Part II - Environmental Program at KSC - NASA

Space Shuttle Program Historic Properties 6-7NASA-wide Roll-up ReportPhoto 6.6. Water egress training at the WETF Building 29 pool, December 1, 1991.(Source: NASA, Johnson Space Center, ID No. S91-52074)NASA officially closed the NBS for use on July 1, 1997. It was functionally replaced bythe new NBL at the JSC. The following year, some equipment needed at the NBL wasremoved from the NBS. The transferred artifacts included the Spacelab Pallet (SLP)Mock-up, the Shuttle Payload Bay Mock-up, the Manipulator Foot Restraint (MFR)Mock-up, the Aft Flight Deck Crew Station (AFDCS), the RMS simulator, and theExtravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) components and support equipment (Allen 2001).Subsequently, the SLP mockup, the AFDCS, and the RMS simulator were returned toMSFC; the SLP mockup, MFR, and EMU were retained by JSC. The NBS is currently inmothballed status.The NBL was designed to allow for the simultaneous performance of multiple trainingactivities in a simulated space environment. The pool contains full-scale working modelsof both the Space Shuttle orbiter and ISS components, including robotic arms. Theabilities perfected here are critical to the success of space missions involving EVAs,including those required to assemble the ISS and to service and maintain the HST. TheNBL is also used for real-time problem-solving during active missions to work outsolutions for the in-orbit crew. The NBL contains the world’s largest indoor pool whichwas specially designed and built to simulate the environment of space. This one-of-akind, world class facility reflects the zenith in the four decade evolutionary progression ofweightless training facility design, construction and use.July 2008Archaeological Consultants, Inc.