Welcome to Conversations with Goddard! 🎤 In this series of video shorts, we're expanding our decade-long profile series to hear stories from the people who keep our center thriving. Apurva Varia monitors the health and safety of NASA's Parker Solar Probe and Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) as their mission director, and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter as deputy mission director. An aerospace engineer, Apurva is the first Deaf mission director for an uncrewed mission that he knows of. "I encourage anyone with disabilities to pursue their dreams," he said. "You are going to face challenges. Remember, you can overcome challenges with the support of your colleagues, mentors and peers." Learn more about Apurva and his work: https://go.nasa.gov/3S4TQyb Learn more about the Conversations with Goddard series at our "People of Goddard" website: https://go.nasa.gov/3DcBntz Music provided by Universal Production Music: "Telling Stories" by Jean-Philippe Ichard [SACEM]. ASL interpretation by Justin Baldi. Video Description: :00 Light blue box slides down to reveal white text "Conversations with Goddard" against black background. :02 Light blue line slides down to reveal white text "Apurva Varia". :04 Apurva Varia, a man with blue shirt, jeans, and glasses, speaks American Sign Language in front of a white wall. :06 Caption box "Apurva Varia, Mission Operations Director" glides onto the screen. :14 Slow zoom on a photo of Apurva sitting at a long table with other engineers, smiling at camera. Apurva is still visible speaking ASL in a small inset box with black border. :21 Return to Apurva full-screen. :23 Slow zoom out on photo of Apurva standing next to a window in front of a large spacecraft photo. Apurva is still visible speaking ASL in a small inset box with black border. :26 Background photo changes to Apurva standing outdoors next to large rock pile, wearing a baseball hat, gray tee and green neckerchief. :29 Return to Apurva full-screen. He stands in front of a large window, with blue sky, trees, grass, and a road visible. :59 Fade to black.