COM

Congratulations, you have been chosen as the Communications (COM) officer for this important mission. Your job is to be the voice of Mission Control. You will be speaking directly to the Mission Commander, relaying any messages from your teammates over to the spacecraft.

You will need to follow every step in these TASK CARDS, without skipping a single step. You will be reading messages using a specific protocol, make sure to follow that specific protocol at all times! Do not begin the first step until told to do so by the Mission Commander.

To ensure you can do your job as a COM officer well, follow these directions:

1. Locate the MICROPHONE button on your call software. 

2. The MICROPHONE button will have two states: on and off. To test that it works, say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. We are beginning our tasks. Do you read me, over?

3. Wait for a response from the Mission Commander. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message. If you get a response from the Mission Commander, that means the communication system is working, and you may continue to the next step.

4. Locate the CHAT in your call software.

5. Make sure you are sending to “Everyone”.

6. Type the following message in the CHAT:

This is MC COM. Anytime you have a message for MC COM, type it in this chat.

7. Once you have typed it in the CHAT, make sure to hit SEND or hit ENTER so that the rest of the team can read it.

8. Move on to the COMSAT ALIGNMENT section.

Follow these directions to perform a communication satellite alignment check with the Mission Commander aboard the Spacecraft:

1. Say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. We have a message from the COM team. Over.

2. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I am ready to receive. Over.

3. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The message from the COM team is please prepare to perform a communication satellite alignment check. Over.

4. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I am ready to perform the check. Over.

5. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The message from the COM team is please ensure Satellite #1 is in Position #3. Over.

6. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. Satellite #1 is in the correct position. Over.

7. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The message from the COM team is please ensure Satellite #2 is in Position #5. Over.

8. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. Satellite #2 is in the correct position. Over.

9. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The message from the COM team is please ensure Satellite #3 is in Position #2. Over.

10. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. Satellite #3 is in the correct position. Over.

11. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The message from the COM team is the communication satellite alignment check is completed. Over.

12. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I acknowledge. Over.

13. Continue to the “MESSAGES” section.

To deliver messages back and forth from the spacecraft to your team, follow these directions:

1. Frequently check the CHAT for new messages.

2. If a new chat message from a team member directed to the Spacecraft has appeared, it is your job to send it to the Mission Commander using the following instructions.

**NOTE: If you receive a message from a team regarding an emergency, scroll to the bottom section of this page titled “EMERGENCY”. Follow all directions in the “EMERGENCY” section to ensure the safety of the Mission Commander.

3. Check that the message has a Team name on it (such as ISO, NAV, MED, etc). If it does have it, you may continue to Step #4. If it does not, politely type in the CHAT the following message: 

(Student’s name), please resend the entire message according to your task cards.

4. Say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. We have a message from the (team name) team. Over.

5. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I am ready to receive. Over.

6. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The message from the (team name) team is: (fill in this blank with the chat message). Over.

7. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I acknowledge. Over.

8. Repeat Steps #1 through #7 until told to do otherwise by the Flight Director or Mission Commander.

When told by the Flight Director to proceed to this section, follow these directions:

1. Say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. We have a message for the Mission Commander. Over.

2. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I am ready to receive. Over.

3. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The NAV team reports we are ready to enter the orbit of Europa. Over.

4. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I acknowledge. Over.

5. Once this is completed, you may return to the section “MESSAGES”.

When told by the Flight Director to proceed to this section, follow these directions:

1. Say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. We have a message for the Mission Commander. Over.

2. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I am ready to receive. Over.

3. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The PROBE team reports they are ready to launch the PROBE. Over.

4. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I acknowledge. Over.

5. Once this is completed, you may return to the section “MESSAGES”.

When told by the Flight Director to proceed to this section, follow these directions:

1. Say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. We have a message for the Mission Commander. Over.

2. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I am ready to receive. Over.

3. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The NAV team reports we are ready to dock with the Jupiter Gateway. Over.

4. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I acknowledge. Over.

5. Once this is completed, you may return to the section “MANAGING MESSAGES FROM YOUR TEAM.”

1. Say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. We have an EMERGENCY onboard the spacecraft. Over.

2. Wait until the Mission Commander responds with the following message below. If there is no response, press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure you are not muted, and then resend the message.

This is Spacecraft to Mission Control. I am awaiting emergency directions. Over.

3. Once you hear the Mission Commander say the phrase above, you will say the entirety of the following message to Mission Commander:

This is MC COM to Spacecraft. The (team that found the emergency) team will be now sending you directions on how to solve the EMERGENCY. Over.

4. Ask the Flight Director to allow the team member to speak to the Mission Commander. If you can not hear the team member, ask them to press or click the MICROPHONE button to ensure they are not muted, and then resend the message. Once the emergency has been resolved, inform the Mission Commander:

This is Mission Control to the Spacecraft. The EMERGENCY has been resolved. Over.

5. Once this is completed, you may return to the section “MESSAGES”.