SpaceX Internship Opportunity

[Turtleinator]

This is such an amazing opportunity! I wish I had seen this earlier so I could have made it by the April 15th deadline, but since it has been extended I will for sure be applying! Thank you for showing this amazing opportunity to us!

[Jorge Ayala]

Originally Posted by Kevin Watson

Hi Jorge,

Unfortunately I don't get to make up the rules. We have many engineers at SpaceX that weren't born in the US, but I'm pretty sure they had to have at least a permanent resident visa to get a job here. I don't know if this is something you'd be willing to do, but at least it is a possibility.

With regard to Tony Stark, I'm not sure it's widely known, but the SpaceX HQ in Hawthorne was used for the interior shots of Hammer Industries from Iron Man 2. The filming crew spent about a week here filming in secret. If you look hard, you'll see a few SpaceX logos that made their way into the film. During the filming, we also found out that it's hard to build rockets with a film crew always telling you to be quiet :-)

-Kevin

That is an awesome anecdote. I didn't know it, well, I am planning to pursue a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and I am also planning to apply from a transfer to some U.S. university during my freshman year, maybe the chance will come one of these days. Thank you.

[Kevin Watson]

Originally Posted by dcarr

I've heard it mentioned that Robert Downey Jr. shadowed/talked to Elon Musk in preparation for the film, but I didn't realize that SpaceX was so involved and literally part of the film. Very cool, I'll have to watch again with a keen eye.

Yes, he spent some time at SpaceX before the first Iron Man. He spent time with Elon and other engineers. He even spent some time with one of our mechanical engineers, who taught him to use the mechanical CAD package we use.

-Kevin

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Kevin Watson

Yes, he spent some time at SpaceX before the first Iron Man. He spent time with Elon and other engineers. He even spent some time with one of our mechanical engineers, who taught him to use the mechanical CAD package we use.

-Kevin

I could swear I've seen an Elon cameo in Iron Man 2--just a segment (I haven't actually seen the movie, but the segment was on Youtube)--where he was addressed by name.

Of course, then there are the extra security guards near the cafeteria. All three of them (including the small one Stark is holding)... But one is not Iron Man-related.

[dcarr]

Indeed (bad quality, but here it is)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuG2AVFB-g0

Nice Merlin reference and "electric jet"

[Kevin Watson]

Here's a cool video of the ~250 meter hop that we performed last Friday morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoxiK7K28PU

The point of this is to develop a reusable rocket, which will dramatically decrease the cost of launching stuff to space. The structure is a modified Falcon 9 first stage that I believe is somewhere around 110' tall. Think of it as the worlds largest inverted pendulum problem :-)

-Kevin

[dcarr]

Originally Posted by Kevin Watson

Here's a cool video of the ~250 meter hop that we performed last Friday morning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoxiK7K28PU

The point of this is to develop a reusable rocket, which will dramatically decrease the cost of launching stuff to space. The structure is a modified Falcon 9 first stage that I believe is somewhere around 110' tall. Think of it as the worlds largest inverted pendulum problem :-)

-Kevin

Awesome. Next test - shut off the engines on the way down, then turn them back on and land?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by dcarr

Awesome. Next test - shut off the engines on the way down, then turn them back on and land?

They've only got a few flights on this critter so far. Maybe more practice first?


NOW I understand why the Dragon cleanroom monitor was showing Grasshopper touching down on Friday when I walked by! And I think "Ring of Fire" is becoming the theme song for Grasshopper, quite appropriately based on the video's view of the pad on touchdown and liftoff.

[Kevin Watson]

Originally Posted by dcarr

Awesome. Next test - shut off the engines on the way down, then turn them back on and land?

You might think that, I couldn't possibly comment :-)

[Kevin Watson]

I'll be at the championships this week. If you have any questions about SpaceX, or just want to say hi, I'll be around all three days (woo hoo!)

[Kevin Watson]

Well, overall a pretty amazing and fun day today in St. Louis. I spent much of the day in our booth talking with folks. In talking with visitors, we found out that there is some confusion regarding the final day that we'll accept internship applications. The real date is May 6th. If you're at the championships this week and interested in working at SpaceX, drop by our booth and we'd be happy to discuss the application process with you.

-Kevin

[jvriezen]

Just got word that one of our team's graduating seniors has been accepted into the SpaceX internship program!

Congratulations to Spencer !

[julianpowell]

I just got an email saying I was accepted! I honestly can't believe it, this is a dream come true for me. Thank you FIRST for this great opportunity!

[Kevin Watson]

SpaceX Internship Winners


During the 2013 season, SpaceX offered an internship for High School Seniors in FRC and FTC. Congratulations to the following recipients of the first SpaceX FIRST Internship!

• Corin Rypkema (FRC Team 706)
• David Brighton (FRC Team 3698)
• David Doan (FRC Team 687)
• David Elrich (FRC Team 2638)
• Hunter McSwain (FRC Team 1983)
• James Carr (FRC Team 3309)
• James Zandstra (FRC Team 4256)
• Julian Powell (FRC Team 2928)
• Leonardo Chan (FRC Team 604)
• Nicholas McCoy (FRC Team 1477)
• Oliver Graff (FRC Team 3780)
• Spencer Berglund (FRC Team 2530)
• Stephen Slattery (FRC Team 1732)
• Thomas Teisberg (FRC Team 619, FTC Team 5903)
• Titus Woo (FRC Team 3528)

SpaceX will be looking for more talented FTC and FRC High School Seniors again in 2014! Be sure to visit the Internship Opportunity page on the FRC website for updates to the 2014 application process!

[Kai Williams]

Out of curiosity, how many applicants were there? Hopefully the acceptance rate for the FIRST Internships was a little higher than 1/500.