From UHCL to NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab: Sophia Goings’ path to the Moon
For many students, college is about discovering what’s possible. For Sophia Goings, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Houston–Clear Lake, it has been about taking that discovery to the edge of space and beyond.
“I chose to attend UHCL because of its budding engineering programs and its location near Houston’s space industry,” she said. That decision has since opened doors she once only imagined, placing her in the heart of NASA’s training environment and on a trajectory toward supporting humanity’s return to the Moon.
Goings’ passion for engineering stems from her love of hardware design and its versatility across industries. “I chose to pursue Mechanical Engineering to pursue my passion for hardware design and gain skills applicable across various industries,” she said. At UHCL, that passion found room to grow in the classroom and through applied learning opportunities.
One of the defining aspects of Goings’ UHCL experience has been her leadership role with Space Hawks Rocketry, which she calls her favorite part of the university. Through hands-on involvement and student leadership, Sophia sharpened her technical skills and developed the confidence to aim higher.
That confidence paid off when she was introduced to UHCL’s Office of Strategic Partnerships. “I was originally referred to Strategic Partnerships by a friend who previously interned through them,” she shared. “Strategic Partnerships has been very supportive and helpful through interview processes, onboarding, and even managing my school workload.”
Through that support, Goings secured an internship at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL), the very facility where astronauts train for spacewalks. For a UHCL student, the experience was nothing short of transformative.
“I am absolutely honored to work at the NBL alongside all the people who make spacewalking possible,” she said. During her time there, she supported the development of life support systems that keep astronauts alive while training underwater for lunar extravehicular activities (EVAs), helped maintain the space station’s robotic arm mockup, and even learned to scuba dive to support hardware testing in the pool.
Her coursework at UHCL proved essential in preparing her for the highly technical and demanding environment. “My coursework at UHCL prepared me technically for activities like scuba diving and working on life support systems through learning about pressurization, thermodynamics, engineering mechanics, data analytics, and lab safety,” Goings said.
Experiences like Goings’ highlight UHCL’s commitment to experiential learning and cross-disciplinary opportunities. “UHCL stands out with its commitment to providing students opportunities across various disciplines,” she added. “Partnerships as prestigious as those through NASA contractors prove that UHCL is devoted to ensuring its students have unmatched aerospace experiences and are developing perfect candidates for future leaders in the rapidly expanding world of spaceflight.”
Looking ahead, Goings’ ambitions remain boldly aimed skyward. After graduation, she plans to support NASA’s mission in establishing lunar permanence for humanity. In the spring of 2026, she will continue working with the NBL Critical Systems group and is already preparing for new and innovative lunar spacesuit testing.
Perhaps the most important lesson Goings has learned at UHCL goes beyond equations and lab work. “The most important thing I’ve learned at UHCL is how to make connections and pursue challenging opportunities," she said.
Her advice to fellow students reflects that mindset: “Just take the risk. Even if you think you don’t have the qualifications to contribute to missions as impactful as the moon landing, there is no downside in taking the risk of putting yourself out there and applying to do great things. You won’t know what opportunities lie ahead of you unless you take that first initial leap of faith.”
Sophia Goings’ story is ultimately about taking the leap. With UHCL providing the foundation, support, and opportunity, that leap carried her from campus to one of NASA’s most critical training environments, proving that extraordinary outcomes often begin with a single bold decision.
For more information about UHCL’s Mechanical Engineering program, visit www.uhcl.edu/science-engineering/departments/engineering/mechanical-engineering/. For more information about internships and opportunities, visit www.uhcl.edu/strategic-partnerships/.
