STARFLEET MISSION CONTROL
Starfleet Mission Control is the command authority for all Starfleet assets deployed in space, with the Director of Mission Control acting as the superior officer to the captains of the various Earth starships. Mission Control is physically located at the Zefram Cochrane Space Flight Center (formally known as the Starfleet Engineering Complex) and occupies the same flight control center as the Office of Special Projects.
In addition to its formal organization, Starfleet Mission Control is also responsible for the operation of the Starfleet Flight Control Center, a twenty-four hour continuously manned spaceflight command center which monitors and directs Starfleet space vessels. The Flight Control Center originally began as the ground-based control center for NX test flights and was expanded in the late 2140s to oversee all Starfleet space activities.
Flight Control Center Positions
Flight Director: Overall command of the Flight Control Center
Flight Surgeon: Medical officer overseeing starship medical needs
Mission Operations Specialist: Command and control of starship missions
Mission Telemetry Specialist: Overall course routing of starships
Mission Communications Specialist: Oversees all starship communications
The position of Test Pilot is a qualification for Starfleet Flight Officers authorized to perform test flights of special mission craft (originally the NX Test Craft). For all test flights, a Pilot Liaison will stand duty in the Flight Control Center in addition to the regular watch personnel.
STARFLEET AFFAIRS OFFICE
The Starfleet Affairs Office was established in December 2148 in order to coordinate the berthing of Earth Starfleet vessels at the Earth Orbital Control space station. The docking of Starfleet ships at this facility allowed for the Starfleet Shipyard to free all of its docks for construction, whereas previously active starships would utilize the construction docks for mooring.
Earth Orbital Control
MISSION CONTROL HISTORY
Starfleet Mission Control was created in November 2142 to serve as a direct command authority for any Starfleet unit deployed in space. At the time of its creation, Starfleet had not yet constructed an operational starship and Starfleet Mission Control was primarily involved in administering the space trial tests associated with the NX project. As such, during its earliest years of existence, Starfleet Mission Control was frequently referred to as "NX-Control".
NX-Control in the fall of 2143
After the commissioning of the first Neptune Class Frigates, Starfleet Mission Control become primarily dedicated to the operation and deployment of starships, although technically retained control over any NX (and later NE) project flights which left Earth orbit. For this reason, the Office of Special Projects and Starfleet Mission Control frequently combined staff to man the Mission Control Flight Center.