NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Launch Team

The launch team members assemble at their computer and communication consoles in the Launch Control Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station about three to four hours before the launch.

The NASA launch manager is the highest authority during the launch of the mission and provides NASA's "Go/No-Go" decision to the mission director.

Before liftoff, the launch manager checks with the launch team to make sure all the criteria are met and that the payload and Boeing Delta II launch vehicle are ready to go.

		Omar Baez, NASA Launch Manager The launch manager ensures that the countdown and launch decision processes are properly followed. He polls the launch team members for "Go/No-Go" and then provides NASA's "Go/No-Go" for launch to the mission director.
		James Wood, NASA Chief Engineer As NASA engineering team leader, the chief engineer is responsible for advising the launch manger of the launch vehicle's engineering and analysis status and the "Go/No-Go" for launch. He receives the status and assessment from the Kennedy Engineering Team.
		Rex Engelhardt, Mission Integration Manager The mission integration manager assesses launch service and observatory readiness. He receives information from the mission director on issues pertaining to overall health, status of operational network and progress of countdown operations. He serves as the primary interface between the spacecraft and the launch vehicle.
		Bert Garrido, Safety & Mission Assurance Manager The safety and mission assurance manager is responsible for spacecraft and launch vehicle overall safety, quality, and independent assessment aspects of the launch countdown.
		Nick Chrissotimos, Spacecraft Mission Director The spacecraft mission director provides the overall assessment of the spacecraft and its readiness to launch. He receives status and recommendations from the launch support team and provides the spacecraft "Go/No-Go" to the launch manager.
		Joe Lackovich, NASA Advisory Manager The advisory manager provides consultation for assessing the launch process and countdown. He leads a team experienced in launch operations that provides an assessment of the launch countdown and launch team performance, and assures that the launch decision process is properly executed.

NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center