High School Interns Advance Artemis Lunar Mission Technology Through NASA SEES MATRIX Program
The pursuit of sustainable lunar exploration hinges on solving one of the most persistent challenges in orbital mechanics: the precise measurement of propellant mass in microgravity. During the summer of 2026, a cohort of high school students participating in the NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Internship Program at the University of Texas Center for Space Research tackled this engineering hurdle head-on. As part of the Mission Architecture Tool for Research, Integration, and eXploration (MATRIX) team, these students focused on Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG), a sophisticated acoustic-based technology essential for the long-term success of the NASA Artemis missions.
The Challenge of Microgravity Fuel Management
In the terrestrial environment, gravity forces liquid propellants to settle at the base of a tank, making measurement straightforward. In the vacuum of space, however, liquid fuel clings to tank walls due to surface tension, creating a chaotic "slosh" environment. Traditional mechanical or pressure-based sensors often fail to provide accurate readings under these conditions.
The MATRIX team’s work centered on refining MPG, an approach developed by Dr. Kevin Crosby of Carthage College in collaboration with NASA. MPG utilizes the acoustic response of a propellant tank—essentially "pinging" the tank and measuring the vibration modes—to calculate the remaining mass of fuel. This method has already undergone successful spaceflight testing and is currently slated for deployment on the Intuitive Machines IM-3 mission. The IM-3 lander, named Trinity, is scheduled to touch down in the Reiner Gamma region of the Moon in 2027. By developing predictive models for MPG, the interns provided critical data on when the system can record reliable fuel readings during the spacecraft’s descent.
Chronology of the MATRIX Research Project
The internship followed a rigorous, mission-focused timeline over the course of the summer. The project was divided into three distinct phases: data reconstruction, fluid dynamics modeling, and mission window analysis.
In the initial phase, the team established a baseline by analyzing public data from previous Intuitive Machines missions, specifically IM-1 and IM-2. Utilizing trajectory records provided by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF), the interns reconstructed the flight paths of the earlier landers. By isolating the spacecraft’s motion during periods of non-thrust, the students were able to identify precise engine burns and calculate the resulting velocity changes.
In the second phase, the team addressed the "slosh" problem. Because the IM-3 trajectory is not yet publicly finalized, the students wrote a bespoke reconstruction algorithm. They supplemented this with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, which provided a visual and mathematical representation of how fuel behaves within the tanks during maneuvers. To account for the inherent unpredictability of spaceflight, they utilized Monte Carlo simulations—a statistical method that allows researchers to account for risk and uncertainty in complex systems—to predict a wide range of potential propellant states.
The final phase involved the identification of "measurement windows." The team’s analysis concluded that MPG could provide the highest quality data during the Lunar Orbit Insertion (LOI) and the Powered Descent phase. Their findings also highlighted how the spacecraft’s initial mass significantly dictates the duration and accuracy of these gauging windows, providing a roadmap for future mission planners.
Supporting Data and Technical Methodology
The sophistication of the team’s work was underscored by their reliance on industry-standard analytical tools. By integrating NAIF trajectory data with their own CFD models, the students bridged the gap between theoretical physics and applied aerospace engineering.
The team’s analysis of the Reiner Gamma landing site provided a probabilistic distribution of landing zones, which is vital for mission safety. Their work demonstrated that high-fidelity analysis does not always require proprietary software; by leveraging open-source data and public mission records, the students successfully modeled complex orbital mechanics. The identification of optimal windows for propellant gauging is not merely an academic exercise; it is a prerequisite for in-space refueling operations. As NASA seeks to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, the ability to accurately gauge fuel levels in orbiting depots and landers will determine the feasibility of long-duration sorties.
Official Responses and Academic Recognition
The success of the MATRIX team was noted not only by the SEES program organizers but by the engineers at Intuitive Machines. During a formal briefing, the students presented their methodologies and findings to the company’s propulsion group, an experience that provided them with direct exposure to the realities of commercial spaceflight operations.
Dr. Kevin Crosby, who served as the primary mentor for the project, expressed profound admiration for the students’ performance. "This high school team, in a period of less than a month, developed a depth of understanding and facility with advanced methods that rivals advanced graduate students in the field," Dr. Crosby remarked. "Their work product is exceptional, and their presentation to Intuitive Machines engineers impressed everyone with the sophistication and creativity of their work. The SEES program has consistently provided a unique environment for students to demonstrate they can achieve far more than what is asked of them."
Following their internship, the students disseminated their findings at the SEES Annual Symposium and the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Annual Conference. They are also slated to present their research, titled "Computational Models to Estimate Modal Propellant Gauging (MPG) Windows on the Intuitive Machines IM-3 Mission," at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Meeting in San Francisco in December 2026.
Broader Impact on Aerospace and STEM Education
The MATRIX project is a microcosm of the broader goals of the NASA Science Activation Program. By providing 11th and 12th-grade students with access to authentic mission data, the SEES program effectively shortens the distance between the classroom and the aerospace industry.
The implications of the team’s research extend beyond the IM-3 mission. Propellant management is a cornerstone of the "Artemis Generation" infrastructure. Future missions will rely on fuel depots and orbital refueling to extend the reach of human exploration to Mars and beyond. The ability to monitor fuel with the precision offered by MPG will minimize the mass-penalty currently associated with fuel margins, allowing for more payload to be carried on lunar landers.
The team comprised a diverse group of students from across the United States: Raiymbek Abdykalykov (Texas), Emmanuel Bravo (Florida), Winston Huang (California), Adrianna Krajnovic (Texas), Marco Lo Cicero (Texas), Henry Martin (Wisconsin), Reva Paul (Pennsylvania), and Swayam Sahoo (Massachusetts). Under the guidance of Dr. Crosby and project assistant Mauro Esquivel, a mathematics teacher from McAllen, Texas, the team illustrated the effectiveness of collaborative, cross-state mentorship models.
The SEES project, supported by NASA cooperative agreement award number NNH15ZDA004C, remains a critical pipeline for the next generation of engineers and scientists. As these students transition into higher education, they carry with them not only the technical skills required to navigate complex fluid dynamics and orbital simulations but also the professional experience of contributing to an active lunar mission. The success of the 2026 MATRIX team serves as a testament to the capacity of high school students to tackle some of the most difficult engineering problems facing modern space exploration, proving that with the right resources and mentorship, the next generation is already prepared to lead the way to the Moon and beyond.
