Launch status check
Encyclopedia
A launch status check, also known as a "go/no go poll" and several other terms occurs at the beginning of an American spaceflight mission in which flight controller
s monitoring various systems are queried for operation and readiness status before a launch can proceed. For space shuttle
missions, in the firing room at the Launch Control Center
, the NASA Test Director (NTD) performs this check via a voice communications link with other NASA personnel. The NTD is the Leader of the Shuttle test team responsible for directing and integrating all flight crew, orbiter, external tank/solid rocket booster and ground support testing in the Shuttle launch countdown. The NTD is also responsible for the safety of all personnel inside the pad after external tank loading, including the flight crew. Reports to the Launch Director. The Launch director declares if a mission is go for launch.
Flight controller
Flight controllers are personnel who aid in the operations of a space flight, working in Mission Control Centers such as NASA's Mission Control Center, or ESA's Operations Center. Flight controllers sit at computer consoles and use telemetry to monitor in real time various technical aspects of a...
s monitoring various systems are queried for operation and readiness status before a launch can proceed. For space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
missions, in the firing room at the Launch Control Center
Launch Control Center
The Launch Control Center is a four-story building located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida used for the supervision of launches from Launch Complex 39. In practice, this means that the LCC handles all American manned space flights...
, the NASA Test Director (NTD) performs this check via a voice communications link with other NASA personnel. The NTD is the Leader of the Shuttle test team responsible for directing and integrating all flight crew, orbiter, external tank/solid rocket booster and ground support testing in the Shuttle launch countdown. The NTD is also responsible for the safety of all personnel inside the pad after external tank loading, including the flight crew. Reports to the Launch Director. The Launch director declares if a mission is go for launch.
Space Shuttle
- OTC - Orbiter Test Conductor Prime
- TBC - Tank/Booster Test Conductor and Tank/Booster Test Conductor Prime
- PTC - Payload Test Conductor
- LPS - Launch Processing System Test Conductors
- Houston Flight - Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center in Houston, TX
- MILA - Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking & Data Network Stations
- STM - Support Test Manager
- Safety Console - Safety Console Coordinator
- SPE - Shuttle Project Engineer
- LRD - Landing and Recovery Director
- SRO - Superintendent of Range Operations
- CDR - Mission Commander (Crew)
Apollo Missions
In the Apollo program, the launch status check was initiated by the Flight Director, or FLIGHT. The following "preflight check" order was used before the launch of Apollo 13:- BOOSTER - Booster Systems Engineer (monitored the Saturn VSaturn VThe Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
in pre-launch and ascent) - RETRO - Retrofire Officer (responsible for abort procedures and Trans-Earth Injection, or TEI, retrofire burns)
- FIDO - Flight Dynamics Officer (responsible for the flight path of the space vehicle)
- GUIDANCE - Guidance Officer (monitored onboard navigational systems and onboard guidance computer software)
- SURGEON - Flight Surgeon (directs all operational medical activities)
- EECOM - Emergency, Environmental, and Consumables Management (monitored cryogenic levels, and cabin cooling/pressure systems; electrical distribution systems)
- GNC - Guidance, Navigation and ControlGuidance, Navigation and ControlGuidance, navigation and control is a branch of engineering dealing with the design of systems to control the movement of vehicles, especially, automobiles, ships, aircraft, and spacecraft. In many cases these functions can be performed by trained humans...
Systems Engineer (responsible for the reaction control system, and CSM main engine) - TELMU - Telemetry, electrical, and EVA Mobility Officer
- CONTROL - Flight Controller
- PROCEDURES - Procedures, or Organization and Procedures Officer (enforced mission policy and rules)
- INCO - Integrated Communications Officer
- FAO - Flight Activities Officer (checklists, procedures, etc.)
- NETWORK - Network (supervised ground station communications)
- RECOVERY - Recovery Supervisor (coordinated capsule recovery)
- CAPCOM - Capsule Communicator (communicated with the astronauts)
Misc./Unmanned Spaceflight
Varies depending on the type of mission and model of craft, here is one example:- CLCDR
- Talker
- Timer
- QAM1
- QAM2
- QAM3
- FSC
- Prop 1
- Prop 2
- PTO
- ACC
- LWO
- AFLC
- Launch Vehicle Director
Video Recordings
- Endeavour Go For Launch (STS-123STS-123-Mission parameters:* Mass:* Orbiter liftoff: * Orbiter landing: * Perigee: 336 kilometers * Apogee: 346 kilometers * Inclination: 51.6 degrees* Period: 91.6min-Mission payloads:...
) - STS-122 Go/No Go Poll (STS-122STS-122STS-122 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station , flown by the Space Shuttle Atlantis. STS-122 marked the 24th shuttle mission to the ISS, and the 121st space shuttle flight since STS-1....
) - STS-115 Atlantis long countdown to launch (launch status check at 3:03) (STS-115STS-115Note:The P3/P4 Truss segment and batteries were so heavy that the crew count was reduced from seven to six.-Crew notes:...
) - Space Shuttle STS-114 Launch Final Poll (STS-114STS-114-Original crew:This mission was to carry the Expedition 7 crew to the ISS and bring home the Expedition 6 crew. The original crew was to be:-Mission highlights:...
) - Go For Launch Part 1 of 2 (2 examples launch director's poll)
- Go For Launch Part 2 of 2 (example final readiness poll)
Text Transcripts
- Space Shuttle Launch Countdown (NASA Transcript from 1995)
See also
- Flight controllerFlight controllerFlight controllers are personnel who aid in the operations of a space flight, working in Mission Control Centers such as NASA's Mission Control Center, or ESA's Operations Center. Flight controllers sit at computer consoles and use telemetry to monitor in real time various technical aspects of a...
- Space launchSpace launchSpace launch is the earliest part of a flight that reaches space. Space launch involves liftoff, when a rocket or other space launch vehicle leaves the ground at the start of a flight...
- SpaceflightSpaceflightSpaceflight is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station...
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- Launch vehicleLaunch vehicleIn spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
- NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
- Mission Control CenterMission Control CenterA mission control center is an entity that manages aerospace vehicle flights, usually from the point of lift-off until the landing or the end of the mission. A staff of flight controllers and other support personnel monitor all aspects of the mission using telemetry, and send commands to the...
- Launch Control CenterLaunch Control CenterThe Launch Control Center is a four-story building located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida used for the supervision of launches from Launch Complex 39. In practice, this means that the LCC handles all American manned space flights...
- SpacecraftSpacecraftA spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
- List of human spaceflights
- List of launch vehicles
- Timeline of spaceflight
- Rocket launchRocket launchA rocket launch is the takeoff phase of the flight of a rocket. Launches for orbital spaceflights, or launches into interplanetary space, are usually from a fixed location on the ground, but may also be from a floating platform such as the San Marco platform, or the Sea Launch launch...
- Space ExplorationSpace explorationSpace exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
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- Space transport