THE MSX FLIGHT OPERATIONS SYSTEM

The Midcourse Space Experiment spacecraft is operated by a multi-organ izational Flight Operations System, which is a worldwide ground networ k of tracking stations and planning, control, performance assessment, and data processing centers. This system prepares and conducts scienti fic and engineering experiments and recovers the necessary data to sat isfy the requirements of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. T he elements of this operations-based system include teams, facilities, procedures, and their functional relationships, which collectively pr ovide continuous on-orbit support of the spacecraft system.