A dream realized: Connor Barnes interns at Johnson Space Center
2016-08-01
On Oct. 29, 1998, while most 2-year-olds were glued to children’s programs, Connor Barnes’ living room TV was tuned to a very important space shuttle launch. He and his brother Chris were dressed to impress in pieces of an astronaut costume their mother had constructed for them for Halloween just a year prior, when Chris posed as the astronaut and Connor as a Martian. But, on this particular day, they both wanted to be astronauts.
This was the day John Glenn would return to space. Perhaps it was the ignition of Space Shuttle Discovery that, in turn, ignited Connor’s love for spaceflight. As the oldest man in space ascended skyward, one of the youngest viewers looked on, clueless that he, too, would someday have the distinguished opportunity to work for America’s space program.
Connor was hooked. He recalls watching tapes of space-related TV shows and programs. His mother says he was always building vehicles—spaceships, racecars and more, spending hours meticulously constructing them each time he sat down with his Legos. He educated himself on the technology and mechanics behind racecars, of which he is still a major fan. It seemed that Connor, whether he knew it or not, was a budding engineer destined to land at NASA. However, in the back of his mind, Connor still considered working with NASA “too lofty of a goal.”
However, Connor tuned out the discouraging voices in his head and focused on putting his best self forward—and found that working with the agency was attainable after all. He was accepted to a 2016 summer NASA internship at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Though a long way from home, Connor couldn’t help but be excited for every part of the NASA experience, visiting Space Center Houston with his family as soon as they arrived in town.
Now at JSC, Connor works in the Technology and Innovation Division under the mentorship of Nick Skytland. A member of the Data Management and Analytics team, he finds new ways to implement data from NASA.
After his internship at JSC and the completion of his mechanical engineering degree from Valpariso University in Colorado, Connor hopes to go even further in aeronautics or aerospace.
Connor has advice for future interns who perhaps lack the confidence to really go for their goals.
“You’d be surprised what you can accomplish,” Connor said. “Exceed your own expectations.”
Check it out!
You can read more student success stories at the NEW JSC Internship external website: www.nasa.gov/jscinterns
Mentors: Interested in a spring intern? Check out this internal site for all information regarding interns: http://ero.jsc.nasa.gov/pages.ashx/13/Internships
Students: Interested in your own internship opportunity at NASA? Apply now.
Leah Cheshier
NASA Johnson Space Center
This was the day John Glenn would return to space. Perhaps it was the ignition of Space Shuttle Discovery that, in turn, ignited Connor’s love for spaceflight. As the oldest man in space ascended skyward, one of the youngest viewers looked on, clueless that he, too, would someday have the distinguished opportunity to work for America’s space program.
Connor was hooked. He recalls watching tapes of space-related TV shows and programs. His mother says he was always building vehicles—spaceships, racecars and more, spending hours meticulously constructing them each time he sat down with his Legos. He educated himself on the technology and mechanics behind racecars, of which he is still a major fan. It seemed that Connor, whether he knew it or not, was a budding engineer destined to land at NASA. However, in the back of his mind, Connor still considered working with NASA “too lofty of a goal.”
However, Connor tuned out the discouraging voices in his head and focused on putting his best self forward—and found that working with the agency was attainable after all. He was accepted to a 2016 summer NASA internship at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Though a long way from home, Connor couldn’t help but be excited for every part of the NASA experience, visiting Space Center Houston with his family as soon as they arrived in town.
Now at JSC, Connor works in the Technology and Innovation Division under the mentorship of Nick Skytland. A member of the Data Management and Analytics team, he finds new ways to implement data from NASA.
After his internship at JSC and the completion of his mechanical engineering degree from Valpariso University in Colorado, Connor hopes to go even further in aeronautics or aerospace.
Connor has advice for future interns who perhaps lack the confidence to really go for their goals.
“You’d be surprised what you can accomplish,” Connor said. “Exceed your own expectations.”
Check it out!
You can read more student success stories at the NEW JSC Internship external website: www.nasa.gov/jscinterns
Mentors: Interested in a spring intern? Check out this internal site for all information regarding interns: http://ero.jsc.nasa.gov/pages.ashx/13/Internships
Students: Interested in your own internship opportunity at NASA? Apply now.
Leah Cheshier
NASA Johnson Space Center