Hello everyone! My name is Loudon Doemland and I am a 2023 Pintern from Telluride, Colorado. Last weekend, I made the 7 hour drive up from my hometown to start my internship. When arriving to Boulder, I met up with a fellow Pintern/roommate, Baen Tougher, and began the process of settling into our house. For the next six weeks, I will be in the LASP(Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics ) at the University of Colorado Boulder working on projects with my mentor.
The internship’s first day was a mix of casual and nerve-racking moments. Dmitry, my mentor, allowed me to sleep in and start working at 10:00 a.m. I primarily focused on getting acquainted with our new workspace and meeting our co-workers. Exploring the equipment used for objects destined for space was fascinating, emphasizing the significance of keeping them clean. Additionally, we underwent lab safety training and attended an orientation session for Boulder employees.
On the second day, a significant portion of my time was dedicated to learning Solidworks, an engineering software. Alongside Baen, I spent the first two hours watching YouTube videos in an attempt to grasp the software. When we finally began working with the software, we decided to create a 3D model of a foldable chair as our first project. However, after an hour of designing the chair, we were instructed to start 3D designing components for the cube-sat—a small satellite scheduled for launch into space next summer. Later that day, we were introduced to our project for the upcoming weeks: attaching a satellite to a circuit board using adhesive. While it may sound simple, precision is crucial, requiring us to create a stencil with multiple circles for applying different types of glue onto the satellite circuit board. Once the glue is in place, we need to affix the solar cells on top.
(Final solar cell glue layout for stencil)
Thursday mainly involved working on our project, particularly creating a stencil for the adhesive. We also had the opportunity to assist in the lab and gain insights into the cleaning process necessary for objects. I accidentally brushed my shirt against one of the parts we were working on, resulting in a comprehensive procedure to clean the object.
On Friday, our focus was entirely devoted to refining our stencil using Solidworks.
Throughout the week, we engaged in various recreational activities, including frisbee golf, rock climbing, enjoying scenic sunsets, playing lacrosse and soccer, bouncing on the trampoline, and spending time with a friend who recently moved to Denver. I can conclude that my first week at the internship was a great success!
It sounds like you have learned a ton, including not to get your cloths on certain resources! I can’t wait to read next week’s post!