National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Space Telescope Operations Control Center (STOCC) Overview

STOCC Team Images

Servicing Mission Operations Room (SMOR)
Mission Operations Manager (MOM)
HST Systems
HST Systems Engineering Specialists
Mission Operations Room (MOR)
STOCC Operations (STOCC OPS)
Shift Supervisor (SS)
STOCC Operations Support Team
Ground System Manager
Mission Support Room (MSR)
System Engineering and Evaluation Room (SEER)
STOCC "Back Room" Positions
MET (Mission Elapsed Time) Clock

Servicing Mission Operations Room (SMOR)

The Servicing Mission Operations Room (SMOR), is used to support the preparation, test and simulation for the HST Servicing Mission while routine operations are conducted simultaneously at the Mission Operations Room (MOR). The SMOR and MOR can quickly be configured to support routine operations or any other Hubble spacecraft support activity.

The SMOR consists of the following positions:
Mission Operations Manager (MOM)
HST Systems
HST Systems Engineering Specialists

Mission Operations Manager (MOM)

The MOM is the controlling authority for all STOCC operations. The MOM coordinates with the Servicing Mission Manager (SMM) and Systems Manager for all nominal mission operations, contingency operations, and Command Plan (CP)/ Servicing Mission Integrated Timeline (SMIT) replan activities. The MOM Informs the Servicing Mission Manager of operational status, coordinating all "GO/NO GO" calls for the mission.

HST Systems

The HST Systems personnel interface with Johnson Space Center Payload Systems. They provides HST systems engineering and analysis support to the Systems Manager and coordinates all operational activities with STOCC Control, HST Systems Support, HST Engineering Analysis Support, the Extravehicular Activities (EVA) Specialist, and Space Support Equipment (SSE) Systems.

HST Systems Engineering Specialists

HST Systems Engineers consists of the following positions:
Data Management Systems (DMS)
Electrical Power Systems (EPS)
Instrumentation and Communication (I&C)
Mechanical System (MS)
Pointing Control System (PCS)
Rotating Console Engineer Positions

Data Management Systems (DMS) - The DMS engineer is responsible for the engineering and analysis support for the Data Management System. The DMS is the "nervous system" of the HST. It routes commands received from the ground or generated onboard to the various devices on the spacecraft. The DMS also receives data from these devices and formats it for transmission to the ground. At the heart of the DMS is the DF224 computer, which will be replaced on this mission by a more advanced system.

Electrical Power Systems (EPS) - This includes the solar panels that convert solar energy into electrical power and batteries that provide power when the sun is behind the earth. During the servicing mission, power is primarily supplied by the shuttle. The EPS also includes hardware to route the power to various devices on the telescope and includes fuses and other protection against electrical problems.

Instrumentation and Communication (I&C) - This position manages Hubble Spacecraft communications during all flight phase throughout the mission.

Mechanical System (MS) - The mechanical system position is responsible for verifying all HST mechanical activity, including solar array movement, and providing the analysis of mechanical activity. The position is in direct support of MOM.

Pointing Control System (PCS) -The PCS engineer is responsible for the engineering and analysis support for the Pointing Control System (also known as the Attitude Control System). The PCS includes sensors such as gyroscopes, star trackers, and fine guidance sensors which determine where the HST is pointing and how fast it is moving and makes corrections to hold it very stable. The PCS uses reaction wheels and magnetic torquers to move the HST from one part of the sky to the other.

Orbital Replacement Unit System Engineers - These positions change over the course of the mission depending on which system on board HST is being worked on. These positions include:

Mission Operations Room (MOR)

The MOR is used to control and monitor HST flight operations, engineering and science activities. It contains the operational workstations and displays required to monitor the health and safety of the spacecraft. It also provides the system capability to command the spacecraft and monitor all engineering and science activities.

The MOR consists of the following positions:
STOCC Operations
Shift Supervisor
The STOCC Operations Support Team
(The members of this teamed who reside in the MOR, are also members of the HST Servicing Mission Flight Control Team (FCT)).
Ground System Manager

STOCC Operations (STOCC OPS)

The STOCC OPS provides a direct interface to the Johnson Space Center Payload Operations position. STOCC OPS coordinates the operational application of the Command Plan (CP) within the Servicing Mission Integrated Timeline (SMIT) scenario and coordinates all STOCC operations and mission scheduled events and/or activities.

Shift Supervisor (SS)

The SS is the lead controller for the flight operations team. He/she issues all commands to the HST and is responsible for the configuration of the ground system. This includes implementing planned activities, maintaining the health of the HST, controlling STOCC commanding, and coordinating the transfer of data from the Mission Control Center (MCC) at Johnson Space Center, to the STOCC.

STOCC Operations Support Team

The STOCC Operations Support Team is responsible to STOCC Control for overall HST subsystem status. The team is comprised of the following console engineer (CE) positions

Control Center System (CCS) Support
Data Management Subsystem/Instrumentation and
Communication (DMS/I&C)
Pointing Control System (PCS)
PCS for Electrical Power Systems
Pointing Control/Science Instruments/Mechanisms Controller (PCS)
Sensor Analysis and Calibration (SAC)

CCS Support - CCS is an acronym for Control Center System that is the computers and programs used by all controllers and engineers in the STOCC. The CCS Support position helps solve problems and assist users with CCS questions.

Data Management/Communications/Power System Controller (DMS/I&C) - The DMS controller evaluates the status of the data management system, which processes commands and formats, records, and plays back data for transmission to the ground. DMS is also responsible for the communications system and the power system that includes the solar panels and batteries.

Mission Support Analyst (MSA) -The MSA is the STOCC timeline expert. The HST servicing mission operations are conducted primarily according to two key documents, the Servicing Mission Integrated Timeline (SMIT) and the Command Plan. The MSA ensures that operations are following the plan. The MSA is a member of the planning team that updates these plans during the mission on a daily basis or more often if required.

Pointing Control/Science Instruments/Mechanisms Controller
(PCS) - The PCS controller is responsible for evaluating the status of the pointing control system that stabilizes the HST and moves it to point at a specific target. He/she is also responsible for the five science instruments and the mechanical devices onboard the vehicle.

PCS for Electrical Power Systems

Sensor Analysis and Calibration Controller (SAC) - The SAC controller runs the computer programs used to very accurately calibrate the onboard pointing control system hardware, such as the Fine Guidance Sensors, gyroscopes, and reaction wheels. SAC also produces computer loads for the onboard computers, such as ephemeris loads.

Each Console Engineer is responsible to the STOCC Control for the execution, completion, and verification of real-time command activities involving their subsystems, continuous monitoring of their subsystems, and if necessary, alerting both STOCC Control and the SS of spacecraft anomaly recognition.

Ground System Manager

The Ground Systems Manager (GSM) is the focal point for all ground system activities. The role of the Ground System Managers is to support the Servicing Mission through their experience and expertise with the Control Center System (CCS) ground system, data flows, networking, and overall HST/JSC/Orbiter operations. During Servicing Mission simulations and the mission itself, STOCC OPS will assign the GSM to assist ground system and network troubleshooting efforts specific to the Mission Operations Room (MOR) and Servicing Mission Operations Room (SMOR).

Mission Support Room (MSR)

The MSR directly supports day-to-day flight operations and engineering activities by providing off-line mission planning functions and data processing. MSR personnel perform engineering data processing and mission analysis. They also support problem assessments and resolutions.

System Engineering and Evaluation Room (SEER)

The SEER is used by the HST subsystem engineers to perform in-depth subsystem analysis; to conduct simulated subsystem tests; to integrate new databases; and to validate new ground software and updates to flight software. This room has the same capabilities as the MOR and also can be configured as a backup operations control room.

STOCC "Back Room" Positions

Thermal Subsystem
The Thermal Control Sub-System engineers must carefully monitor the temperatures of the HST spacecraft and the new replacement hardware. During servicing, internal components normally heated and protected by the insulated doors, are exposed to the extreme thermal environments ( deep space pointing is coolest, direct sun is hottest).

Engineering Support System (ESS)
The ESS team has access to all of the historical telemetry data from HST since the launch 9 years ago. They have the ability to retrieve and plot voltages, temperatures, currents, speeds, torques, switch positions, and other values.

Anomaly Response Manager (ARM)
The Anomaly Response Manager team is called into action to resolve problems which arise during the mission. They act as systems engineering to coordinate a multi-disciplinary analysis and response for any trouble.

Servicing Mission Planning and Replanning Tool (SM PART)
A servicing Mission requires the coordination of hundreds of engineers and controllers, two spacecraft, communications relay satellites, and astronauts. The SM PART team prepares and revises a time-line and command plan that depicts every detail of this servicing symphony.

Simulation Team (SIM TEAM)
Training is key to ensuring mission success. The year leading up to the mission is spent simulating the mission. The simulation team crafts clever failures to present to the operations teams.

Electronic Data Control Center (EDOCS)
Documentation for technical reference and dissemination of tactical data and plans requires real time response. "Real time" means fast. The EDOCS team created and maintains an intranet site with all of the information needed to plan and execute the servicing mission.

Data Operations Control (DOC)
"Behind every successful console, there is a server", You may now be familiar with engineers and controllers huddled over their consoles analyzing spacecraft performance. The team at the DOC operates all of the computer equipment which processes the HST data and prepares commands.

Network
The HST network is essential to tie together all the control computers. The network team had assembled a high speed, high reliability network to fulfill the serviving mission requirements.

Video Imaging and Photographic Requirements (VIPR)
This group maintains the electronic Video Imaging and Photographic Requirements (VIPR) This group maintains the electronic imaging system and database for the HST project. During the mission, the VIPR locates images in real time to assist with the evaluation of anamolies and to plan for off-nominal tasks. The VIPR also works with Shuttle crew members to capture specific video images of the newly replaced hardware in the HST so we can photographically document the modifications. This also helps the EVA community on the ground to assess the task and ensure everything has been successfully accomplished. ase for the HST project. During the mission, the VIPR locates images in real time to assist with the evaluation of anamolies and to plan for off-nominal tasks. The VIPR also works with Shuttle crew members to capture specific video images of the newly replaced hardware in the HST so we can photographically document the modifications. This also helps the EVA community on the ground to assess the task and ensure everything has been successfully accomplished.

MET (Mission Elapsed Time) Clock

The Clock shows the time in four different ways.