HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ///
The Next Generation
of Spacesuits NASA is currently designing and developing a new spacesuit system, called the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit or xEMU, for use during Artemis missions at the Moon that is adaptable for other destinations near and far. The next generation of spacesuits are designed to give astronauts enhanced mobility to accomplish their exploration tasks on the lunar surface.
Hands-on Experiences When it comes to great careers, practical experience matters — and that’s what sets Embry-Riddle apart. Internships and research opportunities ensure our graduates are ready for anything.
Career Outlook Employment of software developers is projected to grow 22% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.
My Passion It’s not only my passion, but also my obsession,” Carver says of spaceflight, adding: “My dream job really hasn’t changed much from what it was nine years ago.”
The New Shepard A vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVL), human-rated suborbital rocket that is being developed by Blue Origin as a commercial system for suborbital space tourism.
Nina Egbalic ’19
Joshua Carver ’22
Nick Lopac ’20
FORENSIC BIOLOGY
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
SPACEFLIGHT OPERATIONS
Next Level NASA Embry-Riddle’s Nick Lopac (’20), part of a student team that designed an orbital camera mount for the International Space Station that was tested in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab by astronaut Victor Glover, is now playing a role in designing the agency’s newest spacesuits. Lopac, a Spaceflight Operations major, earned an internship at NASA after the camera mount test and worked in the Johnson Space Center’s Anthropometry and Biomechanics Facility. He used motion-capture technology to assess suit parts and also learned new software and coding languages, as well as how to use advanced 3-D body scanning hardware. Lopac credits his work as lead technician and research manager at Embry-Riddle’s Spacesuit Utilization of Innovative Technology (S.U.I.T.) Laboratory with helping him make the most of his NASA opportunity. It also helped him land the remote internship he did at the Johnson Space Center this past summer, supporting the NASA team developing the first new EVA spacesuit in 40 years. The new suit will likely be worn when astronauts return to the moon, an event now planned for 2024.
From Paper Planes to Payloads In elementary school, he was known for designing innovative paper airplanes. Today, as an Aerospace Engineering major at Embry-Riddle, Joshua Carver (’22) has already helped design suborbital research payloads for Blue Origin’s New Shepard rockets and is now part of the Eagle Space Flight Team, which is planning to launch a rocket of its own. Carver worked on Blue Origin’s RainierOne, which launched in 2017, helping fit a science experiment into the rocket’s payload compartment. He did similar work with RainierTwo, which has yet to launch. His previous work with Blue Origin transitioned smoothly into Carver’s current role as an Eagle Space Flight Team member. They are striving to launch a rocket and payload to fly beyond the Kármán line, the altitude where space begins. “It’s not only my passion, but also my obsession,” Carver says of spaceflight, adding: “My dream job really hasn’t changed much from what it was nine years ago.” As he looks toward tomorrow, Carver says he’s focused on taking advantage of the “wonderful engineering and aerospace opportunities that are available at Embry-Riddle.”
Hit the Ground Running Forensic Biology graduate Nina Egbalic (’19) says the hands-on experiences she got at Embry-Riddle have helped her “hit the ground running” by opening doors to several dynamic career options, including
a stint at the Las Vegas Police Department. Specifically, she credits an internship at
The Biomechanics, a physical therapy and sports medicine center near the Prescott Campus, with helping her chart a career course she’s excited about. “I was able to learn a lot of individual knowledge from the different therapists I got to work with,” she said. And her degree from a renowned STEM school like Embry-Riddle has Egbalic feeling “more than ready” to tackle whatever opportunities her future may offer. When it comes to her time at the university, Egbalic said: “I think the coolest part about being a Forensic Biology major is the hands-on lab experiences that we get — because once we graduate we get these awesome job opportunities. And I’m one of them.”
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