Clemson student spends summer at NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Published: November 16, 2011

By Evan Lybrand

CLEMSON — Clemson University student Molly Townsend, a senior bioengineering major from San Diego, was chosen to participate in an internship program at the 2011 NASA Glenn Academy for Space Exploration at the Glenn Research Center.

The program is designed to immerse undergraduates and graduate students in all aspects of NASA, from the mathematical to the social and the political. It also builds camaraderie and connections in the NASA community. Students had a chance to tour several facilities that deal with aspects of space flight and hear several guest speakers from throughout the industry.

Students were assigned to a mentor and were set to work on a personal project. Townsend’s project was working on probabilities of injuries in space and the effects it would cause to astronauts and the mission. There have been no examples of such incidents in space yet, so for her research she ran computer models and simulations.

Students also worked on a group project during the program. They had to plan, design, construct and find funding for their project. Townsend’s group planned to perform a microgravity drop at 110,000 feet from a high-altitude weather balloon. Due to unfavorable weather conditions the drop was postponed. 

“NASA Academy gave me the opportunity to work together with students in other disciplines to work on a comprehensive design project and develop as a leader. I also got the privilege of gaining a unique insight into the space exploration industry and this internship gave a direction to my future,” said Townsend.

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