NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The launch team will assemble at their computers and communication consoles in the launch control center at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) about 3 to 4 hours before the Aura 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 launch, the NLM will check with the launch team to make sure all the launch criteria are being met and that the Boeing Delta II vehicle and payload are ready to go.

		Chuck Dovale, NASA Launch Manager (NLM) The NLM is responsible for ensuring that the countdown and launch decision processes are properly conducted. He requires "Go/No-Go" concurrence from the following elements: NCE, MIM, SMA, SHIA, SMD and NAM. He then provides NASA's "Go/No-Go" for launch to the Aura Mission Director. The NLM serves as the NASA Launch Director.
		James Wood, NASA Chief Engineer (NCE) The NASA engineering team leader is responsible for advising the NLM 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 and provides a "Go/No-Go" to the NLM.
		David Breedlove, Mission Integration Manager (MIM) The mission integration manager's responsibility is to perform an assessment of launch service and observatory readiness. The MIM receives information from the New Horizons mission director on issues pertaining to overall health, status of operational network and/or progress of countdown operations. The MIM is the primary interface between the spacecraft and the launch vehicle. + View Video (CC)
		Gary Hendricks, Safety & Mission Assurance Manager (SMA) The NASA safety and mission assurance manager represents NASA SMA (spacecraft and launch vehicle) and is responsible for the overall safety, quality, and independent assessment aspects of the launch countdown.
		Bert Garrido, Safety, Health & Independent Assessment Manager (SHIA) Independent assessment of the countdown operations and overall launch decision process. The SHIA Manager is responsible for providing an independent assessment of the countdown operations and overall launch decision process. This includes assessment of the operation in order to evaluate whether the proper safety and health guidelines are followed.
		John Loiacono, Spacecraft Mission Director (SMD) The spacecraft mission director's responsibility is for the overall assessment of the spacecraft and its readiness to launch. The SMD will receive status and recommendations from the launch support team. He provides the spacecraft "Go/No-Go" to the NLM.
		Joe Lackovich, NASA Advisory Manager (NAM) The NASA advisory manager performs in an advisory capacity only involving assessment of the launch process and countdown. The NAM leads a team composed of NASA personnel who are experienced in launch operations. The Advisory Team 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