Meet: Jim Draus

Who I Am and What I Do
Hello, my name is Jim Draus and I am a NASA Test Director (NTD) in the Shuttle Processing Directorate at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I am originally from the Detroit area where I lived for 25 years prior to moving to Florida in 1986 and accepting a position with NASA.

As an NTD I am generally responsible for verifying the agency goals of safety, cost, schedule and performance for Shuttle Processing and Launch are being met. I achieve this by performing NASA run activities and by daily monitoring/surveillance of the Shuttle contractor while they perform Shuttle Processing and Launch activities. The primary responsibility of the NTD, however, is to direct the Launch Test Team in performing a safe and successful Space Shuttle Launch. The NTD performs several critical functions in support of Launch execution which are procedure management, countdown management, information management, and contingency management. Procedure management involves buying off the appropriate steps in the 5 volume Launch Countdown (LCD) procedure in an accurate and timely manner, managing constraints, procedural changes, and the bar chart schedule, and keeping a clear and concise log to keep fellow NTD's informed about what transpired on your specific shift. Countdown management involves managing the countdown clock, anomaly and problem statusing, establishing priorities on the schedule if a conflict develops, and being a management interface for the test team with respect to Program directions. Information management involves keeping the test team and management informed on the latest status of the LCD and any major issues or problems which could affect the launch. The NTD is also responsible for Contingency and Emergency Action Management. From call-to-stations, which is the beginning of the Shuttle (LCD) procedure, to the actual launch 3 days later, the NTD is the Test Team Leader and is ultimately responsible for the safety of the flight crew and all personnel on the launch pad. In the event of an emergency the NTD coordinates the necessary emergency response actions to remove personnel from the area to a safe location and then take steps to mitigate the hazard.

Another responsibility I have as an NTD is to run the Terminal Count Demonstration Test (TCDT). This is a dry run launch countdown simulation which only covers the terminal portion of the countdown. This test does require the flight crew to be loaded in to the crew cabin of the Orbiter on the launch pad. The test team performs this test as if the Shuttle was actually going to be launched. At T-5 seconds an emergency cut-off is given by the launch computer at which point the NTD directs the test team through a safing procedure for the Space Shuttle. This procedure enables the Shuttle engineers to configure all the Shuttle systems in a manner which allows removal of the flight crew from the crew cabin to a safe environment.

The NTD Office also supports various projects involving Shuttle processing activities such as new launch vehicles, launch processing system upgrades and safety improvements.

Other Facets of My Job
An ongoing requirement I have as an NTD is to participate in various types of training which allows me to remain proficient about Shuttle vehicle and ground systems, processing facility operations, processing operations and emergency action management. This knowledge is obtained through technical training, on the job training, facility walk downs, emergency simulations, evacuation drills, sit sown discussions and lessons learned briefings.

My Career Journey
As a mechanical engineering undergraduate student at Wayne State University in Detroit, I was presented in 1983 with the opportunity to work as a co-op student with NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Even though I knew very little about the space program, I gladly accepted the position. There were many events involving the space program throughout my younger years which fascinated me and made me wonder what the space program was all about. I remember thinking to myself if I were to pass up this opportunity, I would always be wondering what It would have been like to work for the space program. Growing up in an area based on the automotive industry, I knew there were several automakers in the area where I could go looking for a job. However, I knew there was only one place in the entire world where they launched space shuttles, and that's where I wanted to work. After becoming oriented to the space shuttle program through several co-op terms, and after graduating from college, I accepted a permanent position with NASA at the Kennedy Space Center in 1985 in the Structural Systems branch of the Facilities Engineering group. In 1990 I received a Masters of Science Degree in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. In 1999 I transferred over to the NASA Test Directors Office in the Shuttle Processing Directorate.

Personal Information
My wife Gloria, whom I met at KSC in 1987, and my two boys, Matt and Tommy, and I live in Titusville which is just west of the Kennedy Space Center. Gloria is also an engineer with NASA and works with the launch processing computer system. My family is the most important thing in my life and is another reason why I'm glad I chose to move to Florida 15 years ago and work for NASA. In my free time I enjoy going on adventures with my family and watching my boys grow up. I am also a volunteer Firefighter/EMT with Brevard County Fire & Rescue which allows me to support my community and help people.

What I Like About My Career
I like my job because of the diversity it offers and the visibility I have into the many interesting facets of the Space Shuttle Program. What also makes my job interesting are the people I work with, their expertise, and the teamwork required to get the job done. Without being able to work as a team, the space shuttles would never be able to launch. There is a tremendous sense of pride I feel with viewing each shuttle launch knowing that I played some part in supporting the flow and Launch of that space shuttle. I know if I can witness 100 launches I would still be impressed with the 101st. There are many changes taking place at NASA now as well as being planned on the horizon. New programs, projects and vehicles are some of the things I'm looking forward to. All this involves the opportunity to work with new technology, really bright people and the thrill of being involved with the U.S Space Program.

Archived Chats

• October 29, 1997