POCC Cadre Team Members

Mission Manager (MM)

The Spacelab Mission Operations Control team is under the overall direction of the Spacelab Mission Manager. The Mission Manager is responsible for insuring that the mission accomplishes the goals set by the scientists who have experiments on the flight. The Mission Manager leads a management group to coordinate activities between the NASA centers to prepare for the launch and perform flight operations.

Payload Operations Director (POD)

The leader of the Spacelab operations team is the Payload Operations Director. The POD leads the payload operations team and crew as they prepare for the mission through training, science and engineering activities, and mission planning. During the flight, the Payload Operations Director approves any changes to payload operations during the mission and serves as the prime point of contact with the Houston Mission Control.

Mission Scientist Team

Mission Scientist (MSci): The Mission Scientist coordinates the work of all the Spacelab experiment teams. The MSCI leads the Science Operations Planning Group (SOPG) to develop the mission science objectives which are used to make a mission science plan that will direct on-orbit activities. The MSCI will also coordinate and approve any changes to the science plan due to unexpected science opportunities or unexpected results.
Principal Investigator (PI): The Principal Investigator leads a team of scientists and engineers which are dedicated to one of the Spacelab experiments. The experiment team, under the direction of the Principal Investigator, designs, builds, tests, and operates a scientific experiment on-board the Shuttle.
Alternate Payload Specialist (APS): The Alternate Payload Specialist is a scientist chosen by the science group as a crew member. The APS completes all flight training and serves as a backup for the Payload Specialist scheduled to work in orbit. During the mission, the APS assists the Crew Interface Coordinator to communicate with the crew, and supports the payload team and Mission Scientist.

Payload Activity Planner Team

Payload Activity Planner (PAP): The Payload Activity Planner leads a team in designing the mission timeline prior to the flight, then altering those plans as required during the mission to accommodate changes requested by the science operations planning group. The PAP also assists the Operations Controller in responding to real-time changes to the timeline, and is the prime contact with the flight activities and flight dynamics officers in Houston.
The Astro-2 OAE's & TLE's Orbit Analysis Engineer (OAE): In the months prior to the flight, the Orbit Analysis Engineers design the orbit and attitude timeline to support the experiment requirements. The OAEs predict when the experiment requirements will be met (for example, the visibility of stars and areas below on the earth) and when the Shuttle can communicate with the ground using the satellite communication system. During the mission, the OAE replans the Orbiter attitudes and experiment pointing.
Timeline Engineer (TLE): The Timeline Engineer assists the PAP to in developing mission timelines which directs all experiment activities. After a mission begins, the TLE updates the mission timelines to reflect all payload activity changes as a result of changes in requirements or problems.
Payload Replanning Engineer (PRE): In support of the Payload Activity Planner, the Payload Replanning Engineer directs all replanning-related mission analysis, timeline activity scheduling, and data downlink planning.

Operations Controller Team

Operations Controller (OC): By directing the short-term operations changes, the Operations Controller is responsible to insure that the planned mission timeline is carried out. Prior to the mission, the OC is responsible for preparing the crew procedures and flight software data file.
Crew Interface Coordinator (CIC): The Crew Interface Coordinator is the payload operations team's link with the crew, talking with the science crew members to inform the crew of scheduling changes and to assist the crew with experiment problems.
Crew Procedures Engineer (CPE): Prior to the flight, the Crew Procedures Engineer develops step-by-step procedures for the payload crew to operate the Spacelab experiments. The CPE updates these procedures during the flight and assists the crew and payload operations team to fix experiment hardware or operations problems.
Payload Command Controller (PAYCOM): The Payload Command Controller manages the schedule for sending commands up to Spacelab. Prior to the mission, the PAYCOM assists in command training for the operations team and experiment teams.
Payload Systems Engineer (PSE): The Payload Systems Engineers are the "experts" of the Spacelab and experiment hardware and operations. If problems arise during the flight, the PSEs are called upon to correct the difficulties.
Mass Memory Unit Update Manager (MUM): While Spacelab is in orbit, the Mass Memory Unit Update Manager performs required updates to flight software data files used by the experiments and experiment computer. The MUMs also perform experiment commanding that results from changes in the mission timelines.

Data Management Team

Data Management Coordinator (DMC): The on-board Spacelab data systems are managed by the Data Management Coordinator. The DMC coordinates the routing, recording and downlink transmission of experiment data to insure that the maximum possible amount of data is received, preserved, and distributed.
Data Flow Analyst (DFA): The Data Flow Analyst manages the processing of payload data requests, assists the DMC in implementing short-term changes, and generally manages the utilization of payload operations.
Data Replanner (DREP): The Data Replanners work with the Payload Activity team to develop the data flow schedule required to support the mission timeline. During the mission, the DREP updates the schedule based upon changes requested by the science teams.
Television Operations (TVOPS): The on-board video and still photography is coordinated by the Television Operations team. TVOPS works with the Mission Control Center to ensure the best camera angles and fields of view are used to accurately capture and document the crew and experiments during the mission.