• Question: What does on-console mean?

    Asked by #Monkanaut Twin to Simon on 8 Dec 2015. This question was also asked by 334nch28, Zaphod_Beeblebrox.
    • Photo: Simon Challis

      Simon Challis answered on 8 Dec 2015:


      Hi 827nch28 & 334nch28,

      Good question! “On-console” is when we are in the control room. The “console” is the desk that each flight controller sits at. It usually has a communication system we call a headset/keyset that allows us to talk to other controllers in the room, in other control rooms around the world and with the crew in space. We also have banks of computer screens where we can display data from the ISS and command to it. Finally we also have computers that host our operations support tools such as the spacestation timeline tool and other tools where we can interact with each other to document and agree specific aspects of our operations. We also need email and telephones to talk to the world outside of space station operations. :-). Look at the pics in my profile and I think youll understand better what a console is…..

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