john f. kennedy space center brevard county, florida - Environmental ...

Space Shuttle Program Historic Properties 6-47
NASA Kennedy Space Center
6.2.25 Hypergol Module Processing (HMP) (North) (8BR1993)
Photo 6.41. Hypergol Module Processing (North) Facility, south elevation.
(Source: Archaeological Consultants, Inc., 2006)
The HMP (North) facility, located within the KSC HMCA, was originally designed in
1963 by the Tampa Bay Engineering Company of St. Petersburg for the Apollo Program.
The building interior was extensively modified for Space Shuttle operations in 1976 by
Pan American Technical Services, Inc. of Cocoa Beach. The work done at the HMP
(North) consists of the checkout, refurbishment and revalidation of the hypergolic fuel
modules of the OMS, the RCS, and the APUs. Once inside the HMP, the component
undergoes an inspection shakedown and hookup of electrical cables and propellant lines.
Then, any residual propellants are drained and the system is flushed and dried. Following
this, the Line Replacement Units (LRUs) are replaced and any discrepancies repaired,
which is then followed by the electrical and pneumatic checkout. Once everything is
revalidated, the components are moved to the installation site. In addition to these
functions, electrical, tile and TPS repairs on the OMS pods and the individual modules
are also conducted in this facility. Due to the hazardous nature of the hypergolic fuels,
safety precautions such as full-body Self-contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble
(SCAPE) suits and vapor concentration monitors are used throughout.
The HMP (North) has concrete block walls, which sit on a tile-covered concrete floor,
and a flat, built-up roof. The design incorporates two high bays separated by a low bay.
The high bays are on the east and west. Each has a vertical lift door composed of four
sections. Each bay is composed of a single cell, with U-shaped metal work platforms
centered on the door. The central low bay contains the test equipment.
The HMP (North), classified within the Vehicle Processing Facilities property type, is
considered eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criterion A in the context of the U.S.
Space Shuttle Program (1969-2010) in the area of Space Exploration. Because it has
achieved exceptional significance within the past 50 years, Criteria Consideration G
applies. It is a one-of-a-kind facility used for processing the OMS pods, with the
October 2007
Archaeological Consultants, Inc.