INTERACTIVE:

360° image- Step inside the "Ficker" (IPIX plug-in required)

Who sits where- The anatomy of mission control

The Mission Control Center (MCC) at Johnson Space Center in Houston is used to support all space shuttle missions and simulations. From the moment the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) ignite and lift off to the moment the landing gear wheels roll to a stop at the end of a mission, the MCC is the hub of communications and support for the shuttle.

The MCC first supported Orbit Operations with the STS-70 mission in July 1995. It first supported Ascent/Entry Operations for STS-77 in May 1996.

The focal point is the Flight Control Room, or FCR (pronounced "Ficker"), where flight controllers get information from computer workstations or from projected displays that fill the wall at the front of the room. The flight control team's main responsibilities are following the flight's activities and staying ready for major maneuvers, schedule changes, and unanticipated events.