NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

By: Jim Hodges

It began when Tray Eppes met Kelly Murphy through their music interests and a friendship ensued.

It advanced to this in 2005:

"I tell you my baby, she’s got what it takes
to work it out in her head and make no mistakes.
To figure what’s up, she’ll turn it inside out.
My baby makes me want to jump and shout.
She’s got looks and brains. I can’t resist.
My baby’s a Rocket Scientist."

From among 1,350 entries, "Rocket Scientist" is No. 3 on the list of the 10 finalists being voted upon by the public in a contest being conducted by NASA. The top two songs will be played for astronauts on the next space shuttle mission: STS-134, due to launch on April 19.

Click to enlarge

Tray Eppes grew up in Newport News, where NASA Langley "was the neighborhood business." Now he lives in central Virginia and has written a song that is in a NASA contest with a prize of being played to astronauts aboard STS-134. Credit: Tray Eppes

"It's about smart women with not-so-smart boyfriends," said Eppes, who lives in Cullen, Va., near Longwood University in Farmville said of "Rocket Scientist." "I did it for an album I recorded in 2005."

For a video of the song that includes Murphy and several other women at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FvnzQ_XCyI
Eppes was prodded to write "Rocket Scientist" by a neighbor, who knows both him and Murphy.

"Our mutual friend, Pat Ward, pointed out, how could I not write a song when I actually know and admire a rocket scientist," Eppes said.

So the song was included in his album "It's No Act."

"When the NASA contest came out, Kelly called and said 'you've got to send the song in,' " Eppes said. "Well, you do what Kelly says. She's pretty strident."

Murphy works in the Aerothermodynamics Branch at NASA Langley, doing aerodynamic wind tunnel testing on space transportation concepts. Since 2005, she has worked extensively on Orion, the crew module planned for future space exploration, and also has tested on Mars Science Laboratory, going up later this year.

Murphy, who sings and plays some guitar, hosts "house concerts" called "Harris Creek Acoustic" at her home in Hampton and works to help other musicians.

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Kelly Murphy works in Langley's Aerothermodynamics Branch. She befriended Epps, who was moved to write a song about her.
Credit: NASA

And, according to Eppes:

"The girl’s got style. She’s got wit and grace. One look sends me into outer space. She could work for NASA. I believe she does.
Takes me for a ride in the wind tunnel of love.
I dream at night of her jet-powered kiss.
My baby’s a Rocket Scientist."

Eppes shares his creativity between his pottery studio and writing, recording and performing his music.

"I've been less-than-employed my whole life," he said. "I write about what I know: cooking, gardening, being in love. I wrote a song for a friend the other day. I played it about five times, then burned it to a disc and sent it to him."

Eppes is familiar with Hampton Roads and NASA, having grown up in Newport News and graduated from Ferguson High School.

"For me, it was the neighborhood business," he said. "I knew a lot of people who worked there."

That makes the possibility of being played for astronauts something special to him. And for Murphy, who is mounting a one-woman campaign for her friend.

To vote in the contest, visit:
https://songcontest.nasa.gov/topOrig.aspx

The Researcher News
NASA Langley Research Center
Editor & Curator: Denise Lineberry
Managing Editor: Jim Hodges
Executive Editor & Responsible NASA Official: Rob Wyman