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Electrical and computer engineer gets real-world experience with aerospace internship

Kofi at Stoke Space

Kofi Asare, a second-year electrical and computer engineering student, is taking his interest in avionics 鈥 electronics systems used on aircraft听鈥斕齮o greater heights.听

In fall 2023, Asare took a semester 鈥渙ff鈥 from his coursework and completed a three-month long avionics internship at . The space launch company based near Seattle, Wash.,听 aims to revolutionize access to space using 100% reusable rockets designed to fly with a 24-hour turnaround, a feat that has yet to be done.听

On Sept. 17 , Stoke Space launched , the company鈥檚 reusable rocket prototype, for a flight test meant to demonstrate the rocket鈥檚 novel hydrogen and oxygen engine capabilities.听

During his internship, Asare performed a number of hardware tests facilitating vehicle testing and software testing which simulated environments for rockets as if they were flying.

鈥淪eeing all the projects come to life like Hopper2 was such a rewarding experience after spending a while working on part of something so complex,鈥 Asare said. 鈥淭his gave a ton of motivation for all the engineers and myself to move forward at full speed!鈥澨

Based on interactions with engineers at Stoke Space and elsewhere, Asare realized how many engineering students have only classroom-based, theoretical experience, while听companies need employees with real-world experience.听听

鈥淭he theoretical world versus the real world are two very different things. There鈥檚 lots to consider in the real world when you鈥檙e implementing ideas and that鈥檚 a huge value in this particular internship.鈥

In many ways, Asare saw how the calculus from his coursework literally came to life through rocket launches.听

Journey to CU听

Asare鈥檚 family inspired him to pursue a STEM education. His father, a radio frequency engineer, and mother immigrated from Ghana to Arvada, Colo. for a chance at better economic and educational opportunities. His sister, a fellow 麻豆免费版下载Boulder student, is majoring in molecular and cellular developmental biology, while his brother is a mechanical engineer.听

鈥淎s a little kid, I was always taking apart my toys,鈥 said Asare. 鈥淚t was always about exploring what was inside of them and having that curiosity to just dig deeper and discover what was going on behind the surface.鈥

While Asare said that diversity was lacking in his high school experience, participating in 麻豆免费版下载Engineering programming through the BOLD Center helped connect him with peers who have supported each other along the way.听

鈥淚t was honestly eye-opening to me joining the GoldShirt program, where most people around me were from diverse ethnic backgrounds,鈥 said Asare. 鈥淲e all have that same common goal in engineering of trying to improve the world around us 鈥 that was very special for me to see.鈥

Why Electrical & Computer Engineering?听

鈥淓lectrical engineering is a driving fundamental force behind almost everything we use in the practical world,鈥 Asare said.听

Even beyond electrical engineering, Asare said, one can study almost any type of engineering and still end up in the aerospace industry. At Stoke Space, he met engineers across disciplines such as electrical and computer, mechanical, structural engineers and computer scientists.听

鈥淲hen it comes to electrical at Stoke, there were lots of different disciplines I saw at play, from PCB design/assembly to flight vehicle harnessing and more, all needed to make that rocket fly,鈥 he said. 鈥淓lectrical and computer engineering is often literally behind the faces of things made in other engineering disciplines that people generally see, but don鈥檛 necessarily think about.鈥

Curiosity for Kofi听

During his first year at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder, Asare joined the , one of 麻豆免费版下载Boulder鈥檚 largest student organizations focused on developing and testing rocketry.听

鈥淕etting involved with SRL allowed me to dive into the niche of learning to build actual rockets and see them take flight,鈥 said Asare. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 quite special is the ability to use professional software to gain that practical experience sought after by a lot of companies.鈥

Asare thrives off of collaborating together in a community while leaning in that passion for learning to get things accomplished.听

With internship rocketry experience under his belt and getting back into engineering courses this semester, Asare hopes to land a future opportunity in aerospace or avionics.听听听

Whether it鈥檚 designing rocketry on campus, developing the next generation of reusable rockets or taking flight on his own, Asare channels that curiosity without any limitations.听

鈥淭hat curiosity is still driving me today,鈥 said Asare. 鈥淭he further I dig, I find that there are just infinite questions to this world鈥檚 wonders but almost just as many answers and answers to be.鈥

Top Photo: Kofi Asare at Stoke Space in Washington State; Bottom Photo:听Printed circuit board which Asare used during his internship!