NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium and AERE Department
Journalism Stories
I had the opportunity to write a story about the launch of CySAT-1, a CubeSat developed entirely by students at Iowa State University. Launched from Kennedy Space Center on August 3 as part of NASA's NG-21 mission, CySAT-1 was part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative. The project, which began through the Iowa Space Grant Consortium, highlighted the students' work on design and integration.
This story covers Iowa State's CyLaunch team’s second-place finish at the NASA Student Launch Competition, where they earned a $2,500 award and achieved a near-perfect 5,000-foot altitude. Their success marked a significant milestone for the team, supported by sponsors like ISGC and Boeing.
Four graduate students from Iowa State’s Aerospace Engineering Department received Teaching Excellence (TEX) and Research Excellence (REX) Awards for Spring 2024.
Speaking to Astronauts on the International Space Station
I had the incredible opportunity to speak with International Space Station astronauts Nick Hague and Matt Dominick during a live In-Flight Education downlink. After submitting a series of questions, we watched as the astronauts responded live in space. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an excellent chance for me to practice my public speaking skills!
Social Media Designs
During my time with the Iowa Space Grant Consortium, I created a variety of social media designs and flyers using Canva. I tailored the designs to appeal to diverse media audiences, ensuring they were visually engaging and effective. These flyers were distributed at events, and the social media posts were shared across multiple platforms such as facebook, linkedin, and instagram to maximize reach.
Business Cards
I designed several modern business card templates for Iowa Space Grant Consortium employees. The goal was to create a professional and attention grabbing card that they could share with others.
Other Experience
Photography:
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Throughout my internship, I had the chance to attend various events where I was responsible for capturing photos for the department. Using a Canon camera, I was able to adjust setting to take live photos and capture important moments. The events I attended ranged from guest speakers to rocket flight competitions. These photos were used in articles, social media posts, and promotional materials.
Website and Spreadsheet Management:
I also gained valuable experience working with spreadsheets and website design. A significant part of my role involved transferring website data into spreadsheets and supporting the development of a new website for the department. While I had limited prior experience with website design, this challenge allowed me to develop new skills and contribute to the process.