Last night I backseated my first real sim. I’m starting to train for a backroom flight control position — ARD Support, or Abort Region Determinator — and the first few weeks involve a lot of reading, and as much backseating as possible. Last night was a certification sim for one of the front room guys, so the cases were crazy. Multiple engine failures, helium leaks, launch holds, you name it. This morning Rich and Marc, the two experienced ARDs, expressed incredulity at the fact that I still even want to train for it after watching last night’s sim.
My response? “Why would I be scared? I didn’t know what the hell was going on — I couldn’t follow it closely enough to be scared!”
They laughed.
so is there an equivalent controller in the FCR or is it strictly a MPSR position? I can’t remember the console layout of the FCR anymore! My brain has switched to legal jargon!
It’s a MPSR position, supporting the FDO and TRAJ that are in the FCR. 🙂
ok I just realized that anyone not interested in NASA will think we are huge dorks after reading that!
I know. Then again, we *are* dorks. 🙂
I wanna be a dork, too!!!