National Air and Space Museum Center for Earth and Planetary Studies Internship

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Internship overview
Do you dream of exploring new frontiers in space? Through the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies Internship, students will help investigate Boulder Diversity on Asteroid 101955 Bennu.
Requirements
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0
  • Level: College & University
  • Compensation: $5,500
  • Setting: In-person/Hybrid
  • Location: Washington D.C.
  • Relevant majors: Geology, Geophysics, Earth Science, Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics, or other related STEM fields

Project Description

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission explored the rubble pile asteroid 101955 Bennu and revealed a surface covered in tens of thousands of boulders. This project seeks to characterize the diversity of boulders on Bennu through mapping and characterizing the morphology, reflectance, and color properties of boulders in the region where the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collected a sample to return to Earth. Investigating the nature of boulders on Bennu can inform our understanding of the parent asteroid from which Bennu formed, and can reveal how the surface of Bennu evolved over time. This project is highly timely as it will help prepare for the arrival of Bennu samples in 2023.

Learning Objectives

  • Gain knowledge about the significance of asteroids and meteorites; how rubble pile asteroids form and evolve; the OSIRIS-REx mission; and the physical and chemical properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu
  • Learn how to interpret reflectance and color data of planetary surfaces by using data from the OSIRIS-REx mission
  • Learn how to perform mapping and morphologic analysis from spacecraft imagery using ArcGIS and the Small Body Mapping Tool
  • Gain knowledge in reading scientific papers, as well as writing and presenting original scientific research
  • Develop basic programming skills using Python

Internship Details

  • Summer 2022
  • Receive a $5,500 stipend. Housing included.
  • Applications close March 18, 2022
  • Transportation costs covered up to $600
  • Program duration: May to August 2022 (exact dates TBD)
About the Institution

Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum maintains the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival materials. It operates two landmark facilities that, together, welcome more than eight million visitors a year, making it the most visited museum in the country. It also is home to the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies.
Patrick Jones - Course author