Firing Room Swingarms, Hyper, HYD, APU/HPU Console C-7 and C-8

 1. Arms Engineer              CGSS    13. Arms SSE                   
 2. Arms Engineer              CMEC    14. Launch Accessories Eng     
 3. Oxidizer System Engineer   COOS    15. Launch Accessories Eng
 4. Oxidizer System Engineer           16. OMS/RCS SSE                COOS
 5. Fuel System Engineer       COOS    17. Hydraulics Lead Engineer   CHYD
 6. Fuel System Engineer               18. APU Engineer
 7. Hydraulics System Engineer CHYD    19. Orbiter HYD Engineer 
 8. Lead HYD System Engineer           20. OMS/RCS Lead
 9. Lead APU System Engineer   CAPU    21. Orbiter APU Engineer
10. APU System Engineer                22. SRB Lead Engineer
11. SRB HPU/HYD System Eng     CBHY    23. SRB APU/HYD SSE            CBHY
12. Lead SRB HPU/HYD Sys Eng           24. APU/HYD Engineer           CHYD

*SSE = System Specialist Engineer

C- 7/8 Console -- Swingarms, Hypergolics, Hydraulics, Auxiliary Power Units/Hydraulic Power Units (APUs/HPUs)

Systems at the launch pad as well as on the Shuttle are controlled and monitored at these console stations.

Key Positions: The Arms Engineers are responsible for the Orbiter Access Arm (External Tank Gaseous Oxygen Vent Arm (CMEC) on the Fixed Service Structure at the launch pad. The flight crew enters the orbiter through the Orbiter Access Arm, which is retracted at about seven minutes prior to liftoff. At the end of the Orbiter Access Arm is the environmental chamber, known as the White Room, that interfaces with the crew module hatch. The Gaseous Oxygen Vent Arm has an attached vent hood, or "beanie cap," to heat the external tank's liquid oxygen vent system to prevent ice formation, and is retracted at 2 minutes, 30 seconds before liftoff.

The Oxidizer System Engineer and Fuel Systems Engineer (both call sign COOS) control the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines and Reaction Control System (RCS) and their fuels, which provide the orbiter with thrust and maneuvering capability in space. There are two OMS engines and 44 RCS thrusters powered by a combination of hypergol fuel (monomethyl hydrazine), and oxidizer (nitrogen textroxide). This fuel/oxidizer combination is very hazardous and requires constant monitoring and adjustment.

The Lead Auxiliary Power Unit APU) engineer (CAPU) and systems engineers control the APUs which run hydraulic pumps on the orbiter. The APUs are powered by hydrazine passing over a catalytic bed. These engineers also control the water spray boilers that cool the hydraulic fluid and the APU lube oil.

The Hydraulics Lead Engineer (CHYD) takes the hydraulic pressure generated by the APU/pump combination and directs it to the systems needing it. This includes the orbiter landing gear, main engine thrust vector controllers, rudder speed brake, elevons, and the body flap.

The Solid Rocket Booster HPU/HYD Systems Engineer (CBHY) and systems engineers control the Hydraulic Power Units (HPUs) on the two Shuttle boosters and route the resulting hydraulic pressure to the SRB engine gimbal actuators. The HPUs on the boosters are very similar to the APUs on the orbiter.

Return to Firing Room Console Page

Last Updated Monday June 14 23:00:00 EDT 1995
Bob Waterman (Redacted)