Inside NASAs Launch Control Center

During my stay at NASA Kennedy Space Center with the International Space University in 2012, one of the highlights was seeing the inside of the Launch control center. For those of you who don’t know, Kennedy Space Center is where all the Apollo launches took place, as well as most of the Shuttle Missions. It is also where SpaceX did most of their early launches and are now operating a base. It is, in other words, the place to be if you want to see exciting launches! Want a peek inside?

"The greatest launch team in the world enters through these doors"

Whoever decided on the words for the control-room door sure knew how to create a special atmosphere. I can only imagine what it’s like for the people working at launch control, to be re reminded on a daily basis that they are the very best. Considering the pressure these people have on their shoulders, I suspect it might play a positive role too. You can imagine being responsible for the life and safety of astronauts as they put their lives on the edge to push the boundaries of humanity. Or for sending crucial resupply cargo to the international space station, or military or commercial satellites worth over a billion dollars. It surely takes some nerve to say the word "go".

View of the Launch control room from the point of view of the launch director

The launch control room consists mostly of a constellation of computers, packed with knobs, displays, keypads, buttons dials and a dedicated phone. These seats are occupied by the test conductors with responsibilities for different subsystems of the launch vehicles. Leading up to any launch, they will pay close attention to the information received from sensors onboard the rocket. Before the final countdown, protocols are followed where each of the different terminals is asked to confirm that their subsystems are ready for launch: "go", or "no go". If you’ve ever watched a rocket launch on an online stream then it’s people from this room that you hear talking before the final countdown starts. During the countdown, the sight of anything unusual from the terminals will result in a launch abortion. At which point the data that was read will be reviewed. If it's a minor issue, or a confusion that could be easily resolved, then the launch will typically be delayed until the next viable launch window. It is no easy job. On one hand, you have to be very risk-averse considering the overwhelming cost of an error. But at the same time, any cancellations can be very costly too, both for the space center and the clients waiting for their payload to be deployed.

The Apollo launch control room

I also got to see the insides of the old Apollo launch control room, which has been preserved due to its historical significance. To be honest, the only thing impressive about the room is the fact that people were able to rely on such old technologies and yet send men to the moon. It is hard for someone like myself to fully grasp just how far behind technology really was back then.

Me in the Apollo-era launch control room

The room consists partially of seats similar to the modern day control center for the launch team to communicate. Other than that, the room is filled with old computers with information mostly displayed on barometers rather than computer screens. Among other things, the panels display information on the status of fuel in the different stages of a Saturn V rocket. The information here is read off continuously from early launch preparation and until the payload has been successfully deployed by the rocket. The rocket continues to provide data through the different stage separations, allowing ground control to know if everything is playing out according to plan.

Pictures taken of the firing room equipment and control panels used in the Apollo era

You've probably heard the fact that your average smartphone today has more computing power than the computers used to land a man on the moon. But then again, it does not take a whole lot of computing power to interpret signals sent from the sensors that the rockets are equipped with, nor do you need a fancy high definition screen to read and interpret a number. The Apollo launch systems serve as a healthy reminder, that although computing power might grow at an exponential pace, it does not necessarily mean that our ability to overcome tough challenges will improve.

It was truly a unique experience to wander around in such a historic room. Although the equipment and computers are not that much of a spectacle, it was nevertheless fascinating to imagine how it must have been to work there during the peak of the Apollo era.

I hope you enjoyed this mini-tour of the launch control center! If you find my space adventure interesting then you may want to check out my post yesterday on getting a final glimpse of the Space Shuttles before they left for the museums, or from 2 days before about what it was like watching a Rocket Launch at NASA Kennedy Space Center! I look forward to sharing more of my experiences in the space sector, and look forward to engaging with you in the comments.

@Fredrikaa