Meet the Team
Adam Mirvis - graduate, Severna Park High School, Severna Park, MD

How he got interested in space research: "I've been interested in space research for as long as I can remember. Since I learned about the Apollo program as a child, I never understood why we just stopped there. There are so many places within our reach to explore, places that might offer answers to questions about life on Earth. Researching ways to work in and explore these places is as important as figuring out how to get there in the first place."

What he likes best about his research: "My favorite aspect of researching how humans work in space is the unique challenge of making tasks compatible with human performance in an environment far outside what a human can ordinarily survive. You have to be able to consider all aspects of every task, from what kind of tool an astronaut can use to how much effort it will take just to get into and out of a suit."

One of his most interesting experiences in science: "One of the most interesting experiences I've had was a chance to tour the Delaware facility of ILC Dover, the company that makes many of the components of the suits NASA uses. We were able to see the extreme precision that goes into sewing such low-tolerance parts as the gloves, and we saw a demonstration of a new easy-to-don suit interacting with an inflatable space habitat, which we were able to enter."

After graduation: "In my career, I hope to continue working on human space factors, and design space suits and tools to allow for manned exploration of the Moon, Mars or other bodies, such as asteroids."

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