.jpeg)
My Experience at NASA
What is SARP?
The professional answer summarized from SARPS's website:
NASA's Student Airborne Research Program is a paid summer research internship available for highly motivated advanced undergraduate students from any STEM field who will be rising seniors the following fall semester. Selected students will be placed into different research groups, each with an emphasis on either surface, atmospheric, or oceanographic processes. From here, each individual student will develop their own research project with the help of professional mentors, and embark on a hands-on research experience resulting in a formal presentation of their results to peers and other NASA personnel. Students will fly multiple research missions onboard the NASA DC-8 to collect and measure atmospheric gases, use spectral imaging to image land and water surfaces, and assist in any other experiemnts that may be on board. Research trips are also taken in order to collect recent, real-time data relevant to the students research projects while also gaining valuable experience being out in the field.
My answer:
SARP is a fantasitic opportunity that allows you to not only spend your summer under the NASA meatball doing real research, but also allows you to meet new people and do new things you've never imagined doing. While the entire class is separated into research groups, which determines your final project and field research trips, SARP doesnt isolate you at all. SARP is built upon generating a unifying, family-like dynamic between every student and mentor in the program, regardless of research group. The program feels like it is dedicated to making sure every student gets the absolute most out of their NASA experience.
On this page, I will ellaborate on my own NASA SARP experience, from the DC-8 flights and research field trips to the California excursions and weeks in Irvine. First, I would have to fly into southern California. This would be my first trip to the west coast and my first time flying alone. The first two weeks of our internship would be held in Palmdale - a very hot place for sure, but a place I will always hope to go back and visit.
two weeks in Palmdale, California
This would be my first time visiting California; my first time leaving the east coast. Actually, this was my first time traveling a considerable distance by myself. On my second plane (the one that would land in Orange County), I was able to see parts of the Grand Canyon from my window. I wish I was able to get a good picture, but I was too amazed by what I was seeing to even think about looking away. I remember thinking how much it looked like the surface of Mars. On our descent, I captured this picture of the mountains.
For the first two weeks of our 8 week internship, we all stayed in a hotel in Palmdale. The purpose was to be close to NASA Armstrong - where we would go most mornings/ afternoons to listen to lectures on the science, the tools, and the methods we would be using in our projects. This is also where we would eventually take-off in the DC-8 for our research flights. Just being in the hotel was an experience on its own - from going to the surrounding restaurants for group meals to hanging out with everyone in the pool and hot tub in the evenings. At first we were a large group of 28 people hanging out, but during our first week we were separated into our research groups; land, ocean, WAS, and atmosphere.
I was very lucky to be placed in the Land group. Besides myself we had Tyler; one of the nicest people I met and was always looking over everyone in the group (which got him the name 'Pops'). We also had Corey - well, 'other' Corey. Definitely the most down-to-Earth and supportive member. Every group had to have the quiet one - and that was Meri. However, she was just as fun to hang out with when we all got comfortable with each other. Richelle was our designated group artist and the one that seemed to have an answer to everything. David and Sarah rounded out our group by being our sole source of energy - both people I wish I hung out with more that summer. We were directly led by our 'mother hen' Alana, who I give most of the credit to for my success on my project. Finally our professional mentor was THE Dar. Awesome guy who almost made me want to switch away from physics.
Besides our required lectures and other responsibilities, we were usually free to do what we wanted to on the weekends. The first weekend in Palmdale saw a large group of us take a hike to the Devils Punchbowl. Only ever hiking on the east coast, it was a big difference hiking in such a hot and dry environment. We also were able to check out some of the museums around Palmdale/NASA Armstrong - including Edwards Air Force base. This is when I started to take a lot of pictures.
Flying on NASA's DC-8
The most important (and probably most exciting) part of this internship was flying on board the DC-8. This consisted of one short flight (~2-3 hrs) and one long flight (~6 hrs). Though I never 'puked for science,' it wasnt the greatest experience while I was in the air. Only in hindsight did I realize how amazing this opportunity was. We performed many maneuvers required by some of the experiments - like rolling side-to-side, pitch maneuvers bringing us up and down 'hills', downward spiral maneuvers, and a touch-and-go at the airport. It was on these flights that the WAS and atmosphere groups were active in taking data in the air - ranging from physical sampling to measurements. Us in the land and ocean groups were more there for the ride, and were soon going to be more focused on data being taken on board NASA's ER-2 aircraft. This is basically a research-outfitted spy plane, so it and the pilot were outfitted for super high altitude flight. I was lucky enough to be one of the few able to watch the pilot get ready in his high-altitude suit and ride along in his 'astronaut van.'
Santa Barbara with the land group
camping trip with DAR and going to the rocks
My Time at the university of california, Irvine
exploring the campus with friends, sarp dinners, sarp activities
Excursions
baseball game, jpl, palomar, cali science center,
Last days with NASA SARP
presentation pics, pics with land group
My Final Presentation at SARP
