Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Flight Dynamics Facility News

  • A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The GOES-U satellite is the final satellite in the GOES-R series, which serves a critical role in providing continuous coverage of the Western Hemisphere, including monitoring tropical systems in the eastern Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

    FDF Supports GOES-U

    On June 26, 2024, the Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) supported the successful launch of the GOES-U satellite. The FDF was on-console 24×7 for a month to provide primary Flight Dynamics and Navigation support for the spacecraft during orbit raise and on-orbit…

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  • This artist's concept depicts NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft silhouetted against Jupiter as it passes over the gas giant's icy moon Europa (bottom center). Scheduled to orbit Jupiter beginning in April 2030, the mission will be the first to specifically target Europa for detailed science investigation. Image Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech

    FDF Supports Europa Clipper Launch

    On October 14th 2024, FDF’s Flight Ops Analyst team provided on-console support for the Falcon Heavy / Europa Clipper launch. In support of this mission, the Network provided TDRS services for ~15 minutes over the…

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  • The four-person crew of the Polaris Dawn mission pictured wearing their SpaceX extravehicular activity suits. The crew consists of Pilot Scott Poteet, Mission Specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, and Commander Jared Isaacman.

    FDF Supports Polaris Dawn

    The Flight Dynamics Facility’s (FDF) Flight Ops Team supported the Polaris Dawn mission from its launch on September 10th, 2024 through its successful re-entry and splashdown five days later. Prior to launch, the Flight Ops Team not only prepared for routine operations but…

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  • In this illustration, a Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is shown in low-Earth orbit.

    FDF Supports Boeing Starliner Launch

    On June 5th, 2024, the FDF supported the successful launch and orbit insertion of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft carrying two NASA Astronauts, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams…

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  • SpaceX launched the third integrated flight test of its Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage from the company’s Starbase orbital launch pad at 8:25 a.m. CT on March 14. This flight test is an important milestone toward providing NASA with a Starship HLS for its Artemis missions.

    FDF Supports Starship IFT-3

    On March 14th, 2024 the FDF, along with the Near Space Network (NSN), supported the SpaceX Starship Integrated Flight Test-3 (IFT-3). FDF provided TDRS pointing data to the Space Relay to ensure communications with the vehicle during the flight test…

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  • The Falcon 9 Launch of PACE on 2/8/2024.

    FDF Supports the Launch and Commissioning of PACE

    Early morning on February 8th, 2024, the PACE spacecraft launched aboard a Space-X Falcon-9 Rocket, and the Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) was fully staffed to provide critical support. FDF was tasked with provided…

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  • In 2021, astronaut candidates visit the Flight Dynamics Facility.

    FDF Welcomes 2021 Astronaut Class

    On October 3, 2023, the 2021 Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) Class (‘The Flies’) visited Goddard Space Flight Center and toured the many unique aspects that GSFC provides to NASA as a whole…

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