At NASA and Nightclubs, Stars Align for DJ Scientific

By day, NASA aerospace engineer Mark Branch supervises electromagnetic compatibility and susceptibility tests on instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope.

At night and on weekends, he becomes DJ Scientific, trading in his spectrum analyzers and oscilloscopes for a microphone, turntables and a mixer as he cranks hip-hop tunes at some of the Washington area's hottest clubs as well as at NFL and NBA events.

"I may be the only rocket scientist hip-hop DJ in the country," said Branch, 39, who holds degrees in engineering and engineering physics. "My colleagues at NASA find it hard to believe that I spend my nights deejaying at nightclubs. The people I meet at the clubs can't believe that by day I supervise people testing instruments for satellites."

Branch, of Mitchellville, has worked at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt since 1991. He is the technical lead in the electromagnetic test engineering section, heading a team of engineers who conduct tests on parts for the Hubble, as well as the yet-to-be-launched Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Solar Dynamic Observatory and other projects. He is among a passel of NASA engineers and scientists working 10- to 12-hour days as the space agency prepares to launch the fourth repair mission of the Hubble this year.

His dual interests, rockets and hip-hop, make him a natural draw for children, especially African American boys. He speaks frequently at schools and is always a hit at programs for children visiting Goddard. He spoke to a group of students from Baltimore recently.

"I think they can relate to what I do when I tell them I'm a hip-hop DJ," said Branch, one of a few black engineers to achieve supervisory status at the space agency. "Then, sometime while we're talking, it hits them: 'Wait a minute. This guy works at NASA. This guy is a scientist. He's a scientist who looks like me. Maybe I can be a scientist and a DJ.' "

His work persona is strictly professional, but Branch definitely eases up in his off time. "Peace!" the voice mail on his cellphone proclaims. "You have reached the business line of Scientific Beats. This is Scientific, a.k.a. Markie B."

At Love nightclub in Northeast Washington on a recent Friday night, Branch, who favors Oxford shirts and black dress pants for work, morphed into his alter ego, DJ Scientific, all black shirt, baggy pants and cool.

"Welcome to Love," he told the people on the dance floor five feet below the DJ platform.

"Tip my bartenders," he said. "My bartenders be holding it down."

As the 20- and 30-something crowd gyrated on the floor, Branch offered up a mix of music: Old School rap then R&B and then the latest hits.

"He's the bomb!" said Salaria Haynes, 23, of Philadelphia, who came with a group of friends while visiting family in Northern Virginia. "He plays all the good music."