System: Nominal
ROCKET_SCIENTIST // M_GRABOIS
T+ 2026.08.18

Michael Grabois

"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via" - There is no easy way from the earth to the stars.

Born at an early age. Rocket scientist, aerospace engineer, Astro-not, Texas Longhorn, Parrothead, comic reader, craps shooter, night owl, scuba diver, nomad, Springsteen groupie, world traveler, scruffy-looking nerf-herder, burrito enthusiast, road-tripper, Hawaiian shirt wearer, Knight Who Says Ni, international scofflaw. Presented at conferences from Texas to South Korea, and published author. Been to 48/50 states, 34/200 countries, and 6 continents. I can ask for a beer in three languages (and I've logged over 850 different ones!).

Here are some 100% true fun facts about me:

Professional Trajectory

I've worked at NASA for most of the nearly 40 years since I graduated from the University of Texas.

For the first 7 years of my career, I helped design the Space Shuttle's liftoff trajectory, and then for the next 16 years I trained astronauts for fun & profit on how to fly the Space Shuttle. I got to work in multiple roles in Mission Control for 11 Shuttle launches and for the International Space Station, and I designed several Space Shuttle and Orion/Artemis cockpit displays. Training astronauts was the second coolest job ever, but after they retired the space shuttle, I was obsolete.

Michael in the Shuttle Mission Simulator

IMG_CAP: Michael operating the Shuttle Mission Simulator.

Currently I'm a Safety & Reliability Engineer. I have spent over 7 years as an EVA Safety Operations Engineer, working with the astronauts and flight controllers involved in spacewalks (EVAs) from the International Space Station. I've worked over 30 shifts on console supporting real-time operations from the Mission Evaluation Room adjacent to Mission Control Houston, and observed training in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab and reviewed procedures for dozens of EVAs.

Michael in the ISS Extravehicular Mobility Unit

IMG_CAP: Michael in a simulated EMU.

Then I spent nearly a year helping to shape SPACEWALKS ON THE MOON with the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), writing and reviewing Failure Mode Effects Analysis reports.

My core competencies include Training Systems Development, Human-in-the-Loop Simulations, Operational Procedure Design, Flight Controller & Astronaut Training, Lunar & EVA Systems Familiarity, Mission Operations, Human Factors, Modeling & Simulation, Cockpit/GUI Display Design, Knowledge Capture, Technical Writing & Documentation, Safety & Mission Assurance, and Reliability Engineering.

I still want to be an astronaut when I grow up.

Michael with the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit

IMG_CAP: Michael with the AxEMU.

Publications and Presentations

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Interests & Work

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