Meet: Tim Terry

Who I Am and What I Do

I am a simulation supervisor, for Space Flight Training and Facility Operations at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). I have worked at JSC for almost 11 years. A simulation supervisor leads a team of instructors (usually five to seven people) who work in the Simulation Control Area (SCA), within the Mission Control Center. The SCA team generates training scenarios, works with the Shuttle Mission Simulator (SMS) team to make sure the scenarios are introduced correctly, and monitors the Shuttle flight control team's decisions and actions. As a Simulation Supervisor (Sim Sup), I share the overall responsibility for the success of Integrated Simulations when the Space Station is involved, along with the Station Training Lead.

Before moving to the Sim Sup position, I was a team lead for space flight training. As a team lead, I was responsible for leading the efforts of the training team in preparing specific crews for specific missions. I miss working directly with the crews, but (as Sim Sup) it's a great challenge to steer the course of these simulations and ensure that the crews and flight control teams are well prepared for spaceflight. Like a college class, for training we follow a training syllabus. The training flows go on for many months, training several days a week. The training lessons are geared towards all phases of flight -- ascent, on-orbit and entry. As team lead, my job was to prepare the crew for the worst case scenario; then if it ever happened it would seem so much easier to deal with. As Sim Sup, I now help prepare the flight control teams. Preparation is the key.

My Career Journey

After high school, I went to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. I graduated in the spring of 1988 with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. I sent out resumes that summer, and then hired on with Rockwell Space Operations Company, now United Space Alliance.

Right now, I am working with the STS-88/2A crew, which is the first International Space Station (ISS or Station) flight. With the mission, we are all learning new things, besides training for normal shuttle operations and activities. Along with training the astronauts, our organization trains the flight control teams too. What I like most about my job is working closely with the flight crews and feeling close to the program.

Preparation for Career

As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. By the time I was in high school, I realized I wanted to be an engineer. Engineering seemed to best fit the skills I had and enjoyed -- math and science. I didn't care as much for English and literature, but they were nice exposures. I found history enjoyable too. I really liked school a lot, and it came easy to me. Since my father was a teacher, I felt a responsibility to make the most of school. Though math and science were my favorites, I learned to write pretty well (which is always important) because my dad was an English minor. I never really thought my educational background would allow me to be able to become an astronaut, but, after being out here, I now know that is not true.

Personal Information

Growing Up

I am a person who really enjoys music. I listen, study and play it. I am the drummer for a band (composed of instructors who work in my building) called "The Rockit Scientists." We play at events located onsite and at other places too. We play rock and roll from the 1960s through the 1990s. Golf is also a big thing in my life. I play and, I am also a golf instructor. I do a lot of thinking on the golf course. I instruct by day in the space environment, and I instruct other times on the golf course, though I never thought I'd be a teacher growing up. Since moving to Texas 10 years ago spicy food has become a favorite of mine. I love Mexican and Chinese food. Growing up in a small town, I was never exposed to this kind of food. I know what I was missing now!

I grew up in Mitchell, Indiana, (population of about 5,000), and I lived there for the first 25 years of my life. My hometown is also the hometown of Virgil I. Grissom. Virgil "Gus" Grissom was one of the seven original astronauts. He was also one of the three astronauts who died in the Apollo 1 spacecraft fire in 1967. Our entire town followed Gus's career very closely. My parents knew him, as they had graduated from high school together, and it turns out we were distant cousins. Though he died when I was about three, he made it easy for me to be interested in the space program.

My Family

My parents are retired and live in the same house they built in 1969. My father was a high school teacher for 28 years. My mom was a secretary/treasurer for a local automobile dealership. They ingrained in me a good work ethic. I love my hometown and enjoy going back for visits. Mitchell, Indiana, is the kind of town where everybody knows everybody.

My wife's name is Kim. She is also an engineer at JSC. Kim and I live in El Lago, a nearby community. Kim is a data processing system (DPS) flight controller who works in the Mission Control Center (MCC). We met while working in the training division. We have two dogs (Kadie, a five year old Smooth Fox Terrier; and Freddie, a 5-year-old American Cocker Spaniel) and three cats (Sunny, 13; Taffy, 12; and Bobby, 1). In 1996, our dog Freddie had to have emergency surgery on a herniated disc in her lower back. Although the back specialist/surgeon gave her only a 5% chance of ever walking again, she has recovered most of her ability and manages to get around. It's not a pretty sight, but she is very much an inspiration to us on a daily basis. In my personal life, I will continue to play and teach golf. I could see myself as a golf instructor after I retire.

My Future Plans and Goals

On my career path, there is one more rung on the technical ladder in space flight training that I would like to achieve -- the position of simulation supervisor. The simulation supervisor is responsible for those simulations involving the MCC and the flight control teams. Astronaut crews participate in these integrated simulations, and the simulated shuttle or station data flows to MCC much like it would during an actual mission. The flight controllers identify problems aboard the shuttle or station and work to provide solutions for the crew. It's a large team effort.

Archived QuestChats with Tim Terry

• January 15, 1999