Mechanical engineering student helps send science to the moon with Firefly Aerospace

Ilyas Malik, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS), is making waves — quite literally, lunar ones. As a co-op student at Firefly Aerospace, Malik played a key role in supporting the company’s successful bid to NASA to deliver six cutting-edge experiments to the lunar surface as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. This exciting project, detailed in a recent NASA news release, underscores UC’s reputation for preparing students to tackle real-world challenges and contribute to groundbreaking advancements in science and technology.

For prospective and current students dreaming of a career that reaches beyond the stars, Malik’s journey offers an inspiring glimpse into the power of UC’s co-op program and the thrilling opportunities awaiting in the aerospace industry.

What’s it like to know your work will leave a mark on the moon? For Malik, it’s a thrill that’s hard to top.

“The most rewarding part of being a part of a mission that is going to be going to the moon is knowing that I helped play a role in progressing the knowledge of mankind with something that is going to be on the moon for the rest of my lifetime,” he shared.

The Blue Ghost Mission 3 project holds a special place in his heart as his first assignment at Firefly — and now, a winning bid he’ll get to see come to life. “I’m super excited to see the mission launch in the next few years,” he added, “as well as getting to go back to Firefly in the summer to continue to help get more science into space!”

Imagine being able to tell your friends — or future employers — that you helped send technology to the moon. For Malik, that’s not just a dream; it’s his reality, thanks to UC’s co-op program.

Before Firefly, Malik had completed co-ops in other industries, but none ignited his passion like aerospace.

“I always thought I wanted to work in space or the robotics industry as a kid,” he said, “and after the opportunity to have an internship at a company in the space industry, I instantly knew this is something I wanted to be a part of for a long time.”

The excitement of working on cutting-edge technologies, combined with the chance to pioneer uncharted territory, hooked him. The experience wasn’t without its hurdles. Starting with tight deadlines and unfamiliar tasks, Malik initially felt the pressure. But with supportive mentors at Firefly and a solid foundation from UC, he quickly found his footing.

“All of my work helped me hone in my CAD skills a lot as well as my communication skills from having the opportunity to work with new teams across the company every few weeks,” he explained. “Learning to adapt quickly to new environments built my confidence that I could carry my weight and have a positive impact on all the projects I worked on.”

For UC students, Malik’s story is a testament to how co-ops can transform theoretical knowledge into practical expertise — and turn childhood dreams into career paths.

Working on a NASA-related project opened Malik’s eyes to the aerospace industry’s exacting standards.

“Compared to the standards I had to follow in other industries, the tolerances in the aerospace industry are a lot tighter with more regulations,” he noted. “Then on top of that, when working on a NASA-specific project, it gets a lot more precise with them considering ‘everything’ that could impact the success of the mission.”

Diving into NASA’s public mission documents revealed a world of redundancy and safety measures — lessons learned from decades of space exploration. “It makes sense why that is,” Malik said, “and it’s nice to gain a better understanding of the reason for it.”

This peek behind the curtain of aerospace engineering is a goldmine for students curious about what it takes to succeed in this high-stakes field.

If Malik could ask a NASA engineer one question about the Blue Ghost Mission 3, he knows exactly what it would be: “How will the planned science that will be collected from this mission help humanity keep a presence on the moon and start working on building a base?”

His curiosity reflects his big-picture thinking — a trait UC fosters in its engineers. “I know one of the main reasons for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services missions is to collect information that will make it easier and safer for humans to survive on the moon,” he said, “so it would be cool to understand more about how all of the missions play a role in the future of space travel.”

As Malik gears up to return to Firefly this summer, his story is a rallying cry for UC students: seize the opportunities your education offers, and you might just find yourself shaping the future — one lunar mission at a time. For prospective students, it’s a compelling reason to join UC, where the sky isn’t the limit — it’s just the beginning.

Featured top image of Ilyas Malik smiling in front of glass doors with Firefly Aerospace logo visible. He is wearing a Blue Ghost t-shirt. Photo/provided.