Mission Control Center (MCC) is a unit that manages aerospace flights. MCC is often part of an aerospace agency. There are several such agencies in the world, the three biggest ones being:

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Russian Federal Space Agency (FKA)
• European Space Agency (ESA)

The main task of MCC is to manage space missions. A staff of flight controllers and other support personnel monitor all aspects of the mission using telemetry. In the United States, the Mission Control Center is associated with manned space flight. A separate organization called the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and control room manages unmanned space probes. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... The Russian Federal Space Agency (Russian: Федеральное космическое агентство России, commonly known as Roskosmos), formerly the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Russian: Российское авиационно-космическое агентство, commonly known as Rosaviakosmos) or RKA, is the government agency responsible for Russias space science programme and general aerospace research. ... Established: 1974 Administrator: Jean-Jacques Dordain Budget: €2. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Telemetry is a technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of information of interest to the system designer or operator. ... For the singer/songwriter, see Jon Peter Lewis. ... Technicians work on the Ulysses space probe. ...

NASA Mission Control Center

"Old" Control Center

JSC (originally known as the Manned Spacecraft Center), MCC Flight Control Room, STS-30 mission

Located at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (originally known as the Manned Spacecraft Center), in Houston, Texas, the NASA MCC was first used in June 1965, with Gemini 4, the first American extravehicular-activity or spacewalk mission. Image File history File links LBJ-MCC-STS030(S)116. ... Image File history File links LBJ-MCC-STS030(S)116. ... Front gate of Johnson Space Center. ... STS-30 was a space shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Atlantis. ... Front gate of Johnson Space Center. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: , Country United States State Texas Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Incorporated June 5, 1837 Government  - Mayor Bill White Area  - City  601. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Gemini 4 (officially Gemini IV) was a 1965 manned space flight in NASAs Gemini program. ... Astronaut Bruce McCandless on an untethered EVA Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth and outside of his or her spacecraft. ... Astronaut Bruce McCandless on an untethered EVA Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth and outside of his or her spacecraft. ...

Before Gemini 4, all Mercury–Redstone, Mercury–Atlas, and the unmanned Gemini 1, Gemini 2, and manned Gemini 3 missions were controlled by the MCC center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The original Mission Control Center at Cape Canaveral is at the east end of Mission Control Road, about 0.5 mile (0.8 km) east of Phillips Parkway. This building is used as a storage facility, and is scheduled for demolition sometime between 2006 and 2011. It was formerly part of the visitors' tour, but all control-room equipment was removed in the late 1990s to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center. A replica of the control room, with all the original equipment, is open during normal Visitors Center hours. Gemini 1 was a 1964 unmanned space flight in NASAs Gemini program. ... Gemini 2 was an unmanned flight in the U.S. Gemini program. ... Gemini 3 was a 1965 manned space flight in NASAs Gemini program. ... Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida, USA. The population was 8,829 at the 2000 census. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... A mile is a unit of length, usually used to measure distance, in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, United States customary units and Norwegian/Swedish mil. ...

Between 1964 and its replacement with the new MCC-2 in 1998, the NASA MCC has controlled virtually all Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle flights. Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of the United States of America. ... Project Apollo was a series of human spaceflight missions undertaken by the United States of America (NASA) using the Apollo spacecraft and Saturn launch vehicle, conducted during the years 1961 – 1975. ... Skylab was the first space station the United States launched into orbit. ... For the current mission, see STS-118 NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ...

There were two NASA MCC rooms, then known as the Mission Operations Control Rooms (MOCRs), each consisting of a four-tier auditorium, dominated by a large map screen, which, with the exception of Apollo lunar flights, has a Mercator projection of the Earth, with locations of the numerous tracking stations over the surface of the earth, and a three-orbit track of the spacecraft in flight. Each MOCR tier was specialized, containing specific controllers, each handling a portion of the spacecraft or launch vehicle. Mercator world map Nova et Aucta Orbis Terrae Descriptio ad Usum Navigatium Emendate (1569) The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection presented by the Flemish geographer and cartographer Gerardus Mercator, in 1569. ...

FCR-1 serving as the new ISS control room

The old MCC, now on the National Register of Historic Places, consisted of two identical control rooms. It was replaced in 1997 by a new MCC, which has one large room for Shuttle flights, and a smaller auditorium for International Space Station operations. MOCR-2, the room used to control the first manned moon landing, has been converted back to its Apollo-era configuration and preserved for historical purposes. It was used as a model for the replicated MOCR in the Apollo 13 movie, although NASA would have allowed Ron Howard to film the movie there. MOCR-1 had all of its original consoles and tiered decking removed, and it was converted to a "science center" for ISS Payload control operations. After additional remodeling, MOCR-1 was redesignated as FCR-1 in October 2006; it now serves as the primary control room for the ISS. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2040 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2040 pixel, file size: 1. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ... For the current mission, see STS-118 NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... “ISS” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Apollo (disambiguation). ... Apollo 13 is a 1995 film portrayal of the ill-fated Apollo 13 lunar mission. ... For other people named Ron Howard, see Ronald Howard. ... “ISS” redirects here. ... “ISS” redirects here. ...

One of the rooms in the "old" MCC building was gutted and converted to a training room, known variously as the "TFCR" or "Red" FCR. It has several consoles whose function can be reassigned according to the simulation occurring at the time.

MOCR Console Positions

The first row, known as "The Trench", consists of four controllers–BOOSTER, RETRO, FIDO, and GUIDO. The BOOSTER controller monitors the launch vehicle, a job lasting no more than six hours. The RETRO, FIDO, and GUIDO controllers monitor the spacecraft trajectory, handle course changes, and establish launch and landing "windows". Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The second row, since Project Gemini, consists of the SURGEON, EECOM, and CAPCOM. The SURGEON is the flight surgeon, a NASA-employed civilian doctor who monitors the health of the astronauts, although, since the first flight of the Space Shuttle, this has been done indirectly, except during EVA. The EECOM monitors the spacecraft's electrical and environmental systems, while the CAPCOM ("Capsule Communicator"), generally an astronaut, serves as the "air-to-ground" communicator between the MCC and the space crew; no other controller can speak to the astronauts, except the SURGEON during emergencies. Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of the United States of America. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... For the current mission, see STS-118 NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ...

On the other side of the "aisle" of the second row are controllers who monitor specific parts of Apollo, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle. During the lunar flights, the TELMU and CONTROL controllers monitored the Apollo lunar module. During Skylab, the EGIL (pronounced "eagle") monitored the Skylab's solar panels, while the EXPERIMENTS controller monitored experiments and the telescopes in the Apollo Telescope Mount. The PAYLOAD and EXPERIMENTS controllers monitor Space Shuttle operations. Another controller, the INCO, monitors the spacecraft's communications and instrumentation. For other uses, see Apollo (disambiguation). ... Skylab was the first space station the United States launched into orbit. ... For the current mission, see STS-118 NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... The Apollo Telescope Mount, or ATM, is the name of a solar observatory that was attached to Skylab, the first US space station. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The third row consists of the PAO (Public Affairs Officer); PROCEDURES, who coordinates with launch teams and writes the countdowns and "go–no go" conditions; FAO (flight activities officer), who coordinates with the flight schedule; AFD (assistant flight director); and FLIGHT (the Flight Director), the "boss" of the entire mission. FLIGHT was first filled by Dr. Christopher Kraft, and later by Eugene Kranz, Dr. Glynn Lunney, Gerald Griffin, and others. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Christopher Columbus Kraft, Jr. ... Gene Kranz, uncharacteristically wearing a dark vest (courtesy of NASA) Eugene F. Gene Kranz (17 August 1933–) is a former NASA flight director. ... Glynn Lunney as manager of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (1974) Glynn S. Lunney (born November 27, 1936) is a retired NASA engineer. ...

The fourth row has consoles for NASA management, including the Director of the Johnson Space Center, the Director of Flight Crew Operations (chief astronaut—first held by Donald K. "Deke" Slayton), and the Department of Defense officer, who coordinates with active-duty and reserve components in any search-and-rescue or recovery operations if the mission is aborted. Deke Slayton prepares for a pre-mission test leading up to his Apollo-Soyuz flight Donald K. Deke Slayton (March 1, 1924–June 13, 1993) was an American astronaut. ...

"New" Control Center

In approximately 1992, JSC started building an extension to the Old building 30, housing two new MCC rooms, now known as Flight Control Rooms (FCRs, pronounced "ficker"). The "White" FCR is used for Shuttle Operations and the "Blue" FCR is used for ISS operations. The rooms were arranged a little differently from each other and from the old MOCRs. Front gate of Johnson Space Center. ... For the current mission, see STS-118 NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... “ISS” redirects here. ...

White FCR Console Positions

The modern Space Shuttle Mission Control

From left to right, as viewed from the rear of the room, the front row (the "trench") consists of FDO (pronounced "fido"), responsible for orbital guidance and orbital changes, depending on the phase of flight, either Ascent/Entry a specialist in the procedures of those two high-energy, fast-paced phases of flight or Guidance, a specialist in orbital rendezvous procedures and GC, the controller responsible for the computers and systems in MCC itself. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (889x745, 94 KB) NASA presentation: JSC overview File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (889x745, 94 KB) NASA presentation: JSC overview File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The second row has PROP, responsible for the propulsion system, GNC, responsible for systems that determine the spacecraft's attitude and issue commands to control it, MMACS (pronounced "max"), responsible for the mechanical systems on the space craft, including the "arm", and EGIL (pronounced "eagle"), responsible for the fuel cells, electrical distribution and O2 & H2 supplies. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The third row has DPS (pronounced "dips"), responsible for the computer systems, ACO, responsible for all payload-related activities, FAO, responsible for the overall plans of activities for the entire flight, and EECOM responsible for the management of environmental systems. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The fourth row has INCO, responsible for communications systems for uploading all systems commands to the vehicle, FLIGHT—the Flight Director, the person in charge of the flight, CAPCOM, an astronaut who is just about the only one to talk to the astronauts on board, and PDRS, the person responsible for arm operations. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The back row contains PAO (Public Affairs Officer), the "voice" of MCC, MOD, a management representative, depending on the phase of flight, either, RIO - only for MIR flights, a Russian-speaker that spoke with the Russian MCC, known as Цуп, (Tsup), BOOSTER responsible for the SRBs and the SSMEs during ascent, or EVA responsible for space suit systems and EVA tasks, and finally, SURGEON. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... The Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) is the rocket that provides 83% of liftoff thrust for the Space Shuttle. ... Space Shuttle Main Engine cluster The Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) are the three main engines on the Space Shuttle orbiter. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

Blue FCR Console Positions

The blue FCR is more regularly arranged, in 5 rows of three consoles, plus one in the rear right corner.

From left to right, as viewed from the rear of the room, the front row consists of ADCO, THOR, and PHALCON. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The second row consists of OSO, ECLSS pronounced "eekliss", and ROBO. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The third row consists of ODIN, depending on phase of flight, either ACO (Shuttle docked) or the CIO (Free-flight Operations) and OpsPlan. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... For the current mission, see STS-118 NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

The fourth row consists of CATO, FLIGHT—the Flight Director, and CAPCOM. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

Finally, the last row consists of GC, depending on the phase of flight, either, RIO, EVA, VVO, or FDO (reboosts only), and finally, SURGEON. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

In the back, right corner, behind the surgeon, occasionally the PAO (Public Affairs Officer) is present, but rarely. Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ...

ISS control room of the FKA Mission Control Center

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 514 pixel Image in higher resolution (2936 × 1888 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 514 pixel Image in higher resolution (2936 × 1888 pixel, file size: 1. ...

FKA Mission Control Center

The Mission Control Center of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Russian: Центр управления полётами, also known by its acronym Цуп ("TsUP")) is located in Korolyov, near the RKK Energia plant. It contains an active control room for the ISS, and a memorial control room for the Mir. In the latter the last few orbits of Mir before it burned up in the atmosphere are shown on screen. The Russian Federal Space Agency (Russian: Федеральное космическое агентство России, commonly known as Roskosmos), formerly the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Russian: Российское авиационно-космическое агентство, commonly known as Rosaviakosmos) or RKA, is the government agency responsible for Russias space science programme and general aerospace research. ... Korolyov or Korolev (Russian: ) is an industrial city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located at , well-known as the cradle of space exploration. ... S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (also known as RKK Energiya) is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components. ... Mir (Russian: ; lit. ...

See also

• Flight controller
• Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
• Manned Space Programs
• Project Apollo
• Space Shuttle program
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASAs Mission Control Center. ... Front gate of Johnson Space Center. ... List of human spaceflights: Apollo Missions Apollo 7 Apollo 8 - first human flight around the moon Apollo 9 Apollo 10 Apollo 11 - first human moon landing Apollo 12 Apollo 13 - explosion en route to Moon forced emergency return to Earth by using free return trajectory Apollo 14 Apollo 15 Apollo... Project Apollo was a series of human spaceflight missions undertaken by the United States of America (NASA) using the Apollo spacecraft and Saturn launch vehicle, conducted during the years 1961 – 1975. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... For the singer/songwriter, see Jon Peter Lewis. ...

External links

• National Park Service mission control page
• Space-Technology.com mission control page
• NASA's Johnson Space Center page
• NASA's MCC page