Beginning in 1965 with Gemini 4, every aspect of a
manned space flight mission has been controlled from the Mission Control Center (MCC) at
the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. For thirty years, essentially the same
technology was used to coordinate each flight from the time the rockets were lit until the
spacecraft landed.
The original MCC has served NASA well over the years. Such historic events as the first
man on the moon and the first shuttle launch were orchestrated from there. However, the
original MCC was based on mainframe computer technology and proprietary hardware and
software systems developed specifically for NASA. The hardware systems alone required a
staff of approximately 80 technicians to maintain a 24 hour-a-day vigil when a mission was
in progress. And when something did go wrong, repairs were sometimes required at the
component level.
However, beginning with shuttle mission STS-70 in July, 1995, control was passed to the
new, state of the art Mission Control Center. Built at a cost of approximately
US$250,000,000, the new Mission Control Center was designed to take NASA into the 21st
century. Using the latest in client-server technology, NASA has tried to steer away from
the proprietary hardware systems that eventually became a maintenance nightmare at the old
facility. NASA has attempted to use commercially available software packages whenever
possible, and reverts to writing custom software only when necessary.
For those of you who have watched NASA missions over the years, the Flight Control Room
(FCR, pronounced “ficker”) is a familiar sight. From the FCR’s seventeen
control stations, NASA astronauts, scientists and controllers not only guided the flights,
but served as the focal point for television audiences around the world. However, this
icon of America’s space program has been retired and will be preserved for future
generations as a federally protected national monument.
The new MCC has not one, but two functionally identical Flight Control Rooms. Either room
can be used for an actual mission, or configured for simulation to serve as a training
tool. The new FCR is comprised of nineteen primary consoles (see figure 1), a
display/control system on the front wall, and a viewing gallery in the back.
The three large displays at the front of the FCR can be configured to display a variety of
information. The spacecraft tracking map (which was a projector image that was manually
moved on a track at the old FCR), various telemetry and timers, as well as video downlinks
can be displayed on any one of the three displays.
Although the FCR is the most visible component of the MCC, there’s a whole world of
activity going on behind the scenes. In the Multipurpose Support Room (MPSR), specialist
in the various systems monitor and analyze incoming data. This necessary information is
then passed on to the flight controllers as required.
There are two Payload Operations Control Centers (POCCs), which are used to monitor and
control the payload or experiments conducted in the shuttle’s cargo bay. One is
located at Huntsville, Alabama, and the other is at Greenbelt, Maryland.
The Spacelab POCC operates from Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The
Spacelab is a reusable scientific research laboratory that fits in the bay of the shuttle.
From the Spacelab POCC, data can be relayed to and from the shuttle to track the status of
the various experiments and systems.
From the Goddard Space Flight Center, located in Greenbelt, Maryland, control of all
“free-flying” systems is performed. This includes deployment, retrieval or
servicing of satellites, and the deployment of deep space probes. Finally, a new 102,000
square-foot facility has been built to house the Space Station Control Center (SSCC).
Since the MCC is crucial to the safety and success of any space flight, all
mission-critical systems have a redundant backup to be used in the event of emergency. For
example, there are both backup generators and air conditioners to ensure the MCC never
misses a beat in the event of a failure of either of these crucial components. And in a
worst-case scenario, space flight control can be passed to an emergency facility at the
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. At the KSC Launch Control Center, the mission can
supported to a safe completion.
Touring The Johnson Space Center
If you ever make it to the Houston, Texas area, you can visit the Johnson Space Center
(located 25 miles south of downtown Houston) and tour many of the facilities mentioned
here. Space Center Houston is adjacent to the Johnson Space Center, and contains a wealth
of information and exhibits of everything from lunar rovers to a shuttle mock-up. Space
Center Houston can be contacted at (713) 244-2100.
Role of each console in JSC MCC
Flight Director (FD): Call sign Flight, serves as leader of the flight control team, and
is responsible for overall Shuttle mission and payload operations and all decisions
regarding safe, successful flight conduct.
At the Operations Center, data is gathered with fifty-three high-resolution closed-circuit
cameras placed at strategic locations along Houston’s busiest freeways. From the
Center, the operators can control the pan, tilt and zoom of each camera. The signal is
transmitted from the cameras to the Center via fiber optics, and the resolution of the
picture is nothing less than incredible. To demonstrate, Mr. Allen zoomed in on a distant
street sign with lettering approximately 3” high. Even from its lofty perch high
above the freeway, the name of the street was easily discernible. With the help of the
cameras, the operators can quickly pinpoint problems along the freeway system and the
appropriate emergency services can be dispatched in a matter of minutes.
Spacecraft Communicator (CAPCOM): Call sign Capcom, serves as primary communicator between
flight control and astronauts. The initials are a holdover from earlier manned flight,
when Mercury was called a capsule rather than a spacecraft.
Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO): Call sign Fido, plans maneuvers and monitors trajectory in
conjunction with Guidance officer.
Guidance Procedures Officer (GPO): Call sign Guidance, monitors onboard navigation and
onboard guidance computer software.
Data Processing System Engineer (DPS): Determines status of data processing system
including the five onboard general purpose computers, flight-critical and launch data
lines, the malfunction display system, mass memories, and systems-level software.
Surgeon (Surgeon): Monitors crew activities, coordinates medical operations flight control
team, provides crew consultations, and advises flight director of the crew's health
status.
Booster Engineer (Booster): Monitors and evaluates main engine, solid rocket booster and
external tank performance during pre-launch and ascent phases of missions.
Payload Deploy Retrieval (PDRS): Monitors operation of the remote manipulator system.
Propulsion Engineer (PROP): Monitors and evaluates reaction control and orbital
maneuvering propellants and other consumables available for maneuvers.
Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Systems Engineer (GNC): Monitors all vehicle guidance,
navigation and control systems, notifies flight director and crew of impending abort
situations, and advises crew regarding guidance hardware malfunctions.
Electrical, Environmental, Consumables Manager (EECOM): Responsible for: passive and
active thermal control of the vehicle, cabin atmosphere control, avionics cooling,
supply/waste water system management, and fire detection/suppression.
Electrical Generation and Illumination Engineer (EGIL): Monitors electrical systems, fuel
cells and associated cryogenics, ac and dc power buses, vehicle pyrotechnics, and lighting
and hardware caution and warning systems.
Integrated Communications Officer (INCO): Plans and monitors in-flight communications and
instrumentation systems configuration.
Russian Interface Operator (RIO): The Russian Interface Officer serves as the primary
interface between the U.S. and Russian control teams. The RIO updates the Russian team on
shuttle related activities and issues, and relays messages from the Russian team to the
U.S. team.
Ground Controller (GC): Directs maintenance and operation activities affecting Mission
Control hardware, software and support facilities, coordinates the Ground Space Flight
Tracking and Data Network (GSTDN) and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS)
with Goddard Space Flight Center.
Flight Activities Officer (FAO): Plans and supports crew activities, checklists,
procedures and schedules, and plans/manages the attitude (orientation in space) of the
vehicle.
Payloads Officer (Payload): Coordinates onboard and ground system interfaces between the
flight control team and payload user, and monitors Spacelab and upper stage systems and
their interfaces with the payload.
Maintenance, Mechanical, Arm, and Crew Systems (MMACS): Call sign Max, monitors operation
of the orbiter's structural and mechanical system, and follows use of onboard crew
hardware and in-flight equipment maintenance.
Public Affairs Officer (PAO): Provides mission commentary to supplement and explain
air-to-ground transmissions and flight control operations to the news media and the public
on the NASA Select Network.
Mission Operations Directorate Manager (MOD): Provides a link from the Flight Control Room
to top NASA and JSC Missions Operations Directorate management.
Extravehicular Activity Officer (EVA): Monitors and provides support for Extravehicular
Activities.
Note: During missions on which a Spacelab module is carried in the orbiter's payload bay,
an additional flight control position is Command and Data Management Systems officer
(CDMS), responsible for data processing systems involving Spacelab's two major computers.
Monitoring Guide to JSC, Houston, Texas
(All frequencies are in MHz and mode is FM unless otherwise indicated)
123.125 NASA aircraft operations (Ellington AFB) (AM)
154.280 Mutual Aid (emergency/disasters only)
155.265 Civil Defense (emergency/disasters only)
155.370 Texas Intercity (emergency/disasters only)
164.200 JSC security net
164.9875 NASA administrative net
169.000 Engineering/maintenance net (repeater input 168.000) - building 1
170.100 Public affairs net (repeater input 171.000) - Building 45
170.350 Construction/maintenance (Alpha net) - Building 49 (164.700 repeater input)
170.375 Medical net (repeater input 168.450) - Building 45
170.750 Aircraft operations
171.150 NASA Select (Audio of NASA Select TV broadcasts)
173.6625 Paint net - Building 49
173.6875 Procedures net
173.8125 NASA transportation Net (repeater input 172.300) - Building 420
235.400 NASA air-to-ground (AM)
409.175 NASA medical network (repeater input 407.175)
409.025 NASA JSC paging
429.6725 Bridge crane operations - Building 48
NASA also shares a 10 channel trunking network with other government agencies in the
Houston area. The trunking system consists of the following frequency pairs (first
frequency repeater output/second frequency repeater input):
406.350/415.150
407.150/415.950
407.950/416.750
408.550/416.550
408.750/417.550
408.950/417.750
409.150/417.150
409.550/418.350
409.750/418.550
409.950/417.950
All articles are property of Haskell L.
Moore, and may not be reproduced
in whole or in part without written permission from the author.
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