Mission operations

Space mission operations have evolved over the years as both spacecraft and ground system technology have matured. APL has been at the forefront of th e U.S. space program since its inception in the late 1950s, and, therefore, has been a driver in developing and implementing space technology. From th e early days of handheld ground antennas tracking Sputnik to today's automa ted, Web-based mission control centers, APL has helped pioneer that progres s. The capabilities of both the spacecraft and ground systems have increase d so much that we are able to collect significantly more science data and t o control military operational satellites with greatly reduced staff, which lowers the overall program costs. This article examines how mission operat ions are handled at APL, with an emphasis on how the technology and process es have evolved. We also glance at the future to predict how further techno logy development will affect the way APL operates future missions.