JSC News Release Log 1990/90-034
Flight Control of STS-35
Flight control for STS-35, the thirty-sixth voyage of the Space Shuttle, will follow the same procedures and traditions common to all U.S. manned space flights since the Mission Control Center was first used in 1965.
Responsibility for conduct of the mission will revert to the Mission Control Center (MCC) in Houston once Columbia's two solid rocket boosters ignite. Mission support will begin in the MCC about five hours prior to launch and will continue around-the-clock through the landing and post-landing activities.
Responsibility for conduct of the science activities will revert to the Payload Operations Control Center (POCC) at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, once Columbia has been cleared for orbital operations and the payload instruments have been activated.
Because these operations will take place simultaneously around the clock, transmissions to and from the Columbia will be broadcast on two separate channels—one devoted to science operations, the other devoted to Orbiter flight operations. Science operations with the ASTRO-1 and Broad Band X-Ray Telescope payloads will be the subject of communications on the air-to-ground one (A/G-1) channel, with the Crew Interface Coordinator (CIC) at the POCC using the call sign “Huntsville," and the crew using the call sign “ASTRO.“ Orbiter operations will be the subject of communications on the air-to-ground two (A/G-2) channel, with the Spacecraft Communicator (CAPCOM) in the MCC using the call sign "Houston," and the orbiter hailed as "Columbia."
In Houston, the mission will be conducted from Flight Control Room One (FCR-1) on the second floor of the MCC located in Bldg. 30 at Johnson Space Center. The teams of flight controllers will alternate shifts in the control center and in nearby analysis and support facilities. The handover between each team takes about an hour and allows each flight controller to brief his or her oncoming colleague on the course of events over the previous two shifts. Change-of-shift press conferences with offgoing flight directors generally take place 30 minutes to an hour after the shift handovers have been completed.
The four flight control teams for this mission will be referred to as the Ascent/Entry, Orbit 1, Orbit 2 and Orbit 3 teams. The ascent and entry phases will be conducted by Flight Director N. W. (Wayne) Hale. The Orbit 1 team will be headed by STS-35 Lead Flight Director Gary Coen. The Orbit 2 team, responsible for activation and deactivation of the Spacelab payload, will be led by G. A. {Al) Pennington. The Orbit 3 team will be directed by R.E. (Bob) Castle.
MCC Positions and Call Signs for STS-35
The flight control positions in the MCC, and their responsibilities, are:
Flight Director (FLIGHT)
Has overall responsibility for the conduct of the mission.
Spacecraft Communicator (CAPCOM)
By tradition an astronaut; responsible for all voice contact with the flight crew.
Flight Activities Officer (FAO)
Responsible for procedures and crew timelines; provides expertise on Flight documentation and checklists; prepares messages and maintains all teleprinter and/or Text and Graphics System traffic to the vehicle.
Integrated Communications Officer (INCO)
Responsible for all Orbiter data, voice and video communications systems; monitors the telemetry link between the vehicle and the ground; oversees the uplink command and control processes.
Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO)
Responsible for monitoring vehicle performance during the powered flight phase and assessing abort modes; calculating orbital maneuvers and resulting trajectories; and monitoring vehicle flight profile and energy levels during reentry.
Guidance Procedures Officer (GPO)
Responsible for the onboard navigational software and for maintenance of the Orbiter's navigational state, known as the state vector.
Trajectory Officer (TRAJECTORY)
Also known as “TRAJ," this operator aids the FDO during dynamic flight phases and is responsible for maintaining the trajectory processors in the MCC and for trajectory inputs made to the Mission Operations Computer.
Environmental Engineer & Consumables Manager (EECOM)
Responsible for all life support systems, cabin pressure, thermal control and supply and waste water management; manages consumables such as oxygen and hydrogen.
Electrical Generation and Illumination Officer {EGIL)
Responsible for power management, fuel cell operation, vehicle lighting and the master caution and warning system.
Payloads Officer (PAYLOADS)
Coordinates all payload activities; serves as principal interface with remote payload operations facilities.
Data Processing Systems Engineer (DPS)
Responsible for all onboard mass memory and data processing hardware; monitors primary and backup flight software systems;, manages operating routines and multi-computer configurations.
Propulsion Engineer (PROP)
Manages the reaction control and orbital maneuvering thrusters during all phases of flight; monitors fuel usage and storage tank status; calculates optimal sequences for thruster firings.
Booster Systems Engineer (BOOSTER)
Monitors main engine and solid rocket booster performance during ascent phase.
Guidance, Navigation & Control Systems Engineer (GNC)
Responsible for all inertial navigational systems hardware such as star trackers, radar altimeters and the inertial measurement units; monitors radio navigation and digital autopilot hardware systems.
Ground Controller (GC)
Coordinates operation of ground stations and other elements of worldwide space tracking and data network; responsible for MCC computer support and displays.
Maintenance, Mechanical, Arm & Crew Systems (MMACS)
Formerly known as RMU; responsible for remote manipulator system; monitors auxilliary power units and hydraulic systems; Manages payload bay and vent door operations.
Flight Surgeon (SURGEON)
Monitors health of flight crew; provides procedures and guidance on all health-related matters.
Public Affairs Offfiicer (PAO)
Provides real-time explanation of mission events during all phases of flight.
| Position | Ascent/Entry | Orbit 1 | Orbit 2 | Orbit 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLIGHT | Wayne Hale | Gary Coen | Al Pennington | Bob Castle |
| CAPCOM | Mike Baker[1] Ken Bowersox[2] |
Kathy Thornton | Story Musgrave | James Voss |
| FAO | Steve Gibson | Steve Gibson | Jeff Davis | Lee Wedgeworth |
| INCO | Harry Black | Harry Black | Roberto Moolchan | Joe Gibbs |
| FDO | Timothy Brown[1] Matt Abbott[2] |
Ed Gonzalez | Philip Burley | William Tracy |
| TRAJ | Steve Stich[1] Debbie Langan[2] |
Brian Perry | Dan Adamo | Mark Haynes |
| GPO | John Turner[1] Dennis Bentley[2] |
/ / / / / | / / / / / | / / / / / |
| EECOM | Dave Herbek | Dave Herbek | Leonard Riche | Peter Cerna |
| EGIL | Charles Dingell | Charles Dingell | Robert Armstrong | Robert Floyd |
| PAYLOADS | Mark Kirasich | Mark Kirasich | Debra Bulgher | Roger Galpin |
| DPS | Mark Erminger | Mark Erminger | Paul Tice | Gloria Araiza |
| PROP | Keith Chappell | Keith Chappell | Lonnie Schmitt | William Powers |
| BOOSTER | Mark Jenkins[1] Kenneth Dwyer[2] |
/ / / / / | / / / / / | Tom Kwiatkowski |
| GNC | Stephen Eisner | Edward Trlica | Kenneth Bain | Linda Patterson |
| GC | John Snyder Per Barsten |
Mike Marsh Henry Allen |
Chuck Capps Lynn Vernon |
John Wells Frank Stolarski |
| MMACS | Kevin McCluney | Kevin McCluney | Brian Andersen | Paul Dye |
| SURGEON | Jeff Davis[1] Brad Beck[2] |
Denise Balsden[3] | Larry Pepper[3] | / / / / / |
| PAO | Billie Deason[1] Jeff Carr[2] |
Jeff Carr Brian Welch |
James Hartsfield | Kyle Herring |