span is ridiculous. I just don't see it plausibly happening.

Why did you have to leave?

I had a serious personality conflict with my mentor. We couldn't communicate well, and I had a two hour commute that was seriously affecting my other studies.

How did you get the job?

I was doing some research my junior year into making a more cost effective and efficient hydrogen fuel cell. I was working with doping platinum onto carbon nanotubes, and I was looking at resources to find out how to do it. So, I pulled up the nanomaterials department at NASA and called. The head put me in touch with the man I worked with this year. At the end of the year, after my research was done, I asked him if he would be willing to take me in.

Congrats on achieving everything you have up to this point! Do you gave any plans for college? What do you want to do as a career?

I was accepted early decision to the University of Pennsylvania's computer and cognitive science dual degree program. I'm thinking about working in cybernetics and AI, but honestly I have no idea.

How did you apply for this job? and did you have to compete against others? Why did NASA choose you?

I didn't. I was doing some research my junior year into making a more cost effective and efficient hydrogen fuel cell. I was working with doping platinum onto carbon nanotubes, and I was looking at resources to find out how to do it. So, I pulled up the nanomaterials department at NASA and called. The head put me in touch with the man I worked with this year. At the end of the year, after my research was done, I asked him if he would be willing to take me in.

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A/S/L?

Do you by any chance happen to go to a private high school in Illinois? I think I might have gone to school with you.

No I don't haha. I live in Virginia!

Did you start getting more attention from the ladies after they find out where you work, given you're still in High School?

Haha not really, I suppose. I've been in a relationship for over a year; so everyone knows I'm off the market ;)

What's your favorite food?

Rice, maybe? It depends on my mood. I can always eat some pizza!

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I live in rural Virginia.

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Obviously, the best way is to get an aerospace engineering degree. However, a lot of it is connections. Show your passion for academia and look at coops with your university!

As someone who's already finished the application process, what advice do you have? More specifically, what advice do you have for presenting your main accomplishment of focus? (how did you treat in your essays essentially, if you did)

Applying to Stanford RD and my strongest project has been a full time job this summer at a Tech Startup in SF, so any feedback or tips is much appreciated :)

I talked about my passion for computers and a personal issue that led me to them. They really want to know the person behind the scores. They could accept a class full of 2400 SAT scores, but they don't. They want a class full of people who they think will benefit their campus.

I start programming and I give up all the time because stuff stops making sense..... anytime I look around me there is so much to learn...

What advise do you have for people like me ?

I really appreciated the codecademy tutorials. I only used them to learn the python syntax but it worked really well. I'm also going through that as well! I'll pick it up and usually stop...it's a rough cycle! I think a lot of it is just self difficulty. Get involved in the learning community, it helps a lot. Stackoverflow is wicked.

Hey there! I'm a fellow senior in highschool and its my dream to work at NASA some day. Im going into mechanical or aerospace engineering next year, so what would your advice be?

I'd say do what you love and find other people passionate about the same things. Being surrounded by a likeminded community is invaluable! In college, look for co-op programs, NASA does a lot of outreach programs, you just have to know where to look for them!

When did you start realizing how brilliant you are?

I'm really not as smart as you think haha, I've just taken advantage of the opportunities that have been presented! I'm not even the best student! I've had several Bs and I've got a C in three classes right now haha. Senioritis kills man...

Do you need any physical preparations such as working out?

I think there's a general physical involved, however I'm in good shape. I was considering the US military academy (West Point) before I was accepted to Penn, so I should be fine.

Hi! I'm currently a high school student worried about my admissions profile. Do you think that I really need to go to a high-profile undergrad school to be competitive for grad school, or am I fine with just a state school or lower profile private school?

Honestly, I don't. What you do in college is the most important thing. GPA and GMAT scores help as well. I haven't really looked Grad school yet, since I'm applying to undergrad, however, they say that the most important thing is your graduate school. A kid from my town went to Virginia Tech, yet went to MIT for his masters. Don't stress too much if you don't get into a big name school for your bachelor.

Any advice for a 24 year old college dropout trying to find opportunities in fast food?

Moe's man. Delicious.

i know someone who went up in the vomit comet. he vomited.

That's what I'm hoping to do!

You sound like a smart guy and i kinda like that! I am a hot girl...so any interest? :)

http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Me_8adb7e_1863804.jpg

What exactly did you research with the hydrogen fuel cells and carbon nanotubes?

I was trying to create a cheaper anode (I never got to test it, because it was really expensive!). Many commercial fuel cells are really expensive simply because the anode is made up of platinum, which has catalytic properties for separating electrons from the hydrogen atom. However, carbon nanotubes are much better at transporting electrons. So my design was to coat very thin layers of platinum on the tubes (a process known as duping) to maintain the catalytic activity, but make it much cheaper to mass produce and increase efficiency. Obviously, I'm a high school student though, and I couldn't afford to buy the platinum :/

Do I have to be in the top 1% of smart people to get into NASA?

Heck no...I'm waiting for some of my friends to see this. They'll all tell you I'm an idiot haha!

Not an idiot. But you're no Bill Gates, regardless of what Danny thinks.

Danny knows his stuff.

I live near Langley and Wallops, and I also have a requirement for high school to perform a research project and a mentorship. What helped you convince NASA to hire you?

Also, congratulations on the experiment- I've had a teacher be in the vomit comet, and she say's it's loads of fun, but don't eat beforehand.

Edit* Should have mentioned that it was Langley Research center, not Langley, VA.

I'm not near Langley, VA. I live in Hampton Roads. However, I got to know a researcher there who took me in! Thanks for the advice. I think it'd be exciting to puke in zero gravity! Not many people can say THAT!

What you're doing is great! Quick question: What are your thoughts on the government cutting funding on NASA? Do you think this will make a big affect in the long run?

Personally? I hope funding is increased. However, I don't know if the private industry will be more efficient in certain pursuits, since they have one goal, instead of the thousands that NASA has. I look at history, and in the 1950s and 60s we had some serious technological achievements, and we were basically throwing money in to these programs. However, how much was wasted? I don't know.

As an EE student who has gotten close to getting an internship with NASA, what can I do to seal the deal?

Honestly, the only advice I have is to show how passionate you are about your field of study. Wow them. Good luck :)

What center do you work at? I coop at JSC. Your drivers license looks nothing like Texas or any that I've seen before. Also which branch do you work in? What school has the most coops at your center?

I'm was at Langley! But I'll be visiting JSC in April! Virginia Tech has a lot of positions here.

dang, JSC has no VT coops. Tons of Ramblin Wrecks (Georgia Tech) here though! ACC knows whatsup!

Georgia Tech has a few here too actually! I was looking at the board not too long ago!

How much money did your parents have to throw at NASA for them to let you play there?

I don't come from an affluent family by any means haha. I was just lucky and took the opportunity that I got.

you tell me what "microgravity" feels like, and I will tell you what a vagina feels like.

Lol. Thankfully I have a girlfriend of over a year who's really supportive of my endeavors.