As an intern with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), CS junior Eisha Peyyeti has a front-row seat to the history of human space travel. Assigned to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, she tours the iconic rocket pads that launched the famous Apollo, Voyager, and SpaceX missions.
Moreover, she is experiencing the legacy of collaboration and innovation essential to NASA’s mission to “explore the unknown in air and space, innovate for the benefit of humanity, and inspire the world through discovery.”
All interns are assigned to a specific project and complete their internship under the guidance of a NASA scientist. For the duration of her semester-long internship, Peyyeti will work on the Artemis mission, an ongoing space initiative intended to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and eventually send the first astronaut to Mars.
Peyyeti is a Spaceport Command and Control Software Intern, contributing to the Artemis mission.
“Essentially, I’m writing applications to test the functionality of firing room applications which will be used in future rocket launches. Specifically, the software will be used in the pre-launch testing process to ensure that the applications running in the launch control center firing rooms are performing correctly.” Peyyeti said.
She is mentored by Jill Giles, a lead software engineer and project manager at NASA.
While each intern at the Kennedy Space Center is assigned their own individual application software project, all interns and employees are working towards one common goal: to send and return humans into space safely.
“The coolest thing about my position is that I’m writing software that affects human life. Knowing that the work that I’m doing is helping keep our astronauts safe, that’s my biggest takeaway,” Peyyeti said.
In her internship experience with NASA, she has especially enjoyed the collaborative approach to all projects. “At NASA, everyone is working to try and get the same rocket in the air, get people to the moon, and get them back safely. That collaborative mindset is essential,” Peyyeti said.
Peyyeti’s path to the aerospace industry started with an early interest in space that was fueled by trips to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry as a child. “I always had a passion for space, but working for NASA was always just a dream,” Peyyeti said.
As a freshman, she chose computer science as a major because she liked the flexibility. She knew she could pursue a more traditional path with a FAANG company, or she could pursue something a little bit different.
“I figured that computer science was an engineering discipline that was broad enough that if I wanted to hone in on one industry, I’d have that option,” Peyyeti said.
She found that focus when she joined the Illinois Space Society, an on-campus group that studies and produces high-power rocketry.
“In the Space Society, I was involved in the avionics for rockets. The collaboration and integrations that I experienced with my team culminated in a fulfilling launch. Getting that hands-on experience and being able to go to an interview and say ‘I already do what you want me to do,’ made me a lot more marketable,” Peyyeti said.
She suggests CS students get involved in campus activities that might help them narrow their study focus and examine potential career opportunities. She also encourages her classmates to pursue their niche interests within the field, even if the results aren’t immediately clear. “Even though you might not see the small path yielding great results, if it means something to you, then keep at it. It will come,” Peyyeti said.
In her remaining time with NASA, Peyyeti hopes to learn more about additional work being done in software and hardware development at the Kennedy Space Center beyond her specific assignment. Additionally, she hopes to continue to network with more engineers and learn more about their specific roles and achievements.
After graduation, she hopes to continue in the aerospace industry. “Contributing to the nation’s progress in space innovation is very fulfilling to me,” Peyyeti said.
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