17-063
NASA Marshall Names Birmingham, Alabama, Native Phillippia Simmons to Help Guide Science on Space Station
 Phillippia Simmons has been named a payload operations director at the Payload Operations Integration Center located at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama – mission control for science on the International Space Station. Credits: NASA/MSFC |
 The Payload Operations Integration Center located at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, supports all science investigations on the International Space Station. Credits: NASA/MSFC/Emmett Given |
Phillippia Simmons, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, has been named a payload operations director for the International Space Station. She will help lead the team that guides and manages science investigations on the station from the Payload Operations Integration Center – mission control for science located at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Simmons has a diverse career supporting the space shuttle and space station programs for the agency. She began her career at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston as a shuttle dynamics flight controller, providing trajectory planning and ground navigation support. She also lived and worked in Moscow, Russia, as a liaison between U.S. and Russian flight controllers before becoming a life support engineer for the station's life support hardware. Before accepting her new role, she served as a payload communications manager at the Marshall Center, speaking with station astronauts on a daily basis to help conduct science experiments. Simmons earned a bachelor's degree in physics in 1994 and a master's degree in physics in 1997, both from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville.
"I am delighted to be selected for this position," said Simmons. "This is a great honor and represents the highlight of my career thus far. I understand the weight of responsibility with this role, but I feel it will also bring lots of fulfillment."
NASA is increasing the crew complement in the U.S. segment of the station from three astronauts to four, essentially doubling the amount of science conducted on board. More science means more flight controllers are needed to help manage those investigations.
Simmons and three additional new payload operations directors will soon begin training for their new roles, joining the 24 flight controllers who help lead the large team that works with astronauts on a daily basis to conduct science in orbit.
"There was a rigorous review process of many outstanding applicants," said Bobby Watkins, director of the Human Exploration Development & Operations Office at the Marshall Center which manages the Payload Operations Integration Center. "Phillippia and her colleagues represent the best and are consummate professionals who have proven themselves as expert flight controllers for the space station. As leaders of the Payload Operations team, they are integral in the role we play in making discoveries on the space station."
For Simmons, being part of the team making discoveries in space is inspirational.
"I've worked in the NASA environment for almost 20 years," she said. "I have seen the many ways research in microgravity has benefitted us, from advances in cellular biology to astrophysics. I love the idea of being a part of that and I know the small steps we're taking now will enable us to reach farther into space. It's very exciting to think of the possibilities."
While all four new payload operations directors have previous flight controller experience, their journeys to lead the team are just beginning. They will soon begin the certification process, which includes training over the next six months to a year. Once they are officially certified, they will begin guiding the science on the station that improves life on Earth, while managing the discoveries that will help carry us to other worlds.
Stay up to date with science activities on the space station on the official Twitter feed for science on the orbiting laboratory.
Press Contacts
Janet Anderson
Marshall Space Flight Center
256-544-0034
janet.l.anderson@xxxxxxxx
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an e-mail message with the subject line subscribe to msfc-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail message with the subject line unsubscribe to msfc-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
