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

Space Shuttle Program Historic Properties 4-10
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Table 4.1. NASA-owned SSP-related facilities, by decade of construction.
Period Total
Facilities
Inactive
Facilities
Total
Active
1950s 3 3
1960s 54 2 52
1970s 20 20
1980s 70 5 65
1990s 30 1 29
2000s 18 18
No date 2 2
Total 197 8 189
4.3.3 Modifications in the Post-Challenger Accident Period
Many changes were made to Pad A and Pad B in the aftermath of the 1986 Challenger
accident; other modifications followed the Return to Flight in 1988. Among the
modifications were the installation of new weather protection structures to supplement
the RSS; improvements in temperature and humidity controls at the PCR of the RSS;
upgrades to the emergency exit system, including the addition of two slidewire baskets;
installation of new elevators on the RSS; and improvements to the pad communications
system. Changes were first made at Pad B, followed by identical changes at Pad A.
4.4 General Process Flow
The Space Shuttle is comprised of three major flight elements: the orbiter, the ET, and
two SRBs. Only the ET is not recovered and reused. Most operational missions last from
seven to ten days. Historically, the ET arrived by barge from the MAF near New Orleans.
Today, the ETs are towed to the KSC by the retrieval ships Liberty Star and Freedom
Star. The SSMEs are delivered by truck from SSC in Mississippi to the SSMEPF in the
OPF-3 Annex. From there, the engines go to the OPF for installation. A cluster of three
main engines provides the primary propulsion for the orbiter and helps to steer the
Shuttle.
Following mission completion, the orbiter makes an unpowered landing at the SLF, or
Edwards AFB if inclement weather or other circumstances prevent landing at KSC. In the
case of an Edwards AFB landing, the orbiter is returned via a ferry flight atop the SCA.
At KSC, the MDD detaches and lifts the orbiter from the SCA. Astronauts disembark and
are transported to the O&C Building for medical examination and debriefing. The orbiter
is then safed and towed to the OPF within hours of its arrival. Here, it undergoes
postflight servicing and checkout, as well as vehicle modifications needed for future
flight requirements or to enhance vehicle performance and correct deficiencies.
After processing, the vehicle is usually towed into the VAB transfer aisle. High Bays 1
and 3 of the VAB are where integration and stacking of the complete Shuttle vehicle
occurs in a vertical position on the MLP, to facilitate mating with the SRB/ET stack atop
October 2007
Archaeological Consultants, Inc.