On National Mentoring Day, October 27, NASA is highlighting the critical role experienced engineers play in guiding early-career professionals. The agency’s Office of STEM Engagement facilitates these connections, allowing interns to contribute to major projects while learning from seasoned mentors. This structure helps build a pipeline of talent for future space exploration missions.
Guidance, Navigation and Control at Johnson Space Center
Malvika Bhardwaj, a computational and applied mathematics student at Rice University, is one such intern. She works within the Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Her primary focus involves developing tools to analyze thruster firings for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. This vehicle is essential for safely deorbiting the International Space Station once its operational life ends.
Bhardwaj also uses computer simulations to test the vehicle’s control system. She identifies potential failure conditions to ensure the mission proceeds without incident. Her work requires precise analysis and a deep understanding of orbital mechanics.
Her mentor, Daniel Cohen, is a GN&C engineer at Johnson. Cohen, a Rice University alumnus with a master’s in mechanical engineering, began his NASA career as a flight operations intern in 2020. He held various internships in docking dynamics and propulsion systems before joining Johnson as a full-time engineer in August 2024.
Cohen’s current responsibilities include developing simulations for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. He analyzes control algorithms and evaluates SpaceX’s design during multiple life-cycle reviews. He also works on settings for the Orion spacecraft’s docking camera, which provides positioning measurements for future Artemis rendezvous activities.
Building a Supportive STEM Community
The relationship between Bhardwaj and Cohen extends beyond technical instruction. Cohen sets aside a few hours each week to teach interns topics like orbital mechanics and control systems. He actively introduces Bhardwaj to team members and includes her in conversations and meetings.
“I’ve learned about the culture of community and support at Johnson and NASA as a whole,” Bhardwaj said. “Daniel made an effort to introduce me to the team and include me in conversations and meetings. I saw how team members step up to help one another and keep the whole unit moving forward.”
Bhardwaj found that problem-solving at NASA is rarely an individual effort. She observed that team members bring different perspectives and must understand how their specific work connects to the larger project. This collaborative environment helped her complete her first project, a set of analysis tools built from scratch. She noted that working through the debugging process and seeing a finished product was especially rewarding.
Cohen’s advice to Bhardwaj was simple but impactful. When she asked if he had time to continue teaching interns despite his busy workload, he replied, “You decide what’s important.” This guidance helped Bhardwaj realize that how she spends her time reflects her values.
Working alongside interns in outreach, social media, and digital design has also broadened Bhardwaj’s view of STEM careers. She noted that there is likely a role for everyone at NASA, regardless of their specific interests.
Bhardwaj encourages students to apply for NASA internships even if they do not feel fully prepared. “You’re probably never going to feel 100% ready, but so much of the learning happens on the job,” she said. “Trust in your ability to navigate new environments.”
Source: NASA
