Book 8, Question 92
Why Do Mission Control Teams Work in Shifts?
Mission control teams work in shifts because spacecraft need watching 24 hours a day.
Mission control teams work in shifts because spaceflight runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Teams hand off to each other so someone is always watching the systems, the science, and the needs of the astronauts. Spacecraft never take a night off, so neither do the teams on Earth.
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Quick answers
How many shifts did Artemis II use?
For NASA's Artemis II Moon mission, mission control worked in three shifts, 24 hours a day.
Who leads each shift?
Several flight directors take turns leading the flight controllers on each shift.
More fun facts
- For NASA's Artemis II Moon mission, mission control worked in three shifts, 24 hours a day.
- Controllers watch everything from the spacecraft's path to its engines, and talk with the astronauts.
- Several flight directors take turns leading the flight controllers on each shift.
- The lead flight director builds the mission timeline and writes the rules that guide the spacecraft.
- For the space station, flight controllers plan the astronauts' daily schedules and keep track of where every piece of equipment is stored.
Questions kids ask
Does mission control ever close during a mission?
No. Teams work in shifts so someone is always on duty, 24 hours a day.