mission control

American  

noun

Aerospace.

1. a command center for the control, monitoring, and support of activities connected with manned space flight.

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Etymology

Origin of mission control

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

When mission control at Johnson Space Center played Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” the song cut just before the titular refrain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The relief here was palpable when a small dot of bright white light was spotted high above the ocean, and Wiseman's voice rang out at mission control, "Houston, We have you loud and clear."

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Koch adjusted the system's controls, restarted them with the help of mission control, and that appeared to resolve the issue.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

In later interviews, he described the peace and tranquillity brought by the radio silence, saying it offered a break from the constant requests from mission control.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

There were more levers, buttons, and gauges than the mission control center at NASA.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya