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Author
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Topic: Houston and tracking stations capcoms
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Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 10-19-2016 05:12 PM
   
At what point in history did the Houston capcom become the capcom?In researching something different, but tangentially related, my understanding on this subject is that, at some point, tracking stations went from having their own capcom doing the job on behalf of Houston to acting as a relay between Houston and the spacecraft. I apologize if this question exhibits a fundamental misunderstanding of the Houston-tracking station dynamic, but, Google searches are turning up relatively little on the specific points regarding the technical side of things. Any clarification or help is greatly appreciated! |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 10-19-2016 07:42 PM
I think that ended when the Johnson Space Center was completed in the mid 60's. Then the Capcom duties were consolidated into one building. |
Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 10-22-2016 10:33 PM
Makes sense.This is probably a stupid follow up, but, technologically speaking, how did Houston connect to the tracking stations? I'd assume they didn't simply have open phone lines. Heck, for that matter, how did/does Houston connect to launch control? (Yes, I'm aware these are incredibly dumb questions, but I really am curious and I can't find the answers online or in any of the books in my personal library. Kind of odd that I can tell you what material Gene Kranz's vests were made out of, but I don't understand the simple technological details of how Mission Control worked/works.) |
oly
Member Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 10-23-2016 12:21 AM
The answers to your questions are covered by many interviews recorded as part of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. You will find some information that is not available anywhere else.
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Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 10-23-2016 07:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Mike_The_First:
...how did Houston connect to the tracking stations?
The comm lines between centers are like phone lines. And once all the tracking sites were linked to Houston by these comm lines, the voice and spacecraft data were bent piped to Houston.All your questions are answered in "Read You Loud and Clear, The Story of NASA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network" (PDF). |
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