Flight controller

Flight controller: a space flight control room position at NASA's Mission Control Center. Flight controllers sit at computer consoles and using telemetry, monitor in real time various technical aspects of a manned space mission. Each controller is an expert in a specific area, and is in constant communication with additional experts in the Staff Support Room (SSR), also called the "back room". The Flight Director is the lead flight controller, monitors the activities of others and has overall responsibility for the mission success and safety. The room where the flight controllers work is called the Mission Operations Control Room (MOCR).

Unmanned U.S. space missions also have flight controllers but are managed from a separate organization, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Each flight controller has a unique call sign, which describes the position responsibilities. More accurately the call sign and responsibility refer to the particular console, not the person, since missions are managed around the clock and with each shift change a different person takes over the console.

Flight control positions

Flight Director (call sign: Flight), is Chief of Flight Operations and leads the flight control team. "Flight" has overall operational responsiblity for space shuttle missions and payload operations and for all decisions regarding safe, expedient flight. He monitors the other flight controllers, who are in constant verbal communication with him through intercom "loops".

Electrical, Environmental and Consumables Manager (call sign: EECOM) is a space flight control room position at NASA's Mission Control Center. The EECOM controller monitors cryogenic levels for fuel cells, avionics and cabin cooling systems, electrical distribution systems, cabin pressure control systems and vehicle lighting systems.

Historically, the EECOM controller is responsible for monitoring and maintaining the spacecraft electrical and life-support systems. For the Space Shuttle Program, the EECOM is responsible for the life support and thermal systems, a breathable atmosphere and vehicle cooling. The complexity of the Space Shuttle created two new flight control positions, EGIL and MMACS which oversee the electrical and mechanical systems respectively, of which EECOM used to run. While many new flight controller positions have been created throughout the years, EECOM has been around since the beginning of manned spaceflight.

EECOM originally stood for Electrical, Environmental and COMmunication systems. The Apollo EECOM was responsible for the life support systems of the Command and Service Module (CSM), and also CSM communications through Apollo 10. Afterward the communication task was moved to a new console named INCO.

Perhaps the most famous NASA EECOMs are Seymour "Sy" Liebergot, the EECOM on duty at the time of the oxygen tank explosion on Apollo 13 who was responsible for isolating the explosion's damage and for creating life-support solutions to bring the crew back to Earth alive, and John Aaron who is credited with discovering the fact that Apollo 12 capsule was struck by lightning shortly after liftoff and for giving the crew onboard a solution to their mechanical errors.

Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Systems Engineer (call sign: GNC) monitors all vehicle guidance, navigation and control systems, notifies the flight director and crew of impending abort situations, and advises crew regarding guidance hardware malfunctions. Also 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.