Asa O’Neal, a University of Kentucky senior mechanical engineering and physics major, was named to the 2024 Astronaut Scholars class by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). The West Liberty, Kentucky, native is one of 71 Astronaut Scholars and was recently honored at the ASF Innovators Symposium and Gala in Houston, Texas. 

“Receiving the Astronaut Scholarship is an incredible honor and brings me one step closer to my goal of becoming researcher that contributes to space exploration,” O’Neal said. “I am deeply grateful to join a remarkable community of scholars that are passionate about advancing the frontiers of scientific research.”  

O’Neal, who is also a student in the Lewis Honors College, described the Astronaut Scholarship as “the most impactful award I have ever received.”

“The network of peers, alumni, industry professionals and astronauts that I have access to through the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is truly remarkable, and I am thrilled to be a part of the ASF family,” O’Neal said. “In addition to financial assistance, ASF has provided me with mentorship opportunities, professional networking, distributed my resume to companies and much more. The professional and personal benefits of this award cannot be overstated.”

This summer O’Neal interned at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, helping develop cryogenic CO2 scrubber technologies for human spaceflight.

“Working at JPL has always been a dream of mine, and my experience exceeded expectations. While at JPL, I used computational fluid dynamics to research a new type of cryogenic CO2 scrubber for human spaceflight, which would be advantageous for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond,” O’Neal said. “The most exciting part of the whole summer was the opportunity to present this research to astronauts at the Astronaut Scholar Technical conference in Houston, Texas.”

The internship at JPL was not O’Neal’s first time working for NASA. He spent the summer of 2023 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, working to develop aerial mesh networks using uncrewed aerial vehicles.

A Chellgren Fellow, O’Neal has conducted research in UK’s Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Lab and as part of UK’s Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System. He is a member of the Solar Car Team and credits Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering professors Sean Bailey, Ph.D., and Suzanne Smith, Ph.D., for serving as mentors during his time on campus.

O’Neal plans to earn a Ph.D. researching spacecraft propulsion technologies and pursue a career in research. 

ASF’s Astronaut Scholarship is offered to junior and senior-year college students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The process begins with nominations from University of Kentucky professors or faculty members. Upon selection, each student receives a scholarship of up to $15,000 and is officially named an Astronaut Scholar. Other benefits include: networking and mentoring opportunities with astronauts, alumni and industry leaders; participation in the Michael Collins Family Professional Development Program; and a paid trip to attend ASF’s Innovators Symposium & Gala, featuring the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence. This latter event also includes a technical conference where Astronaut Scholars present their research.  

UK students wishing to apply for the Astronaut Scholarship must do so through the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards.

About the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards

The UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards assists current undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni in applying for external fellowships scholarships funded by sources (such as a nongovernment foundation or government agency) outside the university. These major awards honor exceptional students across the nation. Students who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to begin work with the office’s director, Pat Whitlow, well in advance of the scholarship deadline.