- Michelle Lucas
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Johnson Space Center
Houston, TX
My name is Michelle Lucas and I am a Flight Controller for the International Space Station at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. I used to work in the Operations Planning Group, which is responsible for generating the timelines that governs the crew activity onboard the space station. I supported 5 Increments of astronauts: Expeditions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 from the Mission Control Center in Houston. Now I am part of the Training Group known as the Daily Operations Group (DOGs) and I work to train expedition crews in their daily tasks for space station including how to use their computers, how to use their timeline and procedures, and how to use their Inventory Management System.
Although working with the International Space Station is my primary job function, I am also part of the NASA Undersea Research Team NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations). I provide support to this project as a planner and as part of the Surface Support Team. The similarities between underwater habitation and living in space are astounding to me. I am proud to be a part of such a unique project and am thrilled for the opportunity to learn more about the sea.
I graduated with a B.S. Communications and Space Studies from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and have a strong background in aerospace engineering. Additionally, I am currently pursuing a Master’s Degree Aeronautical Science/Space Studies at the ERAU extension campus in Houston. Prior to attending ERAU, I was a student at Purdue University for 2 years. At both Purdue and ERAU I had the unique opportunity to participate in a student research program that allowed me to fly my fluid dynamics research project on NASA’s KC-135 aircraft. The KC–135 is flown in a parabolic path (think roller coaster!) to create up to 30 second of weightlessness at a time. What an experience! Microgravity is an amazing feeling and I hope that one day I can experience “zero–g” in outer space.
I grew up in Hobart, IN (a suburb of Chicago) and from a young age have always been fascinated by space flight. As young as age five I was proudly proclaiming that I would one day be an astronaut so to now be able to say that I work at NASA is quite the dream come true for me. My hobbies include diving (I am a PADI certified diver), sports (of all kinds as both a participant and spectator), dance, writing, and attending the theater.
