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

NAME(S): Launch Complex 39: Pad B
FACILITY NO(S): J7-337
FLORIDA MASTER SITE FILE NO: 8BR2010
LOCATION: Launch Complex 39 Area
PROPERTY TYPE: Launch Operation Facilities
DATE(S): 1964-1968 (original construction); 1978-1985 and 1991 (major modifications for
Space Shuttle Program)
ARCHITECT/ENGINEER: Original design by Giffels and Rossetti, Inc., Detroit, Michigan;
built by George A. Fuller Company; modifications designed by Reynolds, Smith and Hills
(RS&H), Jacksonville, Florida; initial major modifications built by Frank Briscoe Company, Inc.,
East Orange, New Jersey.
USE (ORIGINAL/CURRENT): Originally built to support the launch of Saturn vehicles into
space during the Apollo era, Pad B performs the same function for the Space Shuttle vehicle.
HISTORICAL DATA: Original construction of LP 39B was initiated in late 1964 and
completed in 1968. In total, it launched one mission for the Apollo Program with a Saturn V
rocket, and three for the Skylab program, using the Saturn IB rocket. The Apollo-Soyuz Test
Project Mission, launched on July 15, 1975 using a Saturn IB rocket, was the last use of Pad B
during the Apollo Program.
Pad B underwent major modifications for the Space Shuttle Program. In June 1977, RS&H was
awarded a contract to provide specifications and drawings for modifications to Pad B, including
construction of the FSS and RSS. Modifications began in mid-1978 by the Frank Briscoe
Company, Inc. of East Orange, New Jersey. This firm was awarded a $17.2 million contract on
August 11, 1978 for modification and erection of a FSS using the Apollo-era LUT; a bridge to
allow the RSS to move back and forth; and a new sound suppression system, including a 300,000-
gallon capacity water tank. Modifications were completed in late 1985. On January 28, 1986, the
Challenger was the first Space Shuttle to lift off from Pad B. Approximately one minute after
launch, this mission ended disastrously with the explosion of the spacecraft and the loss of the
entire crew.
In the aftermath of the Challenger disaster, LP 39B was put into inactive status to allow time for
modifications. These modifications included new weather protection structures, a SRB joint
heater to keep the field joints at 75 degrees, freeze protection for the water systems, debris traps,
and temperature and humidity control improvements for the PCR. The first Return-to-Flight on
September 29, 1988 saw the launch of Discovery mission STS-28 from Pad B, which became
NASA KSC’s primary launch facility. It served as the launch facility for the next 12 missions,
through early 1991.
In June 1991, Pad B was placed on inactive status to allow for a six-month period of repairs and
refurbishment. It was reactivated in 1992 for the launch of STS-49 in May. Through early 2003,
LP 39 B launched an additional 36 Space Shuttle missions, and served as the launch pad for the
second Return-to-Flight mission, STS-114 in July of 2005, following the Columbia accident.