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

Space Shuttle Program Historic Properties 6-32
NASA Kennedy Space Center
than raise and lower as in High Bays 1 and 2. Plastic curtains located at the ends of the
payload compartment provide a clean room environment for the work area. All of the
platform levels are connected by stairs, ladders and ramps. There is also an elevator
situated at the southeast corner of the structure. In addition, all platforms, including the
moveable ones, are fitted with handrails for safety purposes. An air shower is located
near the southeast corner of the second platform level.
The SSMEPF is located in a 34,600 ft 2 annex within the eastern part of the OPF-3. The
annex has a poured concrete slab foundation, corrugated metal walls supported by a steel
frame, and a flat, built-up roof. There are one-light fixed windows on the south and east
elevations. The facility contains both a low bay and a high bay. The low bay contains six
two-level vertical engine workstands, with an adjacent avionics control room. The lower
level of the workstand provides access to the output nozzle, while the upper level services
the engine’s systems. The high bay contains drying cells, a TPS welding and
encapsulation room, a horizontal processing area, a pump room, a battery charging area,
GSE storage areas, and workshops. In addition, there are specified clean rooms for the
inspection of critical turbomachinery. Both the low bay and the high bay are equipped
with ceiling-mounted cranes, 10-ton and 15-ton respectively, for lifting, rotating, loading
and unloading the engines.
Photo 6.21. Space Shuttle Main Engine Facility at OPF High Bay 3, vertical stand.
(Source: Archaeological Consultants, Inc., 2006)
The OPF-3, classified within the Vehicle Processing Facilities property type, is
considered eligible for listing in the NRHP in the context of the U.S. Space Shuttle
October 2007
Archaeological Consultants, Inc.