Hampton High School students gain hands-on experience through NASA’s Student Ambassador Program

Six exceptional students from Hampton High School’s Academy of Technology and Engineering spent part of their summer participating in the NASA Langley Research Center Student Ambassador Program.

 

Raquel Smith, Ariel Webb, Tyler Thomas, Kaiden Crews, Zaiya Eaddy, and Ahmayre Isles dedicated two weeks to exploring real-world engineering challenges under the mentorship of Old Dominion University engineering senior Madison Hayes. The program offered students a unique opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge through real-world, immersive, hands-on learning experiences.

 

During the program, students tackled two NASA design challenges using the engineering design process and readily available household materials. The first challenge was inspired by NASA’s LOFTID (Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator) mission, in which students were tasked with developing solutions to slow down spacecraft during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

 

The experience also included an in-depth tour of NASA’s Langley Research Center. Students visited notable facilities such as the 8-Foot High-Temperature Tunnel Facility, the LOFTID project space, a collaborative makerspace, and even experienced a drop from the historical Landing and Impact Research Facility, also known as the Gantry. 

 

In their second challenge, students explored the role of autonomous systems in space exploration. They were tasked with designing robotic tools capable of performing complex functions such as lifting and moving objects—further demonstrating their creativity and problem-solving skills.

 

The students later showcased their work during a public presentation at the Virginia Air and Space Science Center, where they engaged with local elementary students, community members, and Superintendent Dr. Raymond Haynes.

 

Dr. Haynes shared, “This program gave the students the chance to not only see how engineering plays a role in space exploration, but to actively engage in solving some of NASA’s real-world challenges. Their professionalism, teamwork, and innovative thinking was truly inspiring.”

 

As a result of this experience, students strengthened their technical skills, deepened their understanding of engineering principles, and gained confidence in presenting their ideas to industry professionals.