ESA title
Science & Exploration

Munich to Alexander: all systems go

22/05/2014 4731 views 43 likes
ESA / Science & Exploration / Human and Robotic Exploration / Blue dot

An atmosphere of rising excitement can be sensed in the control centre: everything is ready for ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst’s voyage to the International Space Station blasting off next Wednesday.

The Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany has followed many launches since its inauguration 10 years ago – but no mission is routine.

The centres in Baikonur, Kazakhstan and Korolev, Russia are in the front line but ESA’s site – callsign “Munich” – is responsible for the Columbus module and all European experiments.

“We cooperate with our international partners to make sure that the Space Station is ready to receive the Soyuz spacecraft and its crew,” says ESA astronaut Pedro Duque, now head of the Flight Operations Office.

If the Station needs to rotate to allow the Soyuz to dock, for example, some European hardware might need to be switched off or risk interfering with the docking.

“Our teams run simulations a few times a year, including emergency scenarios,” explains Pedro.

Pedro Duque
Pedro Duque

Operators also need to be ready to reconfigure Europe’s Columbus laboratory if the planned six-hour flight is switched to a two-day approach, as happened to the previous Soyuz flight following a minor malfunction.

Pedro’s experience as an astronaut comes in handy: “I can relate to the crew, and help flight controllers better understand the astronauts’ perspective.

“You are actually much more nervous outside than inside the rocket.”

“We can feel the pressure and the excitement around us growing,” comments Laura Zanardini, Columbus systems flight controller. Sitting behind a myriad of screens filled with telemetry data, the team makes sure that Columbus is running smoothly.

Alexander Gerst
Alexander Gerst

Day and night without break, ‘Col-CC’ will be the direct link with Alexander in orbit. The teams are there to help him fulfil his mission.

Alexander visited the control room earlier this year and talked to the people he will be working with from space. “Working with the new European astronauts is great – they are young, very enthusiastic and care about what we do,” says Laura.

Alexander will be the 11th German citizen to fly into space, and the third to visit the Station. As Pedro sees it, this will be “a fantastic opportunity to showcase the work we have been doing proudly for years. We want the public to understand how important our role is.”

The launch is just the beginning. The real work will start when Alexander starts the science experiments for his Blue Dot mission.

Dedicated planners will make sure that all the activities fit into his schedule, while researchers on the ground can monitor the experiments being performed in Columbus from their offices.

Passing information to scientists and astronauts while making sure the European modules and experiments on the orbital complex run smoothly at all times – a mission controller’s job is never-ending but always fascinating.

Related Articles

Horizons logo
Science & Exploration

New Horizons for Alexander Gerst

29/05/2017 15937 views 141 likes
Read
Alexander commander of ISS announcement
Science & Exploration

Alexander Gerst to be Space Station commander

18/05/2016 19616 views 94 likes
Read
German President Gauck visits ESA in Darmstadt
Agency

German Head of State visits ESA Operations Centre

26/05/2014 3507 views 16 likes
Read
HM Queen Beatrix and Italian President Napolitano at ESTEC
Agency

A royal and presidential visit to ESA’s technical heart

26/10/2012 2304 views 6 likes
Read
Alexander Gerst back on Earth
Science & Exploration

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst returns to Earth

10/11/2014 20349 views 56 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Alexander’s rollercoaster ride from space to Germany

06/11/2014 10351 views 69 likes
Read
Alexander testing spacesuit
Science & Exploration

Alexander Gerst set for spacewalk

03/10/2014 11084 views 67 likes
Read
Complete crew
Science & Exploration

Halfway through Blue Dot mission

18/09/2014 5963 views 49 likes
Read
Our blue dot
Science & Exploration

Blue Dot update

15/07/2014 4494 views 24 likes
Read
Moonrise from space
Science & Exploration

Spot the Space Station looking at you

01/07/2014 27467 views 104 likes
Read
Flying over Earth
Science & Exploration

Science and spacewalks on Space Station

20/06/2014 6161 views 66 likes
Read
Alexander Gerst
Science & Exploration

Alexander’s first week in space

05/06/2014 8498 views 74 likes
Read
Liftoff of Soyuz TMA-13M on 28 May 2014
Science & Exploration

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst arrives at Space Station

29/05/2014 7718 views 44 likes
Read
Alexander Gerst
Science & Exploration

Expedition 40 all set to go

26/05/2014 6297 views 51 likes
Read
Columbus Control Centre
Science & Exploration

Munich to Alexander: all systems go

22/05/2014 4730 views 43 likes
Read
Final qualification exams for the Expedition 40/41 crew
Science & Exploration

Alexander Gerst ready for orbit

09/05/2014 2508 views 19 likes
Read
Testing Sokol suit
Science & Exploration

Ask astronaut Alexander anything

11/03/2014 4514 views 36 likes
Read
Alexander Gerst
Science & Exploration

Inside astronaut Alexander’s head

17/02/2014 6737 views 69 likes
Read
Blue Dot mission logo
Science & Exploration

Announcing Blue Dot mission logo

22/09/2013 10464 views 72 likes
Read

Related Links