Johnson’s Ham Radio Intern Committee Enjoys Semester of STEM Learning

The NASA Johnson Space Center Ham Radio Intern Committee recently participated in a variety of exciting hands-on electronics and radio communications activities this past semester. 

Left: Raul Cuevas operates on the air in the W5RRR amateur radio room. Middle: Ravi Nagi chats with a ham in Tennessee while operating on the air in the W5RRR amateur radio room. Right: Nagi uses direction-finding radio to triangulate a radio signal. Credits: David Lee

In partnership with the JSC Amateur Radio Club (JSCARC), the Gilruth Center, and the Engineering Avionic Systems Division, a variety of engineering exercises were set up for the fall student intern committee members. STEM advancement and engineering-exposure activities included do-it-yourself circuit building, antenna construction of a ladder-line radiator, finding transmitters via radio direction, Software Defined Radio kits, and on-the-air ham radio operations. 

Student intern Kimberly Zwolshen/CX3, a licensed ham radio operator and committee lead, organized multiple visits to the JSCARC radio station and electronics MakerSpace located at the Gilruth annex facility. Eleven student interns — eight from Engineering and three from the Flight Operations Directorates — comprised this fall semester’s active participants. 

Left: Kiri Takanishi chats with a ham in Hawaii while operating on the air in the W5RRR amateur radio room. Middle: Carson Graf and Josephine Cao have fun troubleshooting an electronics kit. Right: Cao operates on the air in the W5RRR amateur radio room. Credits: David Lee

Left: Carson Graf operates on the air in the W5RRR amateur radio room while Kim Zwolshen and Rual Cuevas observe. Middle: Carson Graf, Riya Jain, and Kim Zwolshen build an electronics kit. Right: A Radio Makerspace do-it-yourself electronics build with, from left, Josephine Cao, Kiri Takanishi, Carson Graf, Riya Jain, Kim Zwolshen, and Isaac Reaves. Standing at left is Jeff Harbour from AB4ME. Credits: David Lee

A highlight of the fall semester included the demonstrated use of direction-finding radio receivers to locate a radio signal. Also, each student given an opportunity to “chat” with another ham radio operator on the air using the JSCARC high-power 1.5-kilowatt transmitter and associated software-driven radio equipment generously provided by the Avionic Systems Division/EV. 

These events directly support NASA Administrator Bill Nelson’s reemphasis of agency “education and outreach in the work we do,” reinforcing the need for NASA team members to shepherd the next generation and future workforce as noted in the recently updated and signed NASA Policy Directive 1388, “Employee Participation in NASA STEM Engagement and Communications Activities.” 

The JSCARC has been a provider of STEM outreach and emergency communications operations support to the center for more than 50 years. 

Johnson Space Center Ham Radio Intern Committee members. Front, left to right: Josephine Cao/ER7, Marielle Lenehan/EG5, Kim Zwolshen/CX5, and Kiri Takanishi/EV7. Back, left to right: Ravi Nagi/EV8, Raul Cuevas/ES4, Andrew Mord/EP5, and Isaac Reaves/EG2. Credits: David Lee

Meet the fall 2022 student interns! 

Kim Zwolshen/CX3, lead
Raul Cuevas/ES4
Juan Espejo/CK4
Carson Graf/EV2
Isaac Reaves/EG2
Josephine Cao/ER5
Marielle Lenehan/EG5
Kiri Takanishi/EV7
Ravi Nagi/EV8
Riya Jain/CX5
Andrew Mord/EP5