When NASA began preparations for landing a man on the Moon, they didn't have much experience to fall back upon. They had to build almost everything from scratch. As the scientists worked hard to formulate new alloys and materials, engineers worked to create new technologies and instrumentation, senior managers devised new management techniques and operational procedures, one man, Christopher Columbus Kraft Jr, envisioned two paradigms that would bring all of these threads together: The concept of a Mission Control Center and the position of a Flight Director.
Early in the planning phase for Mercury series, Kraft realized that the complexity of each mission called for a centralized decision-making institution. Equipped with state-of-the art computers, massive data bandwidths, well-trained team of specialists monitoring each aspect of the spacecraft and flight, this facility would be the nerve-centre for conceptualizing, planning, training, monitoring and finally executing each space mission. Thus was born Mission Control - Houston, to which each astronaut would communicate with and rely upon during their journey towards heavens.
Kraft then went even further. If Mission Control was the nerve centre, then Flight Director was its brain. He used flight controllers as his input sensors, processed the information and directed all the stakeholders towards the future course of actions. The Flight Director's position was unique: He had absolute authority to take any action to ensure safety of the crew and the spacecraft and to achieve the mission objectives. No one could overrule him when the flight was in progress.
Chris Kraft, naturally, was the first flight director and he mentored the generation of tough and competent folks who have become legends in their own right: Eugene Kranz, Glynn Lunney, and many more.
When we think of space and space missions, we immediately think of astronauts. But they are just one, and the more visible part of the whole picture. The Mission Control and its Flight directors mostly work behind the scenes and they are equally instrumental in expanding the human frontiers in space.
Early in the planning phase for Mercury series, Kraft realized that the complexity of each mission called for a centralized decision-making institution. Equipped with state-of-the art computers, massive data bandwidths, well-trained team of specialists monitoring each aspect of the spacecraft and flight, this facility would be the nerve-centre for conceptualizing, planning, training, monitoring and finally executing each space mission. Thus was born Mission Control - Houston, to which each astronaut would communicate with and rely upon during their journey towards heavens.
Kraft then went even further. If Mission Control was the nerve centre, then Flight Director was its brain. He used flight controllers as his input sensors, processed the information and directed all the stakeholders towards the future course of actions. The Flight Director's position was unique: He had absolute authority to take any action to ensure safety of the crew and the spacecraft and to achieve the mission objectives. No one could overrule him when the flight was in progress.
Chris Kraft, naturally, was the first flight director and he mentored the generation of tough and competent folks who have become legends in their own right: Eugene Kranz, Glynn Lunney, and many more.
When we think of space and space missions, we immediately think of astronauts. But they are just one, and the more visible part of the whole picture. The Mission Control and its Flight directors mostly work behind the scenes and they are equally instrumental in expanding the human frontiers in space.
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