Station Nation: Meet Todd Eggleston, Increment Deputy Manager for Increment Integration and Operations
As we celebrate 21 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station, we caught up with Todd Eggleston, native Texan and increment deputy manager for Increment Integration Operations. Todd’s unique position entails representing and advocating for science on behalf of the International Space Station Program. He’s been working with NASA since 2000 — also 21 years!
As Crew-3 launches to the International Space Station, learn more about Todd’s role as a “science shepherd,” making sure the space station crew has lots of exciting experiments to perform while they are aboard.
Todd vacationing with family in Sedona, Arizona. Image courtesy of Todd Eggleston.
Where are you from?
League City, Texas.
Describe what your position entails:
My position entails representing and advocating for science on behalf of the International Space Station Program. I am responsible for integrating all NASA, CSA (Canadian Space Agency), ESA (European Space Agency), and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) science requirements, making sure that the International Space Station crew has plenty of productive science investigations to perform aboard and ensuring that the science and utilization goals and objectives of all the partner agencies are realized.
How would you describe your job to family or friends who may not be as familiar with NASA as employees reading this?
How long have you been working for the agency?
21 years!
What was your path to NASA?
Is there a space figure you've looked up to? Or someone you discovered while working for NASA who inspires you?
There's so many great people I've worked with over the years, or still work with, that have inspired me or motivated me ... David Korth, Kwatsi Alibaruho, Peggy Whitson, Chris Cassidy, Brian “BK” Kelly ... the list could go on and on. The main point here is there are a lot of outstanding people to look to for inspiration and motivation as you move through your career at NASA.
Can you share what your favorite upcoming science experiment with Crew-3 will be and your role in preparing it for research on station?
Ultrasonic Tweezers is an investigation that aims to develop “tweezers” that use sound to allow for remote and contactless manipulation of materials in microgravity. An ultrasound beam is shaped so that it produces a trap from which an object cannot easily exit. By moving the beam, the object can be moved to a new position with very good precision. Sounds like some Jedi stuff going on here!
My role is straightforward — ensure that it happens as the science team on the ground expects it to and be ready to respond to any issues that might come up during the course of the investigation.
Where are you and your family from? Any special traditions?
I grew up in Spring, Texas, by way of deep South Texas and the Hill Country. I've got a big family that enjoys celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas together. And, of course, we love getting together to watch the Astros play in the World Series!
What is your favorite NASA memory?
Working with all the great people I get to work with every day and being part of such a unique mission.
What do you love sharing about station to general audiences?
The thing I like the most about sharing station is explaining to them:
- How what we’re doing right now is paving the way for future exploration to the Moon, Mars, and beyond ... how what we’re doing now is akin to the explorers of the past discovering new worlds on the other side of the ocean.
- How all of the science being performed on the International Space Station will benefit humanity in ways we don’t even know about yet in the years to come.
What are your hobbies/things you enjoy to do outside of work?
I like being outside as much as possible. I am an avid runner, I love coaching youth sports, I love watching Astros baseball, I love hanging out with my family, and I love doing things with my church.
Todd at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Image courtesy of Todd Eggleston.
Day launch or night launch?
Any launch that makes it to space is a good launch!
Favorite space movie?
I don’t like watching space movies because I know too much about space, and they are all super unrealistic and I can’t get past it. But, if I had to pick one, I'd say “The Martian” is the most “real,” and I actually enjoy watching it.
NASA worm or meatball logo?
Read about the Crew-3 mission here and keep up to date with the latest news from Crew-3 and the International Space Station by following @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter, and the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.
