My name is Rohit Goeptar, and I am currently a student at University of Central Florida double majoring in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. I will be graduating Fall of 2025 with a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering and Spring 2026 with a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering.

This summer, I was able to experience my first internship experience while being in college with
a.i. solutions which was an amazing experience. I was fortunate and had the opportunity to work with the EMC/EMI/RF group at Kennedy Space Center. During my internship, I was able to provide support to NASA’s Launch Services Program by building lightning models within CST STUDIO, which consisted of different variations of the spacecraft’s umbilicals, lightning strikes simulated at various distances, and using multiple different solvers to calculate necessary data. A spacecraft’s umbilical is a crucial component that facilitates the transfer of various essential resources to the spacecraft like power, communications and telemetry. Purpose of these simulations was to test the magnetic/current coupling induced by high magnitude lightning events. Lightning is detrimental to any spacecraft that launches; therefore, this project was extremely important to the team, giving us a better understanding of how lightning affects our spacecraft/launch vehicles. Ultimately, resulting in mission success whether it is for our planetary missions or simple payload missions. Every day I had the opportunity to learn something new. A few things that I learned were what it takes to launch a vehicle and the daily operations here. Also, I had the opportunity to learn new softwares and had the pleasure to meet some of the most knowledgeable engineers in the industry. This internship gave me the tools and knowledge that I can carry anywhere I go in life.