Warren Dennis ’16 in front of the Space Shuttle Discovery
Editor’s note: In this series, Colgate students share stories about their summer experiences in offices, labs, and open spaces across the world.
This summer, I’m interning for the History Program Office of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Washington, D.C. By providing easy access to information about its past successes and failures, the history office helps NASA to grow and better prepare for future situations.
I am one of two history interns at NASA headquarters. My primary job has involved reaching out to the public to keep them informed of NASA’s many important accomplishments. I’ve been posting historic facts and photographs on social media. I’ve also written several articles for the website to commemorate important anniversaries and events, such as the hiring of John Victory in 1915 by the NACA (NASA’s predecessor).
In addition, I’ll be doing research in the archives to fulfill information requests by members of the government.
I have already had an eventful time: I’ve met six astronauts, including Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon. I’ve sat in on meetings discussing NASA’s plans for the future, and I participated in the annual Innovations in Flight Day at the National Air and Space Museum.
As a double major in history and astronomy-physics, this internship is a perfect fit for my interests. I’ve wanted to work at NASA for a very long time, and I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity. It’s enjoyable to be surrounded by people who are passionate about the same subject that I am. I hope to continue to work for NASA after I graduate, or to at least stay involved in space exploration.
This internship has reaffirmed my love of space and the history of our many attempts to understand and explore it. This is an incredibly exciting time to be at NASA, and I’m honored to be here.