Blue Origin Payload Development
2019-2020 Over the summer of 2019, I worked on the Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) project funding by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium. The MPG technology is a fuel gauging method for microgravity environments. I spent the summer prepping the experimental payload for its future flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard Vehicle (December 2019). I worked as a mechanical engineer and beginner Project Manager. Through writing this paper after the summer came to an end, and continuing my research throughout my undergraduate career, I learned that the MPG technology has the potential to advance space technology to be more efficient and inexpensive. This paper showcases my research and development skills, as well as written communication. |
Lemelson MIT Student Prize Competition Winner 2020
During my Junior year at Carthage, members of the Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) team went through the process of applying for the Lemelson- MIT Student Prize Competition in the “Move it!” Category. This competition involved adapting the MPG technology not only for spacecraft, but aircraft and other fuel-carrying vessels. The team went through many different rounds, and surpassed them all with flying colors. It was unbelievable that five students from a small liberal arts college were able to defeat the odds and win a competition against top-level schools such as Johns Hopkins or Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Winning this competition was incredibly eye-opening for all of us, and showed how hard we worked on this application and how well we work together. This award showcases my team working capabilities, public speaking and communication skills. Click on the link to read more about the MPG technology on the Lemelson-MIT website. |
Concept of Operations:
MPG-PROTO Project One of my last projects, funded by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, was another iteration of the Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) technology. Modal Propellant Gauging-Propellant Refueling and on-Orbit Transfer Operations, or MPG-PROTO is a step up from the previous MPG project. This project includes a “Flow Loop” in order to transfer the liquid from one tank to another. I was in charge of developing the Concept of Operations (ConOps) for this payload to fly on another Blue Origin flight in the future as the Project Manager and Mission Planning Lead of the project. For the ConOps, I had to coordinate between what Blue Origin had given us for a mission timeline and what the MPG-PROTO team was capable of doing given our components. I used LucidChart, a visualization tool to create this document that was going to be used during our payload design reviews and to keep the team within the scope of the project. This showcases my Project Management skills, communication skills, as well as my ability to use different tools and techniques in order to create a deliverable. |
Smart Robots Review Interview
Over the course of the summer of 2019, I had the opportunity to do a lot of outreach for the advancement of space technology. The technology I was promoting was the Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) project, a fuel gauging method for spacecraft. I had run a booth at EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and planned on going to local high schools to talk about my experiences with the Space Sciences Program at Carthage College. I also was running a booth at Discovery World in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. A man from Smart Robots Review had asked to interview me after hearing about the MPG technology. This was my first time explaining the project on my own, and even though it’s not the most fluent, it allowed me to improve myself throughout the day while talking to various people of all ages. I believe this represents growth because if I were to do this same interview now, I would be more well-versed and knowledgeable. This video showcased my public speaking and technical communication skills, in addition to public and media outreach. |
30th Anniversary of NASA Space Grant
The Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) Project was a key project in Wisconsin over the course of 2019, after two successful launches on Blue Origin’s New Shepard Vehicle. Two members of the MPG project, Taylor Peterson and myself, were asked to represent Wisconsin Space Grant at the 30th Anniversary of the NASA Space Grant celebration in Washington D.C. We prepared a poster and presentation for the various Congressmen and other Space Grant representatives from other states that attended this event. This event allowed us to express our passion for the advancement of space exploration and talk about the importance of our technology. Our advisor, Dr. Kevin Crosby, who is also the Director of the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium allowed us to sit in on a meeting with Representative Bryan Steil in order to get additional funding for these projects. Representing the Wisconsin Space Grant in this setting showcased my public speaking skills, communication skills, and overall professionalism. |