“Sometimes, the most exciting opportunities come from staying open to new experiences.”

Junior Myles Pratt has kept an open mind throughout his time at MSOE as a mechanical engineering major. The broad applications and versatility of the program have provided him with the opportunity to apply the problem-solving skills and understanding of physical systems he’s learned at a variety of internships.

Pratt decided to delay his graduation by a semester to pursue an internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JPL) for the entire spring semester of 2025. He worked within the integrated guidance, navigation and control analysis branch developing tools for simulations to evaluate performances of Low Earth Orbit space station systems. Specifically, his work focused on thrusters and control moment gyroscope (CGM) systems all in support of NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program (CLDP). The CLDP aims to transition the International Space Station (ISS) operations to commercially owned space stations after the ISS is retired in 2030. 

The internship at NASA also gave Pratt the chance to take tours of various facilities (such as the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and Mission Control Center), hear lectures from distinguished NASA professionals and further his own engineering knowledge.

“I developed a stronger sense of engineering judgment,” said Pratt. “Learning when to simplify a problem, how to balance precision with time constraints and how to communicate technical ideas clearly to both engineers and non-engineers. I am confident this will help me with finishing up school and in my future career.”

After completing his internship at NASA’s JPL in California, Pratt started a summer internship for a NASA contractor that works at the Marshall Space Flight Center Test Laboratory in Huntsville, Alabama. He is a design/analysis intern with Amentum in the space exploration division, special test equipment branch.   

“I get to apply the skills of CAD modeling for designing test equipment fixtures as well as using Finite Element Analysis to analyze the stress experienced by testing shock, heat, vacuum, etc.”

Although MSOE does not offer an outright aerospace engineering degree, through the mechanical engineering program Pratt has been able to get the fundamental knowledge and internship experiences needed to pursue a career in the aerospace industry. He hopes to find a position in research and development or testing. 

Pratt, who originally is from West Allis, Wisconsin, enjoys spending his free time outdoors hiking, sailing and snowboarding and is a 3D printing and thrifting enthusiast. He’s looking forward to being back on campus this fall where on top of his courses he will complete research with Dr. Brian Slaboch on Special Mechanism Design, awarded and funded by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Research Fellowship.