Johnson Space Center

Founded in 1961 as the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC), the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC), is responsible for the design, development, and operation of human space flight. For over thirty years, JSC has been in the forefront of human space flight operations for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The MSC first began operations during the Gemini program in 1963 with flight controllers supporting Gemini IV and gained greater recognition and responsibility as the Gemini program ended and the Apollo program started. http://www.spacecenter.org/AboutUsJSCHistory.html

On May 25, 1961 President John F. Kennedy decried that NASA would land men on the Moon and returning them safely within the decade. In response to this monumental challenge the MSC worked to achieve the historical moment on July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong reported from the lunar surface, "Houston, the Eagle has landed." Hours later, Armstrong descended the ladder of the Lunar Module (LM)"Eagle" proclaiming, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" as he took the first steps on the Moon's surface. In 1973, the MSC was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC). From Gemini, Apollo and Skylab into today's Space Shuttle (SS) and International Space Station (ISS) programs The Johnson Space Center has been and continues to be the center of manned space program in the United States of America. http://www.spacecenter.org/AboutUsJSCHistory.html

At the heart of JSC is the Mission Control Center (MCC). The MCC is where the men and women of NASA work to ensure safe and successful operation of the US manned space program. These flight controllers are responsible for everything that happens during a flight, from the orbital mechanics of the spacecraft to the electrical systems to the payloads being delivered. Above each console are initials or abbreviated names for each console's function. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/index.html

The MCC used for the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle programs are very similar in appearence, with the Shuttle's MCC being slightly larger. The equipment used in both MCCs is identical however and the main difference is found in the frequency of use. The Shuttle's MCC is only used during flights and during simulations of flights while the ISS MCC is manned 24 hours a day seven days a week to support the ISS and astronauts that are always flying.

Johnson Space Center is home to the US Astronaut Corp. The first U.S. astronauts were selected in 1959, before human spaceflight operations began. NASA asked the military services to provide a list of personnel who met specific qualifications. After stringent screening NASA announced a selection of seven men, all pilots, as the first American astronauts. NASA has selected 20 more groups of astronauts since the “Original Seven.” The backgrounds of NASA’s latest group of Astronaut Candidates include schoolteachers, doctors, scientist, and engineers.

NASA selects astronauts from a diverse pool of applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds. From the thousands of applications received, only a few are chosen for the intensive Astronaut Candidate training program. Including the “Original Seven”, only 339 astronauts have been selected to date. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home/index.html