Table of Contents

Canadian Flight Controllers

Flight controllers are experienced engineers who guide astronauts and monitor all systems and activities aboard the Space Shuttle or the International Space Station. They send commands directly to the spacecraft, thus helping astronauts with some of their responsibilities. Providing round-the-clock support, they analyze complex situations, often under pressure. Once they have considered all factors and consulted their team members, they must develop solutions to problems quickly.

Canadian flight controllers in action

Most missions are supported by four Canadian flight controllers. Two work from mission control at the Canadian Space Agency and two work from the Johnson Space Center. They usually supervise robotic operations in space and power up the Canadian robotic systems on the Station so it's ready to perform tasks.

They also conduct video survey operations using cameras on Canadarm2 and place the mobile base where it is needed. Flight controllers are responsible for activating Dextre when needed.

Photo: Danielle Cormier, a Canadian flight controller monitors robotics operations
on the International Space Station from the Canadian Space Agency mission control centre.

Robotics Teamwork

The CSA currently has nine certified Canadian flight controllers at NASA and the CSA. They fill three functions:

• The Robotics Officer or ROBO is the team leader. The ROBO works in Houston with the teams who provide support over three shifts called Orbits 1, 2 and 3.
• The Mobile Servicing System controllers work from the CSA mission control centre during Orbits 1 and 3, ensuring that the robotic systems are fully operational. Flight controllers in Houston manage Orbit 2.
• The Mobile Servicing System task controllers in Houston ensure that the robotic procedures are executed correctly. If needed, they plan new procedures during the mission.

Mission Control Centres

The main mission control centres are located at:

• Kennedy Space Centre (Cape Canaveral, Florida); it is used for launches and landings of the Space Shuttle.

• Johnson Space Centre (Houston, Texas); there are two mission control centres: one that supports astronauts on the Space Station, and one for shuttle missions.

• The Canadian Space Agency (Longueuil, Quebec), where the Mobile Servicing System is monitored and activated.

• Star City MCC-H (Moscow) - supports Russian Cosmonauts in space.

• European Space Agency (Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany), where experiments performed in the Columbus laboratory are coordinated; the Columbus Control Centre also manages the research and collects its results.

• Japanese Space Agency (Tsukuba, Japan), where Kibo operations are monitored and controlled.