With the introduction of cutting-edge next-generation spacecraft, the need for sophisticated systems to monitor their advanced technologies has become crucial. In the case of NASA's Orion spacecraft, this requirement has culminated in the development of an entirely new room filled with monitors. Recently, NASA inaugurated a new complex in the Mission Control Center at its Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, ahead of the highly anticipated Artemis 2 mission, which aims to send astronauts around the moon in the Orion space capsule — marking the vehicle's inaugural crewed flight test.
The newly established Mission Evaluation Room (MER), which opened on August 15, is set to provide crucial behind-the-scenes data analyses of Orion's performance. This facility will work in conjunction with the main White Flight Control Room (WFCR), enhancing in-flight operations during the Artemis 2 mission. The MER will serve as Orion's engineering brain trust, featuring 24 console stations that will be manned around the clock for the duration of the approximately 10-day mission.
The MER will be staffed by experts from NASA, Lockheed Martin, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Airbus, all of whom are responsible for various components of the spacecraft's manufacturing process. This collaboration is essential for monitoring the extensive systems of the Orion spacecraft, ensuring the safety of the crew as they orbit the moon and responding effectively to any unforeseen events, as highlighted in a recent NASA update.
The personnel working in the MER will utilize data display monitors to compare real-time information against Orion's expected performance metrics, allowing them to troubleshoot any issues that may arise. While the WFCR team focuses on flight operations, engineers in the MER will analyze data to diagnose problems and propose solutions as they occur. Additionally, the MER is designed to collect detailed mission data that will inform planning for future missions, including Artemis 3 and beyond.
Trey Perryman, JSC's lead for Orion Mission and Integration Systems, emphasized the importance of data collection in a NASA statement. “The operations team is flying the spacecraft, but they are relying on the Mission Evaluation Room’s reachback engineering capability from the NASA, industry, and international Orion team that has designed, built, and tested this spacecraft,” Perryman stated.
The Orion spacecraft and NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket represent significant advancements in technology compared to the systems used during the Apollo program. The establishment of the MER not only enhances spacecraft safety during deep-space missions but also exemplifies the technological leaps made since humanity's last lunar journey in 1972. This progress necessitates collaboration among international hardware manufacturers, contractors, and organizations from both the public and private sectors, centralizing expertise for effective mission execution.
With the MER operational, NASA's Mission Control now functions as a two-room setup: one room dedicated to flying Orion and the other focused on monitoring its health. The Artemis 2 mission will serve as the first test of this integrated approach, setting the stage for Artemis 3 and future endeavors. NASA plans to land astronauts on the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 with Artemis 3, aiming to establish a sustained presence on the lunar surface as a precursor for eventual crewed missions to Mars.
NASA is currently targeting a launch date for Artemis 2 of no earlier than February 2026, with a mission window extending through April. The selected astronaut crew for this historic mission includes Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. If the Artemis 2 mission is deemed successful, NASA hopes to proceed with the launch of Artemis 3 in 2027.
