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Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette will be Lead Station
CapCom for STS-121

 

 

Canadian Space Agency Chief Astronaut Julie Payette was the lead Station Capsule Communicator on Mission
STS-121, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center on July 4, 2006.

 

 

The critical role of a CapCom

Among the hundreds of people involved in coordinating every aspect of a shuttle and its crew, not everyone can speak to the astronauts in orbit. Such commotion would lead to confusion and costly, even fatal, errors. CapComs–a name derived from the Capsule Communicators of NASA's earliest missions in space, when spacecraft were known as capsules–act as the orbiting astronauts' sole voicelink with Mission Control.

Today, there are two Mission Control Centers, one dedicated to the Shuttle Program and the other designated to support activities onboard the International Space Station. Together, they ensure a coordinated, consistent, and efficient line of communication. Astronauts with experience in piloting the shuttle assume CapCom duties during two critical phases of the mission, namely the launch and landing. Throughout the mission, CapCom duties are shared by three different shifts in order to maintain contact with the shuttle crew at all times. A group of station CapComs is on duty seven days a week, since the station is now permanently inhabited. In general, the shuttle CapCom speaks to astronauts during the mission regarding activities that take place onboard the shuttle. The station CapCom speaks with the crew regarding station activities.

The ground-to-space voice communication link is a limited and precious resource, so CapComs must be excellent communicators. Voice communications must be concise and clear, while providing all the necessary information that the onboard crew needs to correctly perform their duties and understand the overall situation. CapComs have a broad understanding of all station and shuttle systems that allow them to participate in discussions held in Mission Control and troubleshooting planning. As a rule, astronauts who have already flown work as CapComs since they have an understanding of what the flight crew is going through at any given time. Their training and experience gives them the ability to ensure that directions given to the on-orbit crew are practical and consider human factors. This type of operational experience is also referred to as "situational awareness." During a flight the CapComs must use their best judgment to decide how and when information should be passed along to the crew.

CapComs report directly to the Flight Directors of the shuttle or the station; they are responsible for all operations and make decisions regarding safety and overall successful flight conduct.