The use of voice, data, and radar equipment to monitor the flight path and operational stages of a space flight, including the launch, the deployment of the payload, the bringing of the payload into operational status, and the control of mission systems. TT+C uses traditional and digital voice communications, ‘bent pipe’ data flow where real-time data is fed along electronic pipelines via various fixed and transportable stations located around the world, and tracking and data-relay satellites augmenting the ground stations.