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FROM PISCES TO NASA
UH Hilo Student Lands Prestigious NASA Internship
Melissa Adams, a University of Hawaii at Hilo Senior who interned at PISCES last summer, is among the select few nationwide chosen for NASA’s Sally Ride Internship. It’s an opportunity so prestigious, only 10 internships total are awarded in the spring and fall semesters of each school year!
"I am so busy with school work that initially getting the internship did not phase me," said Adams, a Geology Major. "But in the middle of the night, I'd startle myself out of a deep sleep and think to myself, 'I'm going to be working at NASA this summer!!!'"
Adams, who is Native Hawaiian, will be working for the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Directorate (ARES) at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). Her mentors will be Jacobs/NASA scientist Trevor Graff and Dr. Richard Morris, also a NASA scientist.
The internship involves research on geologic Mars analogs. Findings will be used to support robotic missions to the Red Planet, including MER, MSL, and MRO.
This opportunity is a result of Melissa’s hard work, searching for a certain type of mineral on Hawaii Island that has similar geologic properties to a mineral found on Mars.
She, along with PISCES Test Logistics/EPO Manager John Hamilton, and Graff, successfully located the mineral on Mauna Kea. The team was granted permission from the Office of Mauna Kea Management, with advice from Kahu Ku Mauna, to conduct the research.
During her Sally Ride Internship, Adams will help NASA take this research to the next level by running a chemical analysis of the mineral at JSC in Houston, Texas.
NASA also sent Adams a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her work, saying “her outstanding contributions and efforts…allowed the unique geologic environment of Hawaii…to serve as an extraordinary analog for understanding Mars.”
"I still cannot believe it," said Adams. "To think of where I was two years ago and what I have done since then makes me feel so blessed. I am so grateful for the people that have been instrumental in helping me get this opportunity. To them I say my warmest mahalo nui loa!"
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This internship is named after Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. She passed away on July 23, 2012 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In 2013, NASA paid tribute to her by creating an internship in her name that is intended to help students from underserved backgrounds pursue a research interest at one of NASA's centers nationwide. The program is also designed to continue Ride's passion - to encourage students to enter careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Photo Credit: NASA/Smithsonian/collectSPACE.com
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