TRACY DRAIN

Tracy D. Drain is a Systems Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA. She is currently the Lead Flight Systems Engineer for the Europa Clipper mission, which launched on October 14, 2024.

In her 20+ years at the lab, Tracy has been involved in the development, testing and/or operation of five missions: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (a science and relay orbiter at Mars), Kepler (a space-based observatory searching for Exoplanets), Juno (an orbiter at Jupiter), Psyche (a mission to study an asteroid of the same name) and now Europa Clipper (a mission to study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa). Her roles on these projects have included Transition Phase Lead and Lead Systems Engineer in operations for MRO, the Mission Readiness Lead for Kepler, Deputy Chief Engineer in operations for Juno, Deputy Project Systems Engineer for Psyche and Lead Flight Systems Engineer for Europa Clipper. In addition to her roles on flight projects, Tracy has also served as the Technical Group Supervisor for the Flight System Systems Engineering group within the Flight Systems Engineering, Integration and Test section.

Tracy with Juno Qualification Solar Array Wing.jpg

Tracy was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, where she graduated from Waggener High School in 1993. She attended the University of Kentucky to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. While at the university, she interned at the NASA Langley Research Center Virginia. After graduating in 1998, she went to the Georgia Institute of Technology. She received her Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in May of 2000.

Tracy has devoted her life to science after being inspired as a student. She highlights the importance of a supportive and challenging primary, secondary and post-secondary education experience.

Now a Lead Flight System Engineer for the Europa Clipper Mission at NASA, she has fearlessly maintained the significance of scientific progress by breaking down barriers.

Tracy also serves as an executive mentor at Brooke Owens Fellowship which provides paid internships and mentorship for the exceptional undergraduate women and gender-minority students in aerospace. The organization’s programs are designed to serve both as an inspiration and as a career boost to capable young women and gender minorities.

Tracy Drain has received the JPL Bruce Murray Award for exceptional support for the education of minority and female STEM students through community programs, distance learning and public events. She has also been honored with NASA Exceptional Achievement Medals for her work on the Kepler mission and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission.

In 2023, Tracy Drain was inducted to the H all of Distinction at University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering, and the next year she became a recipient of the National Geographic Society 2024 Wayfinder Award presented by Kia.

Passionate about space exploration and STEM fields in general, Tracy loves taking every opportunity to share her enthusiasm with students and people of all ages. In June 2017, Kentucky to the World had the honor of hosting Tracy sharing insights about growing up in Kentucky, the development of her career and the challenges she faced while shattering the glass ceiling at the first ever Modern Thinkers Social Series event.

Watch Tracy Drain share her insights on:

Tracy Drain Video Playlist

Event Photos

On June 16, 2017 Tracy Drain presented a special talk at the Copper & Kings American Brandy distillery at the Modern Thinkers Social Series, a cultural scientific symposium featuring a follow-up discussion panel with local intellectuals; an astronomy-related local art exhibition showcasing the work of Shawn Marshall, Adam Horton, Rachel Waters, Jack Scally, Mickie Winters, and Avery Wilder; food and beverage features, and live music by Louisville's own Touch AC.

Tracy also enthusiastically led a student program at the Kentucky Science Center in Louisville earlier that day. 150 elementary and middle school students were invited to attend a presentation by Tracy and to participate in hands on workshop activities.