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NASA has highlighted how Johnson Space Center engineer Daniel Cohen mentors Rice University intern Malvika Bhardwaj as she works on analysis tools for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. The NASA feature, published for National Mentoring Day on Oct. 27, describes her project work and Cohen’s weekly instruction; it does not announce a new program or quantify the results of the mentoring.
NASA has profiled how Daniel Cohen, a Guidance, Navigation and Control engineer at Johnson Space Center, mentors Rice University intern Malvika Bhardwaj as she develops tools to analyze the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. The agency’s account links her hands-on work on a mission-related project with the technical guidance and team experience she is gaining as a prospective member of the space workforce.
Bhardwaj studies computational and applied mathematics at Rice and interns with Johnson’s Guidance, Navigation and Control team, which works on how spacecraft determine their position and maneuver in orbit. Her project involves creating tools to analyze thruster firings on the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, the vehicle NASA plans to use to safely deorbit the International Space Station at the end of its operational life. She also uses computer simulations to test the vehicle’s control system and identify conditions in which it could fail.
According to NASA, Cohen sets aside a couple of hours each week to teach interns subjects including orbital mechanics and control systems. He has also introduced Bhardwaj to colleagues and included her in team conversations and meetings. Bhardwaj said the experience helped her understand how engineers’ work connects to wider projects and how collaboration supports problem-solving. She said her first project, a set of analysis tools built from scratch, was especially satisfying after she debugged the software and got it working.
Cohen is a Rice alumnus with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He began at NASA as a flight operations intern in 2020, completed further internships in docking dynamics, propulsion systems and GN&C analysis, and joined Johnson as a full-time engineer in August 2024. His current duties include simulations and models for U.S. Deorbit Vehicle studies, analysis of its control algorithms and performance, and evaluations of SpaceX’s design at multiple life-cycle reviews.
Mentorship Meets Deorbit Vehicle Work
The profile illustrates how NASA internships can combine practical project contributions with instruction from experienced staff. Bhardwaj’s assignment concerns analysis and simulation for a vehicle intended to support the eventual end of the International Space Station’s operational life, while Cohen’s mentoring gives her a view of how technical work is discussed and coordinated across a team.
NASA says its Office of STEM Engagement offers interns opportunities to contribute to agency projects and gain technical skills and hands-on experience. The account provides an example of that approach, but it does not measure whether mentoring improves intern outcomes or say how many interns participate in similar arrangements. Its immediate value is a specific illustration of the work and support one intern says she received.
The experience also points to a broader workforce message from Bhardwaj: NASA-related careers are not limited to one academic discipline. She said working alongside interns in outreach, social media and digital design broadened her understanding of the range of roles in STEM. That observation is her perspective, not a statement that NASA has changed its hiring criteria or expanded a particular program.
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From NASA Intern to Johnson Engineer
Cohen’s own path provides context for his role as a mentor. He entered NASA through an internship in 2020, gained experience across several technical areas, and became a full-time Johnson engineer in August 2024. His current work spans U.S. Deorbit Vehicle studies and Orion spacecraft docking-camera settings. NASA says those camera measurements can help inform navigation during future Artemis rendezvous activities.
The agency presented Bhardwaj’s experience in recognition of National Mentoring Day on Oct. 27. The source describes one mentor-intern relationship and one student project; it does not report a new policy, program launch or change to the Deorbit Vehicle schedule. Bhardwaj’s account of Cohen’s advice—that she should decide what matters when balancing time and responsibilities—frames the profile around how mentoring can include both technical teaching and support for navigating work priorities.
“I’ve learned about the culture of community and support at Johnson and NASA as a whole.”
— Malvika Bhardwaj, Rice University student and Johnson intern
Project Outcomes Still Developing
NASA’s profile does not state when Bhardwaj’s internship ends, whether her analysis tools have been adopted for operational use, or what specific findings the simulations have produced. It describes tools being developed and tests intended to identify possible control-system failure conditions, not a completed assessment or a confirmed change to the vehicle’s design.
The source also gives no schedule or performance measures for Cohen’s mentoring beyond saying he spends a couple of hours each week teaching interns. It does not provide data on the program’s reach, intern retention or career outcomes. The profile is an agency account of one experience, so broader conclusions about NASA’s internship program cannot be drawn from it alone.
Internship Work and Career Steps
Bhardwaj’s next steps will include continuing her internship work and learning how her analysis connects to the team’s wider U.S. Deorbit Vehicle studies; NASA’s account does not give a project deadline or identify a forthcoming milestone. The agency says Cohen’s ongoing engineering work includes modeling, control-system analysis and design reviews, but it does not announce a new review date.
For students interested in applying, Bhardwaj’s stated advice is to apply before feeling completely ready and expect to learn on the job. NASA’s profile does not include application dates or eligibility details, so prospective applicants would need to consult the agency’s internship information for current openings and requirements.
Key Questions
What is Malvika Bhardwaj working on at Johnson?
She is developing analysis tools for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, including tools to study thruster firings, and is using simulations to test its control system and identify potential failure conditions.
Who is mentoring Bhardwaj?
Daniel Cohen, a Guidance, Navigation and Control engineer at Johnson Space Center, mentors her and teaches interns topics such as orbital mechanics and control systems.
Is NASA announcing a new mentoring program?
No. The NASA article is a profile of an existing mentor-intern relationship, published for National Mentoring Day. It does not announce a new program or policy.
Has Bhardwaj’s work changed the Deorbit Vehicle design?
The source does not say that her tools have been adopted or that they have led to a design change. It describes work in progress on analysis and simulation.
What advice does Bhardwaj give students seeking NASA internships?
She encourages students to apply even if they do not feel fully prepared, saying that much of the learning happens on the job.
Source: nasa.gov
