Launch status check

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. He reported to the Launch Director.^[1] The Launch director declares if a mission is go for launch.

Checklist of firing room positions

Space Shuttle

• OTC – Orbiter Test Conductor Prime^[2]
• TBC – Tank/Booster Test Conductor and Tank/Booster Test Conductor Prime^[3]
• PTC – Payload Test Conductor^[3]
• LPS – Launch Processing System Test Conductors^[4]
• Houston Flight – Flight Director at the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center in Houston, TX
• MILA – Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking & Data Network Stations
• STM – Support Test Manager^[2]
• Safety Console – Safety Console Coordinator
• SPE – Shuttle Project Engineer^[5]
• LRD – Landing and Recovery Director^[2]
• SRO – Superintendent of Range Operations
• CDR – Mission Commander (Crew)^[6]

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:^[7]

• 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 MOObility 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/Unmanned spaceflight

Varies depending on the type of mission and model of craft, here is one example:^[8]

• CLCDR
• Talker
• Timer
• QAM1
• QAM2
• QAM3
• FSC
• Prop 1
• Prop 2
• PTO
• ACC
• LWO
• AFLC
• Launch Vehicle Director

Video, audio, and transcripts

Video recordings

• Endeavour Go For Launch (STS-123)
• STS-122 Go/No Go Poll (STS-122)
• STS-115 Atlantis long countdown to launch (launch status check at 3:03) (STS-115)
• Space Shuttle STS-114 Launch Final Poll (STS-114)
• 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 controller
• Space launch
• Spaceflight
• Liftoff
• Launch vehicle
• NASA
• Mission Control Center
• Launch Control Center
• Spacecraft
• List of human spaceflights
• List of launch vehicles
• Timeline of spaceflight
• Rocket launch
• Space Exploration
• Space logistics
• Spacecraft propulsion
• Space transport

References

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