Tim Crain
Chief Growth Officer, Co-founder
Intuitive Machines
Dr. Tim Crain earned his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas in 2000 as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. He then played a pivotal role as a lead engineer in the Aeroscience and Flight Mechanics Division of the Johnson Space Center working on Mars Science Lander navigation design and as Orbit Phase Mode Team lead for the Orion spacecraft.
In 2009, Tim became the Flight Dynamics lead for NASA’s Project Morpheus. Following a low-cost, lean development model, this project built and flight-tested a terrestrial lunar lander prototype. The Morpheus lander successfully incorporated liquid methane propulsion, precision landing, and autonomous hazard avoidance. The Morpheus project demonstrated how small teams of motivated engineers could rapidly innovate and effectively solve tough technical problems. Inspired by the Morpheus experience, Crain co-founded Intuitive Machines with Kam Ghaffarian and Steve Altemus in 2013. Dr. Crain is a recipient of the JSC Center Director’s Commendation Award, the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award, the UT Outstanding Young Engineering Graduate Award, the Orion Flight Dynamics Leadership Award, and a finalist for the NASA Rotary Mid-Career Stellar Award.
Dr. Crain is the Chief Growth Officer for IM and serves as Mission Director for lunar landing missions.
