NHS 2009 Grad To ‘Rove’ At NASA

By Eliza Hallabeck

Since learning of his acceptance into NASA’s National Community College Aerospace Scholars program, Newtown High School 2009 graduate Joshua Milas has been excited about the opportunity to visit NASA.

“I know it’s pretty prestigious,” said Joshua after he learned of his acceptance, “but that doesn’t really matter, you know? It’s the fact that I get to go [to NASA]. I’ll get to work with engineers, and work with people in the field.”

Joshua is one of 90 students from community colleges in 23 states who were selected to “Travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston or the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., for hands-on experience with technology development and direct interaction with NASA experts,” according to NASA.

Joshua is in his second year of school at Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury, and he learned about the program from one of his professors. When he first read about the program, Joshua said he thought it seemed interesting, and he figured he “might as well give it a shot.”

While Joshua is a general studies major at the college, he said he is thinking about studying mechanical engineering.

The all-expense-paid trip to Huntsville, Ala., will take place between October 20 and 22. According to Joshua, each applicant had to design a Mars rover, a exploration vehicle capable of working on Mars, and a budget for the design.

When in Alabama, each student will again have the chance to design rovers, this time in teams.

During the three-day program, according to NASA, “Participants will form teams to establish Mars exploration ‘companies.’ Each team will develop a prototype rover, design a line drawing of their vehicle, and form a company infrastructure, including a budget and communications plan. The students also will tour center facilities and attend presentations by astronauts and other NASA technology experts about their work and careers.”

Joshua said he is looking forward to attending the program. Other students selected from Naugatuck Valley Community College to attend are Bryan Alvarado and Nicole Guglielmo.

“If you set your mind to it,” he said, “anyone can accomplish any goal.”