Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center
The center moved to Houston in June 1965 for the Gemini 4 mission. It now occupied Building 30 at what was then called the Manned Spacecraft Center. Two primary rooms known as Mission Operation Control Rooms handled all Gemini and Apollo flights until 1996. MOCR 2 stood on the third floor and hosted the historic Apollo 11 landing. That specific room became a National Historic Landmark in 1985. The layout featured four tiered rows with a large map screen showing Earth locations. Cigarette packs, ashtrays, wallpaper, and carpeting returned to the restored room in July 2019 after a two-year effort. Air-to-ground voice recordings from the Apollo 11 powered descent were released in July 2010. These audio files helped create an audio-visual presentation for the 2019 update.
Building 30 South opened in 1998 as a five-story extension to the original structure. This new wing housed the White Flight Control Room used for Space Shuttle missions. STS-76 marked the final shuttle flight controlled from FCR 1 before operations shifted entirely to the White room. The White FCR operated alongside FCR 2 for seven shuttle missions between 1994 and 1996. When not needed for shuttles, this room served as a backup for ISS operations during construction periods. The Blue FCR handled ISS operations from 1998 until 2006. It arranged consoles in five rows of three plus one corner position. Modern hardware replaced all old systems between 2012 and 2014 under the MCC-21 project. The White FCR officially completed its upgrades in April 2014 for future human spaceflight activities.
FCR 1 reopened in October 2006 after substantial remodeling to support International Space Station growth. All US ISS operations now flow through this single control room located on the second floor. The traditional tiered floor layout disappeared completely with all rows sitting at the same level. Engineering specialists occupy the center front while public affairs commentators sit behind a low partition. A scheme called Gemini reduced staffing by consolidating six system disciplines into two super-consoles named Atlas and Titan. These positions allowed two people to perform work previously done by eight controllers during low activity periods. The concept removed the need for separate consoles like THOR or PHALCON during certain shifts. Six core disciplines eventually shrank to four positions including ETHOS and SPARTAN after assembly completion in 2010.
The original Cape MCC held only three rows with specific job titles like BOOSTER and SURGEON. The Booster Systems Engineer monitored rocket performance while the Flight Surgeon watched astronaut vital signs. An astronaut filled the CAPCOM role to maintain air-to-ground communications except during emergencies. John Llewellyn coined the term Trench for the first row of the Houston MOCRs. This area housed the RETRO, FIDO, and GUIDO controllers who tracked spacecraft trajectory. Gene Kranz handled procedures and wrote mission milestones as the PROCEDURES controller. The third row included the PAO and FAO who coordinated flight schedules alongside management personnel. Modern rooms abandoned tiered seating entirely to create flat layouts for better visibility and collaboration among teams.
NASA maintains options to relocate quickly if Hurricane Harvey or other events disable the main center. A hotel in Round Rock served as a Backup Control Center during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine became the designated backup site starting in 2017 for Hurricane Laura. Huntsville Operations Support Center at Marshall Space Flight Center handles long-term relocations for ISS operations. NASA activated centers in both Round Rock and Huntsville during Hurricane Ike in 2008. Uncrewed US civilian satellites fly from Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland instead. California's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages robotic probes separately from human spaceflight control efforts.
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Common questions
When did the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center open in Houston?
The center moved to Houston in June 1965 for the Gemini 4 mission. It now occupied Building 30 at what was then called the Manned Spacecraft Center.
What is the history of the original Cape Canaveral Mercury Control Center?
In 1960, the first Mercury Control Center opened at the Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex in Florida. This facility sat inside the Engineering Support Building near Mission Control Road and held only three rows of consoles because the capsule design was simple.
Which room became a National Historic Landmark in 1985?
MOCR 2 stood on the third floor and hosted the historic Apollo 11 landing. That specific room became a National Historic Landmark in 1985.
How many rows of consoles were in the early Mercury Control Center?
The room held only three rows of consoles because the capsule design was simple. Missions lasted no more than thirty-five hours during those early days.
Where is the backup control center located after Hurricane Harvey?
A hotel in Round Rock served as a Backup Control Center during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine became the designated backup site starting in 2017 for Hurricane Laura.