Systems Engineering Intern

At NASA JPL, Turner worked on adaptive optics for space telescopes, assembling and testing an adaptive mirror assembly.

The testing examined how mechanical stress related to the mirror’s surface curvature, including nonlinear behavior in the assembly’s response.

Turner assembled and tested the mirror, designed the test procedure, and wrote an automated script to record curvature against mechanical stress.

The assembly used piezoelectric actuators beneath the mirror surface and strain gauges on top.

A defined test procedure and automated recording script supported characterization of the relationship between mechanical properties and surface curvature.

Adaptive mirror assembly · Piezoelectric actuators · Strain gauges · Automated data-recording script

Testing identified nonlinearities between the mirror’s mechanical properties and surface curvature.