Program Overview:
As a NASA LEAP (Leadership Experience and Accelerator Program) intern, I serve as a as Program Manager for the L’SPACE Mission Concept Academy for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters. My role is a Mechanical Engineering Mentor.
My key responsibilities include: help teams onboarding teams, provide feedback on engineering sections in deliverables (MCR, SRR, MDR, PDR), host meetings teaching mechanical engineering students about key concepts, and supporting the growth of the students throughout their time in MCA. In addition, I am a personal mentor for two teams supporting them and monitoring their progress for the entire duration of the program.
Onboarding teams:
Organize teams into roles based on availability and interest for roles in science, engineering, and programmatics
Lead meetings with teams to introduce academy goals, answer questions, and get them started with research
Attend their team meetings every week to answer questions, and message in teams' chats daily to provide encouragement and answer questions
Grading deliverables:
Provide constructive feedback as a pros and cons list for MCR, SRR, MDR, and PDR
Feedback sections include:
Mechanical Subsystem Sections (requirements, overviews, recovery and redundancy, verification plans, manufacturing and procurement plans)
Interface control (block diagrams, N^2 diagrams, interface narratives)
Conops (engineering portion)
Mission requirements
PDR Standing Review Board engineering reviewer on a panel for 3 teams during the final week of the academy
Role Meetings, Interdisciplinary Meetings, Live Sessions:
Lead weekly meetings for all Mechanical Engineers on topics to aid them during each deliverable. Some topics include: Conops development, verification and validation, manufacturing and procurement, CAD drawings, and more
Participate on a Q&A panel towards the end of each deliverable to answer engineering questions
Lead educational activities for teams during weekly live sessions to get them engaged with the material
Personal Mentor for two teams:
Engage with teams throughout the semester, answering questions in their team discord and attending their team meetings
Hold office hours for students for extra help when needed
Dissolve conflicts between students in a professional manner, and keep students engaged and enthusiastic during the program throughout busy and stressful weeks