Essential skills for flying spacecraft

Interviewees described the diverse skillsets they rely on daily at ESOC, from anticipating problems and maintaining a strategic overview to staying calm under pressure, not to mention technical and problem-solving skills.

But the real engine of mission operations? As Gabriela puts it: “Mission operations are all about the people.”

“Interpersonal and communication skills are a huge part of the job,” says Angela, “because you work with so many different partners and interfaces. Computers can’t solve the kind of problems we face in our job. You need people working together to do that.”

“We are not just taking a spacecraft to another planet,” says Sara. “We are building a group of people who work in synergy to go there.”

Isabel explains her approach to human-centred leadership: “The art is in using your skills as careful ingredients. Each situation requires something different – sometimes more efficiency, sometimes more cooperation. It is not just the output that defines the recipe, but the individuals who are part of each situation.”

Simultaneously, interviewees emphasise how diverse teams strengthen collaboration, while inclusion is vital for mission success. “The more diverse a team is, the more creative, because each team member has a different view on each topic,” says Jutta.

“If we don’t work together, we will make mistakes because each person specialises in a different aspect,” explains Angela. “We cannot leave somebody aside.”

When flying spacecraft is a team sport, inclusion is a performance advantage that catalyses better outcomes in mission control.