Making a good LCO
I've been to a lot of different launches and heard lots of excellent LCOs (Neil, Ted, Greg, Terry, and yes, even you Tim) and lots of poor ones, too (no names here). a priori, the difference between “excellent” and “terrible” is often imperceptible. But when you're on the flight line waiting for your rocket to fly, the difference between smooth operation and torture rack (to borrow a term from the inimitable JI) is tremendous.
I've got a few ideas, but I'll also leave this post open with an ask at the bottom.
Here's what I think are the four most important attributes of the LCO job.
Safety
Timing
Knowledge
Assistance
I'll expand on these as time and research allows. This has been simmering for a while—it'll be nice to get it all in one spot.
What else can we do to make flow happen at the launch control table, while also maximizing safety and spectator enjoyment?












