Travis and Michelle Fitzgerald's blog

The previous post contained Michelle's job description. So here is mine.

I am a Motion Control Group instructor. What is the Motion Control Group? It's the part of the International Space Station (ISS) responsible for determining and controlling where the vehicle is, and which way it is pointed. I specialize in the attitude control subsystem, which uses 200 lb gyroscopes and thrusters to maintain the orientation of the vehicle however we want it. We also have the navigation subsystems, which are responsible for figuring out where we are (mostly using the Global Positioning system), and which we we are pointed. We also teach about the docking system onboard the station.

As an instructor, I am primarily responsible for teaching the crewmembers (astronauts) everything they need to know about my system. I am assigned to Expeditions (crewmembers who live on the ISS), as well as Shuttle flights (who only visit the ISS for a couple of weeks at a time). My latest flight just landed (12A), my next crew is Expedition 15, followed closely by the STS-122/1E mission.

I also am responsible for making sure that the flight controllers responsible for the on-orbit operation of my system are prepared properly. We do this mostly in simulations. I run our system in the simulator (called the Space Station Training Facility, or the SSTF), as well as introduce problems that the flight controllers need to deal with. I then evaluate the flight controllers on their performance, and provide feedback to them so that they can be the best flight controllers possible.

The two flight controllers that I evaluate are the Attitude Determination and Control Officer (ADCO), and the Trajectory Operations Officer (TOPO). Of the 6 fully certified instructors in my group, I am one of 3 that are certified to evaluate both ADCO and TOPO. My call-sign while on console is MCG (just say the letters).

What do I do on a day-to-day basis? It varies. I could be teaching classes to crewmembers or flight controllers (usually 1-2 hours at a time), running simulations (usually 6-8 hours at a time), testing the simulator to ensure that it supports simulation, developing lessons for flight controllers or crewmembers, or teaching new people in my group how to do my job.

Hopefully now you have an idea of what I do. Us instructors don't get as much glory as the astronauts and flight controllers, but I know that I am making a different in the space program. And I love my job!