NASA Artemis Internship

Frattarelli, an aerospace engineering major in Wheaton’s 3–2 program, will complete his final two years of study at the Georgia Institute of Technology. During his internship, he worked on several active NASA projects, including 3D-printed components destined for the International Space Station and hardware supporting the Orion spacecraft—the crew vehicle central to the Artemis program’s goal of returning humans to the Moon and preparing for future missions to Mars.

Working at NASA marked a significant milestone for Frattarelli, who has been fascinated by aircraft and spacecraft since childhood. “To be able to see how the day-to-day operations in the industry worked from a first-person experience broadened my perspective,” he said. He also valued the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from across the United States and from a wide range of backgrounds.

Hands-On Engineering at NASA

Frattarelli served primarily as a mechanical design engineer in JSC’s Additive Manufacturing Lab, where he worked with fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers, liquid resin printers, and metal printers—technologies commonly referred to as 3D printing.

One of his key contributions involved the Orion spacecraft flywheel project, which supports astronaut exercise during spaceflight. Frattarelli designed small geared components for 3D printing and helped modify the flywheel during reconstruction to meet updated noise-reduction requirements. He also worked with the assembly team to design a bearing restraint that secures the main shaft components during assembly, ensuring safe and reliable operation. The flywheel helps astronauts maintain bone density and overall health while in space.

Preparing for Lunar Landing

In addition, Frattarelli contributed to the HyperSTEP (Hypersonic Entry Test Platform) project, conducting weight and center-of-gravity tests on a 3D-printed model. To simulate Orion’s planned landing near the Moon’s south pole, NASA scanned the designated surface and produced a printed model, which Frattarelli helped assemble.

He also assisted in completing the Lunar Surface Model, a descent and landing system integrating avionics, sensors, and algorithms, and worked on a full-scale engineering model of the Orion food warmer now displayed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

From Wheaton to NASA

Frattarelli said his coursework and extracurricular involvement at Wheaton prepared him well for the internship. Participation in the aerospace club helped him strengthen his 3D printing skills, gain hands-on experience with rocketry, and develop leadership abilities. His CAD coursework familiarized him with SolidWorks software, which he used extensively during his time at NASA.

“I was blessed to have the opportunity to intern at JSC,” Frattarelli said. “I would like to thank my professors and supporters for equipping me with the tools to have a successful summer.”

For more information about the Artemis II mission, visit NASA’s Artemis II mission page 
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