News - NASA Langley Research Center

5-4-3-2-1-LIFT OFF! Thousands of voices muffle the announcer as smoke begins to fill the sky. Atlantis had taken off for the last time in the Space Shuttle Program, and I was there to witness it. The crowds of spectators explode in cheers and whistles celebrating the successful launch. I would have never imagined I'd be able to experience such a moment. That weekend was one I'll remember for the rest of my life, and I got there by meeting the right people, and seizing every opportunity I could.

Simone Hyater-Adams attends Hampton University and works in NASA Langley's Science Directorate through the LARSS (Langley Aerospace Research Student Scholars) program.

Image Credit: 

NASA/Dave Bowman

 

Henry Hartman said it best, "success is when preparation meets opportunity." This quote didn't mean much to me until my freshman year at Hampton University, when one small opportunity got me into NASA's pipeline. I was told by my advisor at the time to apply for the Virginia Space Grant Consortium STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Bridge Program. I had no clue what it was but she told me a $1,000 scholarship would be rewarded. I had no idea it would open a door to the world of research. We were required to do things like browse my campus to learn about the research being done and apply for other NASA programs and scholarships. These requirements landed me a research position in Hampton's Atmospheric Sciences Department during my second semester of my freshman year, and I've been researching ever since.

The coordinator of the STEM Bridge Program, Denice Dublin, sent out various emails with opportunities for students in the program; including attending the NASA Un-Conference and STS-135 Shuttle Launch. Once she saw that I responded to just about every one, she knew I had the drive to experience as much as I could. Last year, she recommended I speak with Margaret Pippin, a friend of hers in Langley's Science Directorate to learn about their atmospheric research. I was extremely nervous visiting NASA for the first time, but felt a jolt of relief after meeting Margaret and her team of researchers who were much more friendly and humorous and than I'd expected. After our meeting, I applied for LARSS (Langley Aerospace Research Student Scholars) and was accepted into the program to work with Russell DeYoung, a researcher in the Science Directorate. I was able to work in his LIDAR lab, as well as complete an interesting project involving the design of a wind barrier to protect NASA Langley's infrastructure from hurricane winds.

Before I left last summer, I spoke with Margaret about possibly coming back to work with her on her educational outreach program, LEARN (Long-Term Engagement in Authentic Research with NASA). She was very interested and decided to bring me in this year to help out along side two other interns, Alec and Stephen. We have a few projects this summer; one involves instruments that measure either ozone or aerosols in the atmosphere. We are studying these instruments and evaluating their ability to be used in the classroom and possibly incorporate them in the GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) program. In the LEARN Program, K through 12 STEM subject teachers from across the country come to NASA to learn how to conduct their own authentic research in order to learn how to incorporate new methods in the classroom that are closer to how real scientific research is done. Our job is to help the teachers learn how to download, process and analyze data.

When I got my first internship opportunity at NASA I thought, "nothing could get better than this," but this summer has proven me wrong. I have been able to do many cool things like launch weather balloons, play with instruments, and teach teachers! I have been able to meet a lot more people in my building and make a lot of important contacts for graduate programs that I am interested in. I even coordinated an intern snack time with my co-worker Ashley!

Looking back, I would've never guessed one scholarship application would bring me where I am today, but with a lot of hard work, determination, and opportunities, I was able to make my "Net-Work" and experience some amazing things!