Cape Canaveral, FL — 23 MAY 10
Oklahoma State University Student Contributes Ideas to Lunar Rover Team at Kennedy Space Center
By: Jackie Juergens
David Grismore of Bartlesville, OK is a 2010 spring intern with the NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program (USRP). Grismore is working full-time for 15 weeks at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL. He is working with NASA mentor Jason Schuler and A.J. Nick in the Lunar Surface Systems Department.
According to Grismore, they have recently developed a "quick attach" system for Lunar Rovers that can attach and detach tools quickly from the unit on the rover. His job is to design a mount for the "quick attach" system. Since the Lunar vehicle is only available a few times a year to the Kennedy Space Center, Grismore is designing the mount on a Hummer vehicle.
"My project would significantly increase their capabilities to test and evaluate their "Quick-Attach" mechanism and its accompanying surface tools," comments Grismore.
During his first three weeks at NASA Kennedy Space Center Grismore worked with Boeing contractors in the Systems Engineering and Integration Branch. He was able to work the STS-130 shuttle launch in February. "Seeing the STS-130 shuttle launch was the most amazing and awe inspiring thing I have ever seen," states Grismore.
Grismore was awarded the NASA Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) Space Grant Scholarship at Oklahoma State University. Grismore works on the Atmospheric and Space Threshold Research Oklahoma team (ASTRO) with Dr. Andy Arena and Dr. Joe Conner
"I consider myself both very lucky and very privileged to have been given the opportunity to work for NASA at such a young age. Working for NASA has truly been a dream come true for me. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm really here, working for NASA," adds Grismore.
Grismore is a senior at Oklahoma State University majoring in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He plans to graduate in May 2011.
