A Journey Through Space and Time: Mike Drury’s Stellar Career at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Mike Drury’s career at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is a remarkable journey that spans over four decades. What began as a short-term assignment as a temporary technician has evolved into a significant role as the Deputy Integration and Testing Manager for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a project that promises to answer many of the universe’s most intriguing questions.
Mike’s initial stint at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, was intended to last a mere six weeks. His task was to assist in setting up High Capacity Centrifuge tests. However, as the saying goes, the universe had other plans. Those six weeks extended to three months, and eventually, Mike found himself dedicating over 40 years to the advancement of space exploration.
Today, Mike is at the helm of ensuring the Roman Space Telescope’s assembly is flawless, and he oversees the rigorous verification processes that certify its readiness for launch. In his words, "Working here is a privilege. There are no regrets. This is a big place, and it is what you make it. You can really spread your wings and go into a lot of different areas and do different things."
When Mike first joined Goddard, only government-employed technicians were permitted to work on space flight hardware. However, this began to change with the passage of time. The experienced technicians, whom Mike fondly refers to as "old-timers," started training a select group of contractors, including Mike, in the intricacies of flight hardware work. Mike credits these seasoned professionals for instilling in him a mindset that has guided him throughout his career. "They taught me how to approach things and execute them, and that helped me through my entire career," Mike reflects. "It’s that approach — making sure things are done right, without cutting any corners — that I always liked about working here."
Mike’s journey into the world of space missions began during his college years. Through a program offered by his contract, he was able to attend classes while working full-time at Goddard. For a decade, Mike balanced his work and studies at Anne Arundel Community College, eventually earning an associate’s degree in mathematics. Alongside his degree, he accumulated credits in physics and calculus, which paved the way for his further studies in thermal engineering at Johns Hopkins University. After seven years of attending night classes, Mike achieved a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
"Night school was really difficult between full-time work and traveling because I was working on several missions," Mike recalls. "You needed that perseverance to just keep going and working away at it. So I just hung in there."
Over the course of his 17-year educational journey, Mike participated in seven missions, broadening his skills from test setup to clean room tech work, and even training astronauts. While working on the Hubble Space Telescope, Mike had the opportunity to train astronauts for their in-orbit tasks, including the installation of various instruments. "Every mission I’ve worked on I’ve learned something," Mike shares. "Every test you learn more and more about other disciplines."
Upon graduating from Johns Hopkins, Mike briefly served as an engineer before transitioning to the role of an integration supervisor. In 2006, he assumed the position of James Webb Space Telescope ISIM (Integrated Science Instrument Module) integration and test manager. Following the integration of Webb’s ISIM with the Optical Telescope Element, he became the OTIS (Optical Telescope Element and Integrated Science Instrument Module) integration and testing manager.
Reflecting on his tenure, Mike describes it as "a tough eight to 10 years of work." The culmination of their efforts was the loading of the OTIS into the shipping container for transport to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for further testing — a significant achievement in Mike’s career.
To ensure Webb’s ISIM was ready for the challenges of space, Mike oversaw more than three months of uninterrupted thermal vacuum testing. During this period, a blizzard stranded Mike and his colleagues on-site at Goddard for three days. Amidst the snowstorm, Mike was responsible for overseeing thermal vacuum tests at night and transporting test directors and operators to their accommodations during the day, using his four-wheel-drive truck — a crucial asset in the harsh winter conditions.
For Mike, the arduous work involved in space missions is always justified. "As humans, we want to discover new things and see things. That’s what keeps me coming back — the thought of discovery and space flight," he explains. "I get excited talking to some of the Hubble or Webb scientists about the discoveries they’ve made. They answer questions but they also find themselves asking new ones."
Many of these new questions, sparked by the Hubble and Webb telescopes, are set to be addressed by Mike’s current project — the Roman Space Telescope. "This team I would say is the best I’ve ever worked with. I say that because it’s the Goddard family. Everyone here on Roman has the same agenda, and that’s a successful, on-time launch," Mike states. "My ultimate goal is to be staying on the beach in Florida after watching Roman blast off. That would be all the icing on the cake."
In addition to steering the Roman project towards success, Mike is committed to preparing the next generation of space explorers at Goddard. He is dedicated to instilling a sense of importance, intentionality, and precision in his successors, just as the "old-timers" did for him four decades ago. "I talk to a lot of my colleagues that I’ve worked with for years, and we’re all excited to hand it off to the next generation," Mike says. "It’s so exciting to see. I’m the old guy now."
As Mike Drury reflects on his illustrious career at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, his journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, dedication, and a lifelong passion for discovery. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring space enthusiasts and reminds us of the incredible feats that can be achieved when we reach for the stars.
For more information, you can visit the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center website.
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