launch status check#Apollo missions

{{for|greater details on NASA flight control personnel|Flight controller}}

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 controllers 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) performed this check via a voice communications link with other NASA personnel. The NTD was 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 was also responsible for the safety of all personnel inside the pad after external tank loading, including the flight crew, about 10 go/no go reports. He reported to the Launch Director, who has another about 5 go/no go reports.[http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/lps/ab/ab.html NASA Web Site: Firing Room Row AB] The Launch director declares if a mission is go for launch.

Checklist of firing room positions

{{Missing information|section|the Crew Dragon checklist of firing room positions|date=November 2020}}

= Space Shuttle =

OTC – Orbiter Test Conductor Prime[http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/lps/ab/ab.html Firing Room Row AB]
TBC – Tank/Booster Test Conductor and Tank/Booster Test Conductor Prime[http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/lps/ac/ac.html Firing Room Row AC]
PTC – Payload Test Conductor
LPS – Launch Processing System Test Conductors[http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/lps/mstr/mstr.html Firing Room Master Console]
Houston Flight – Flight Director at the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center in Houston, TX
MILA – [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/facilities/mila.html Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking & Data Network Stations]
STM – Support Test Manager
Safety Console – Safety Console Coordinator
SPE – Shuttle Project Engineer[http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/lps/bkup-intg/bkup-intg.html Firing Room Backup and Integration Console]
LRD – Landing and Recovery Director
SRO – Superintendent of Range Operations
CDR – Mission Commander (Crew)[http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/count.html Space Shuttle Launch Countdown]

= Apollo Program=

In the Apollo program, the MCC launch status check was initiated by the Flight Director, or FLIGHT. The following "preflight check" order was used before the launch of Apollo 13:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMtWWls4oas (Reenactment) Apollo 13 – Go for launch] (go/no go poll at beginning of footage)

BOOSTER – Booster Systems Engineer (monitored the Saturn V 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 – Electrical, Environmental, and Consumables Management (monitored cryogenic levels, and cabin cooling/pressure systems; electrical distribution systems)
GNC – Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems Engineer (responsible for the reaction control system, and CSM main engine)
TELMU – Telemetry, Electrical, and EVA Mobility Unit (lunar spacesuit) 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)

= Other/Uncrewed spaceflight =

Varies depending on the type of mission and model of craft, here is one example:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ojLPdJKO4Q Go For Launch Part 1 of 2] (video private as of 2/23/24)

LCDR - Launch Conductor
Talker - Person responsible for directing countdown steps as delegated by the Launch Conductor
Timer- Countdown Clock Operator and person who calls out the T- time
QAM - Quality Assurance Monitor
SSC - Second Stage Console
SSP - Second Stage Propulsion
FSC - First Stage Console
Prop 1 - Propulsion 1st Stage #1
Prop 2 - Propulsion 1st Stage #2
TSC - Third Stage Console
MCE - Missile Chief Engineer
PTO - Propulsion Telemetry Observer
TM-1 - Telemetry Monitor 1st Stage
TM-2 - Telemetry Monitor 2nd Stage
LWO - Launch Weather Officer
AFLC - Air Force Launch Conductor
LD - Launch Director

References

External links

= Video recordings =

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0iXaNOAxnA Endeavour Go For Launch] (STS-123)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiegQ7-SZrM STS-122 Go/No Go Poll] (STS-122)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U29uxfI15VA STS-115 Atlantis long countdown to launch] (launch status check at 3:03) (STS-115) (video private as of 4/7/24)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOfqv2B3kxc Space Shuttle STS-114 Launch Final Poll] (STS-114)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ojLPdJKO4Q Go For Launch Part 1 of 2] (2 examples launch director's poll) (video private as of 2/23/24)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVt0tIVI6cg Go For Launch Part 2 of 2] (example final readiness poll) (video private as of 2/23/24)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuT-dOUuN9Q&list=PL5318393AA88517F0&index=27&app=desktop Delta II - ICESat-2] (example Final Readiness Poll)

= Text transcripts =

[http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/count.html Space Shuttle Launch Countdown] (NASA Transcript from 1995)

Category:Spaceflight concepts

Category:Spaceflight

Category:Rocketry