Since childhood, Derrick Bailey at all times had an early fascination with aeronautics. Army fighter jet pilots had been his childhood heroes, and he dreamed of becoming a member of the aerospace trade. This ardour was a springboard into his 17-year profession at NASA, the place Bailey performs an vital position in enabling profitable rocket launches.
Bailey is the Launch Car Certification Supervisor within the Launch Services Program (LSP) inside the Space Operations Mission Directorate. On this position, he helps NASA define the company’s threat classifications of recent rockets from rising and established house firms.
“Inside my position, I formulate a collection of technical and course of assessments for NASA LSP’s technical crew to know how firms function, how autos are designed and certified, and the way they carry out in flight,” Bailey stated.
Past technical proficiency and readiness, a profitable rocket launch depends on establishing a powerful foundational relationship between NASA and the business firms concerned. Bailey and his crew guarantee efficient communication with these firms to offer the steering, knowledge, and evaluation essential to assist them in overcoming challenges.
“We work diligently to construct trusting relationships with business firms and display the worth in partnering with our crew,” Bailey stated.
Bailey credit a stroke of destiny that landed him on the company. Throughout his senior 12 months at Georgia Tech, the place he was pursuing a level in aerospace engineering, Bailey nearly walked previous the NASA tent at a profession truthful. Nonetheless, he determined to seize a NASA sticker and strike up a dialog, which shortly become an impromptu interview. He walked away that day with a job supply to work on the now-retired House Shuttle Program on the company’s Kennedy House Heart in Florida.
“I by no means imagined working at NASA,” Bailey stated. “Wanting again, it’s unbelievable that an opportunity encounter resulted in securing a job that has become an unimaginable profession.”
Fascinated with the long run, Bailey is worked up about new alternatives within the business house trade. Bailey sees NASA as an important advisor and mentor for business sector whereas utilizing trade capabilities to offer cheaper entry to house.
“We’re the enablers,” Bailey stated of his position within the directorate. “It’s our duty to offer the most effective alternative for future explorers to start their journey of discovery in deep house and past.”
Exterior of labor, Bailey enjoys spending time along with his household, particularly his two sons, who maintain him busy with journeys to the baseball diamond and homework classes. Bailey additionally enjoys hands-on actions, like engaged on vehicles, off-road autos, and home tasks – hobbies he picked up from his mechanically inclined father. Moreover, firstly of 2025, his spouse accepted a program specialist place with LSP, an thrilling growth for the whole Bailey household.
“One in every of my spouse’s main observations early on in my profession was how a lot my colleagues genuinely care about each other and empower folks to make selections,” Bailey defined. “These are the issues that make NASA the primary place to work within the authorities.”
NASA’s House Operations Mission Directorate maintains a steady human presence in house for the good thing about folks on Earth. The applications inside the directorate are the hub of NASA’s house exploration efforts, enabling Artemis, business house, science, and different company missions by way of communication, launch providers, analysis capabilities, and crew assist.
To be taught extra about NASA’s House Operation Mission Directorate, go to: