In the summer of 2004, five Olin College students had the privilege of working with NASA researchers at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Their challenge: to improve code for controlling an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (left). The project included becoming fluent in the following three-letter acronyms:

ADR - PID - XRS - LPF - STD - GUI

Beyond this page lie explanations of these terms. The project was an exceptional learning experience and provided many rich opportunities for growth. Please enjoy this distillation of our forray into government work.

Prof. Pratt

Prof. Holt