Vol. 8, No. 14 MOON LAUNCH DR. KURT H Although Th .. DEBUS Any D E First T T En Eavoi" S Eps Ill O B Tare C . Ste E He Hard

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Vol. 8, No. 14

DR. KURT H Although th .. DEBUS any endeaVOI" e first steps ill o b tare c . stet e he hardest onsldered I ps can be th ,the final . know that ~. e most critical hnue to be equalou allto twillh COI1-. Dr K e task . urt H . KSC D' . Debus MOON LAUNCH lrector Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS July 3, 1969 Rocket Veterans Fill Key Positions On Launch Team When KSC Director Dr. the Redstone Arsenal. After During the 1960-62 period, NASA also built Launch Kurt H. Debus and his small the establishment of NASA, the team launched five suc Complex 37, another Saturn launch team first came to a Presidential decision was cessful Rangers, a Centaur launch site, adjacent to LC Cape Kennedy in 1952, avail made to consolidate space ac launch vehicle, two Mariners 34. Fifteen Saturn 1 and Sat able facilities were primitive tivities, other than military and six Mercury-Redstones, urn 1B vehicles were launch by today's standards. programs, under one agency. including Freedom 7 which ed from these complexes, carried Alan B. Shepard, Jr., beginning in 1961. "We started out in an old, This resulted in the trans abandoned restaurant with its on America's first manned KSC's mission and capabili fer to NASA several Depart suborbital flight. windows nailed up," recalls ment of Defense projects ties were expanded in 1965 Dr. Debus. then under way. It also re LARGER VEHICLES following a decision that there should be an integrated In the pioneer days of sulted in the transfer of some Early in 1961, as larger America's military roc k e t 5,000 Federal employees, plus NASA organization for the launch vehicles were planned, launch of medium and heavy program, Dr. Debus and his extensive facilities, from the Dr. Debus and members of team of less than 100 engi Army to NASA in 1960. class vehicles, both manned his team conceived a new and unmanned. neers and technicians would In 1961, the launch team, launch concept which called accompany a truck-transport made up of about 300 govern for assembly of the complete FLORIDA OPERATIONS ed rocket from the Redstone ment personnel supported by space vehicle in a protected Arsenal in Alabama to the A unit of NASA's Manned con t r act 0 r s, became the environment and its move, Cape, erect it and check it with connections to its launch Spacecraft Center in Hous Launch Operations Director ton, known as the Florida out on the launch pad, launch ate of NASA's Marshall tower intact, to the launch. it, and then return to Ala pad. Operations Group, that had Space Flight Center, Hunts directed the Mercury manned bama to await completion of ville, Alabama. the next rocket. A number of On May 25, 1961, President orbital missions and in 1965 John F. Kennedy announced Dr. Debus' early team mem MOVE TO CAPE and 1966 directed the 10 suc bers are still associated with the national goal of a manned cessful launches of manned him today at KSC. In 1962 the directorate was landing on the Moon within Gemini flights, was trans moved to Cape Kennedy (then the decade. ferred to KSC. LAUNCH VETERANS Cape Canaveral), where it Stemming from Dr. Debus' G. Merritt Preston, now Di was expanded and established Two of the four operational mobile launch concept and rector of Design Engineer directorates of the Center are as the NASA Launch Opera Pre sid e n t Kennedy's an tions Center. The Center was nouncement, the machinery ing; John J. Williams, Direc headed by launch veterans of tor of Spacecraft Operations, the early 1950s. redesignated the Ken ned y was set in motion to create Space Center, NASA in 1963. the Free World's first opera and Paul Donnelly, Launch Rocco A. Petrone, Director tional Spaceport. Operations Manager, were of Launch Operations, was in During its Army and early among the key personnel in the blockhouse with Dr. De NASA affiliation, Dr. Debus' HUGE TRACT volved in this transfer. bus in 1953 for the first Red launch team was responsible An 88,000-acre north Mer Another highly qualified stone missile launch. Today for more than 100 launches ritt Island tract, adjacent to his directorate is the largest involving the Redstone, Jupi NASA launch team, originally Cape Kennedy, was selected assigned to the Naval Re element at the Center and the ter and Pershing missiles and as the new launch site. focus of its mission. the Jupiter C and Juno rock search Laboratory and later ets. In the meantime, NASA to the NASA Goddard Space Raymond L. Clark has been had' assumed management of Flight Center, was transfer the Center's Director of Tech Among early firsts for the certain facilities at Cape Ken red to KSC in 1965. The team nical Support since 1964. He team was the launch of Ex nedy, including Launch Com had been concerned initially was senior project engineer plorer 1, the nation's first plex 34, for the launch of at the Cape for the Army's satellite, on January 31, 1958. Saturn vehicles. with launch of Vanguard Redstone and Jupiter missile satellites and later with systems in the 1950s. NASA's unmanned launch Apollo Program Office Reviews program. Three other veterans who have been associated with Dr. Robert H. Gray, Manager Debus for extended periods of Problem Areas Prior To Launch of this team, became Director, time hold key positions at Unmanned Launch Opera KSC. As the scheduled July 16 sion were identified and or tions, following the transfer. launch date for Apollo 11 dered to be corrected. Dr. Hans F. Gruene, Direc nears, the main function of Admiral Roderick O. Mid As KSC evolved in less tor, Launch Vehicle Opera the Apollo Program Office at dleton, Manager of the KSC than a decade from a small tions, repeatedly made the KSC is to insure the conduct Apollo Program Office, said nucleus to a multi-mission round trip between Redstone of complete, thorough, and his office followed up each Government - industry team, Arsenal and the Cape with very disciplined reviews of identified restraint and made significant physical changes Dr. Debus. Robert E. Gor possible launch constraints. sure it was properly closed occurred. The flat, marshy man, Director, Support Oper out. scrublands of north Merritt ations, has been a team mem The Flight Readiness Re "Our main concern now," view June 17, acted on re Island were transformed into ber more than 15 years. Karl Adm. Middleton says, "is to an industrial area and launch A. Sendler, colleague of Dr. ports of unsatisfactory condi insure that the Director of center. Debus for 20 years, is Direc tions in any of the ground Launch Operations will have tor of Information Systems. support equipment to be used an operable complex and full Today, with the upcoming for the launch of the historic and complete support for the attempt to land men on the ABMA TRANSFER first moon-landing attempt. countdown and liftoff. moon scheduled, an invaluable Prior to the formation of All systems and compon "As of now, our overall experience factor at the NASA in 1958, Dr. ,Debus' ents were reviewed and any posture appears to be a very Spaceport is provided by the team was part of the Army potential single failure points good one. I currently see no presence of a team of launch Ballistic Missile Agency at that might endanger the mis- major problems." veterans. July 3, 1969 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Firing Room Crew to Conduct Countdown, Launch The KSC Launch Team for comprehensive responsibility W. King, KSC Public Affairs. Seated in rows of consoles Apollo 11 will include a nu including the launch director, A number of top NASA on the main floor of the fir cleus of 450 technicians, en test supervisors and test con officials will participate in ing room are contractor per gineers, test conductors and ductors. These key personnel the Apollo 11 launch from sonnel organized by stage and launch and support directors work from their consoles Firing Room l's Management major systems. Each row has who will conduct and monitor while observing the busy ac Operations Room, a glass par 15 positions. the countdown and launch tivities on the main floor. titioned area overlooking the Boeing mans one row of from Firing Room 1 of Com Seated at the first row of busy hub of activity. consoles for their S-IC stage, plex 39's Launch Control Cen upper consoles, from left to Among those expected at two rows of consoles for ter. right, are: Isom A. Rigell, NASA Headquarters are Dr. mechanical ground support From their firing room Chief Engineer, KSC Launch George E. Mueller, Associated equipment, and one row for consoles the NASA-industry Vehicle Operations; Lee B. Administor for Man ned propellants. Boeing has more team members will bring to James, MSFC Saturn V Pro Spaceflight, Lt. Gen. Sam L. than 140 assignments in the gether all phases of launch gram Manager; Andrew J. Phillips, Apollo Program Di firing room. activity, culminating in the Pickett, Test Operations Man rector, Office of Manned North American Rockwell liftoff of Apollo 11 from Pad ager, KSC Launch Vehicle Spaceflight, and Chester M. personnel are assigned to one A. Operations; Dr. Hans F. Gru Lee, Apollo Program Deputy row of S-II stage consoles Personnel assigned to Fir ene, Director, KSC Launch Director. and have some 60 firing room ing Room 1 include KSC Vehicle Operations; Rocco A. Others expected to be in the seats. NASA organizations and rep Petrone, Director of KSC Management Room are Dr. McDonnell-Douglas moni resentatives from Goddard Launch Operations. Wernher von Braun, Director tors the S-IVB stage from of the Marshall Space Flight their row, and has about 45 Space Flight Center, Mar Dr. Kurt H. Debus, Direc shall Space Flight Center, Center; Dr. Robert R. Gil firing room assignments. tor, KSC; Walter J. Kapryan, ruth, Director of the Manned IBM, with about 90 per Manned Spacecraft Center Deputy Director of KSC and NASA Headquarters. Spacecraft Center; Mil e s sonnel stationed in the firing Launch Operations; John J. Ross, KSC Deputy Director, room, has three rows of con Contractors with access or Will i a m s, Director, KSC Center Operations and Rear soles on the main floor for seating assignments include: Spa c e c r aft Operations; Adm. Roderick O. Middleton, the Instrument Unit, stabili Boeing, Nor t h American George M. Low, MSC Apollo Manager KSC Apollo Pro zation and guidance, and Rockwell, McDonnell-Douglas, Program Manager and John gram Office. flight control. International Business Ma chine, Grumman, General Electric, Federal Electric, Ra dio Corporation of America, ACE Stations Checkout Spacecraft Chrysler Corporation, Ben Skip Chauvin is the Com dix, and Sanders Associates. A computer system that pro These two ACE stations cesses 24,000 samples of test will continue tb monitor and mand-Service Module Test FOURTEEN ROWS data per second is the heart control ApolIo 11 a.round the Conductor and H. K. Widick Firing Room 1 contains of the checkout equipment for clock until it clears the mobile is the Lunar Module Test fourteen rows of display and the Apollo 11 spacecraft at launcher at liftoff, scheduled Conductor. control consoles where NASA KSC. , for 9 :32 a.m., July 16. At each station is a Gen officials and stage and sup Known as the Acceptance TWO STATJON eral Electric Test Director port contractors monitor the Checkout Equipment (ACE) Two ACE stations are re who supervises the personnel pulse of the Apollo 11 moon system, it can handle approx quired for each Apollo space assigned to operate and main ship and receive information imately 3,500 different space craft being readied for tain equipment at that sta about conditions aboard the craft measurements, most of launch. tion. Test Director for Sta vehicle. which are taken automatical Despite the largely auto tion 1 is Earl Turner and for The firing room is also ly. By contrast, manual test matic functions of ACE, high Station 3 is Eric Simon. equipped with vertical re techniques for Mercury space ly qualified people are re Operation and mainten cording and monitoring racks. craft involved only 88 mea quired to perform vital func ance of the six ACE stations A computer room contains surements. tions at each ACE station. at KSC is the responsibility additional personnel. Two of the six ACE sta Approximately 60 engineers of the Checkout Equipment The firing room is organ tions in the MSO Building and technicians man each sta Branch of the Engineering ized to reflect the countdown were electrically and elec tion, which consists of a con Division, Spacecraft Opera and launch chain of command. tronically connected to the trol room and a computer tions. Chief of the division is It is a hierachy structure. ~ommand - service module room. The ratio of Govern Michael A. Wedding, a 10 The first four rows of up and the lunar module of Apol ment to contractor personnel year veteran of the Mercury, per consoles are elevated to lo 11 shortly after the mod on duty at each station is Gemini and Apollo programs. roughly one to one. accommodate 68 NASA and ules arrived at the Spaceport For Apollo 11, the con contractor personnel with in January. Each ACE station has a designated NASA Station tractor supervisor for the Manager. The Manager for command - service module Station 1, which is connected team is Test Project Engi to Apollo 11's command-ser neer Thomas Baggett, North vice module, is Raymond American Rockwell, while the Klinect. Manager for Station contractor supervisor for the 3, connected to Apollo 11's lunar module is Spacecraft Published every other week by the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Lunar Module, is Nevin Ball. Test Engineer Frank McKin National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Each Station Manager is. ney, Grumman. Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 responsible to a NASA space In Firing Room 1, Launch John W. King, Chief, Public Information Office craft Test Conductor, who in Control Center, ACE consoles Ben E. McCarty, Editor turn reports to George Page, display data which is moni Ed Harrison, Photographic Coordinator Chief of the Operations Divi tored by key launch manag Russell F. Hopkins, Staff Photographer sion, Spacecraft Operations. ers. Page 4, SPACEPORT NEWS July 3, 1969 Launch Operations Keying for Apollo 11 "Everything we have done launch." "We look at the whole pic "In general terms our big for the past several years is PETRONE DIRECTOR ture," said Kapryan, "with a gest effort in Launch Opera actually culminating in this Launch Operations, headed view toward integrating all tions is that of bringing all of next mission, Apollo 11," said by Rocco A. Petrone, is the of the elements which play these diverse tasks together, Walter J. Kapryan, Deputy key Directorate at the Space a part in the launch." integrating them into a Director of the Launch Op port. The overall responsibili Two Directorates within smooth flow which leads up erations Directorate. ty of committing Apollo 11 to Launch Operations manage to the actual liftoff," the "Weare moving ahead to launch rests with the Direc the Apollo-Saturn V from ar Deputy Director said. ward launch with confidence, torate. rival until liftoff. based on experience - but This responsibility includes GRUENE HEADS LVO APOLLO 11 PREPS not with overconfidence," he checkout, countdown and Launch Vehicle Operations, When asked if prepara emphasized. The Deputy Di launch. It encompasses the headed by Dr. Hans F. Gru tions for Apollo 11 differ rector reported that the Saturn V, the Apollo space ene, is in charge of the Sat fro m those of previous launch team was highly moti craft, and ground support urn V. launches, Kapryan said that vated for a successful mis equipment involved in Apollo Spacecraft Operations, un the processing of the space sion. Saturn operations. der John Williams, prepares craft and the launch vehicle He characterized the check Reporting to Petrone are the Apollo spacecraft for its is fairly well standardized Qut of Apollo 11 as a s·eries Kapryan, his Deputy, Paul mission. now. of tests which indicate when C. Donnelly, Launch Opera "Each Directorate and each the vehicle is ready to per tions Manager for Apollo 11, contractor has a series of "There are some experi form its mission. "When we and Robert E. Moser, in tasks to perform. These even ments aboard this spacecraft are satisfied with the results charge of launch operations tually come together into an which have not flown before, we move into countdown and planning. integrated operation. those which will be operated on the lunar surface. This is new. But as far as the prep Installation Support Ready for Moon Launch aration of the space vehicle itself - it's the same as for "Apollo 11 is the current In the Logistics area, Divi pieces of launch documenta the past several missions." number one priority - the tion handled per month. sion Chief George E. Har Readying a rocket for prime responsibility," stated rington said Central Supply The Documentation Divi Frederic H. Miller, Director is ready to support any re sion, led by James Y. Russo, launch does not lend itself to of Installation Support, "like quirements and remains open generates procedures, hand an ordinary eight-hour day. every other launch has been around the clock with a beef books, specifications and oth "Long hours have been our er technical data required to way of life for quite e few in its time." ed-up staff. years now," Kapryan re He added: "Weare all tre The Transportation Branch test and launch Apollo 11. mendously keyed up for the The Plant Engineering and marked. "Everyone on the requirements to sup po r t launch team recognizes that launch in the sense that Apol launch operations are at top Maintenance Division is under lo 11 is the great payoff operational readiness. the direction of Raymond C. this is often necessary. we've been working toward Administrative Services, Daley. "However," he said, "we for many years." headed by P. A. Fagnant, re KSC ground support equip have sufficient manpower to Installation Support is re ports mail volume up to 10, ment procedures are reviewed spread out the workload. You sponsible for the general op 000 to 12,000 letters a day by the Quality Surveillance will see a fresh, eager launch eration and maintenance of in the weeks preceding lift Division, headed by Russell team for the Apollo 11. We the installation and furnishes off, not including 80,000 A. Gramer. will be ready." services keyed specifically to launch operations and other general services at KSC. Technical Support Carries Big Slate of Jobs These include security, fire Technical Support is a mul and Support Operations. ped to calibrate sensitive mea protection and rescue service, suring devices used in check medical support, electrical ti-purpose Directorate with The Chief of Information an extensive slate of assign Systems is Karl Sendler. His out. The CIF antenna site power and other utilities, receives measurements from food, disaster control plan ments for the Apollo 11 mis Directorate produces and dis sion. plays almost every kind of Saturn V during powered ning, photography, reproduc flight, in addition to track tion and publication services, The Directorate manages technical information needed data systems employed to for the conduct of Saturn ing signals. logistics, data management launch operations. Responsibilities of the me and maintenance of buildings check out and launch Apollo 11, and operates launch com Sendler's office in the Cen.:. chanical type are carried out and structures except for test tral Instrumentation Facility by Support Operations, under and launch complex facilities. plex support facilities. After liftoff, as Apollo 11 (CIF) is located amidst four the management of Robert PRIMARY EFFORT climbs toward orbit, the Di floors of computers, commun E. Gorman. Other duties of "Our primary effort now," rectorate's information sys ications gear, tracking equip Support Operations include said Miller, "is to be certain tems complex receives and ment and laboratories. propellant logistics, life sup that the support is there routes flight telemetry data The CIF is linked to the port, operation of the space when needed and in the form to Mission Control in Hous Launch Control Center at the craft egress system and the spelled out by the people who ton. Spaceport and to Mission malfunction investigation lab. place the requirements on us." CLARK DIRECTOR Control. There are communi Technical shops are also un Charles L. Buckley's Secur Raymond L. Clark, Direc cations ties to the world-wide der the supervision of Sup ity Office provides physical tor of Technical Support, ex Manned Space Flight N et port Operations. security of launch pads, main pressed confidence that "we work. "In the mechanical areas, tains impact lines,'clears. the will be functioning at maxi Sendler's organization pro we operate such things as the pad before liftoff and works mum effectiveness for the cesses the volumes of test transporter, mobile service closely with local law enforce upcoming mission." data generated as Apollo 11 structure, high pressure gas ment and civil defense agen Two Directorates report to is readied for launch. Labor system, and many other vital cies. Clark, Information Systems atories in the CIF are equip- systems." July 3, 1969 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 , EASEP Moon' Calling Card The stay of the Apollo 11 EASEP is designed to mea ule pilot Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. These will be on the alert astronauts on the moon will sure lunar seismic activity will extract the EASEP pack for meteoroid impacts and be brief - less than a day and transmit the data to re ages from the LM and deploy moonquakes. but they will leave behind a ceiving stations back on them on the Sea of Tranquil The LRRR weighs approx "calling card" which will pro Earth. It will also establish ity landing site. vide scientific information a reference point provided by They will then verify with imately 52 pounds and occu long after they have returned optical retro-reflectors to fa the Manned Space Flight Net pies 5.4 cubic feet as stowed to Earth. cilitate ranging for precise work that receiving, proces aboard the LM. It consists essentially of a retro-reflec The "calling card" is the measurements of Earth-Moon sing and power supply sub distances. systems are operable. tor array mounted on a pal Early Apollo Scientific Ex let. periments Package (EASEP) This data will be used to de The PSEP weighs approx packed into the Lunar Mod rive information on the com imately 12 pounds and occu Laser beams transmitted ule's scientific equipment bay position of the lunar sphere, pies approximately 7.7 cubic from one or more Earth by KSC specialists on May its origin and geophysical dy feet as stowed in the lunar. based stations will be bounced 18. namics. module. The passive seismic back to Earth to give experi Apollo 11 commander Neil experiment uses four seismo menters precise Earth-Moon EASEP consists of two in A. Armstrong and lunar mod- meters. distances and other data. dependent and self-contained experiment packages - the Passive Seismic Experiment Design Engineering's Apollo 11 Plans Extensive Package (PSEP) and the Laser Ranging Retro-Reflec "We have been preparing critical ones. We will con the Apollo program, and list tor experiment (LRRR). The for this mission for several tinue this analysis right down ed three objectives which had two Easep packages weigh years," said Grady Williams, through the launch count to be achieved prior to the approximately 164 pounds Deputy Director of Design down." Apollo 11 launch. and occupy about 12 cubic Engineering, "and now we He added that no unaccep The first objective was to feet as stowed away in the are ready to go." table design constraints have develop the lunar launch fa LM descent stage scientific To prepare for Apollo 11, been uncovered. cilities at KSC. The Spaceport equipment bay. specifically, a thorough engi TWO VETERANS became operational with the According to Don J. Carl neering analysis of facilities Williams serves as Deputy unmanned launch of the first son, KSC project engineer for and ground support equip to G. Merritt Preston, Direc Apollo-Saturn V on Nov. 9, EASEP, the packages being ment at the Spaceport is con tor of I:'-3sign Engineering. 1967. carried on Apollo 11 are mod ducted by the Design Engi Both are aerospace veterans, Objective number two was ifications of the more elab neering Directorate. as are the men who head the to man-rate the lunar launch orate Apollo Lunar Surface "For every mission," Wil Directorate's principal offices complex. This was accomp Experiments Package (AL liams pointed out, "we go into and divisions. lished Dec. 21, 1968, when SEP) to be carried on later a complete review of each The Deputy Director traced Apollo 8 lifted off to begin Apollo lunar landing mis and everyone of our systems, the role of Design Engineer an historic journey which sions. with prime emphasis on the ing back to the beginning of would send men around the moon for the first time. THIRD OBJECTIVE Safety Office Active in Many Apollo Areas The third objective listed The KSC Safety Office It is also involved with the Office is in the proper pos by Williams is a continuing participates in almost all safety problems associated ture to support Apollo 11." one - to design required phases of Center activity with the fact that there will The Safety Office is sup modifications for facilities leading up to the launch of be several thousand visitors ported by Bendix Systems and equipment at the Space Apollo 11. at the Center for Apollo 11. Safety Support Department. Center. Modifications are "Of course a major func This branch is headed by The contractor provides safe made to improve operational tion is monitoring the hazard George Kontra. ty engineering services, re efficiency, to reduce assem ous operations related to the The Safety Technology views test and checkout pro bly and checkout time, to re vehicle," said John R. Atkins, Branch, under George T. Car- cedures and monitors opera duce costs and to promote Director of the Safety Office. ter, contributes to the design tions for the Safety Office. safety. of structures and facilities at Overbey noted that from a Recent modifications in He specified events like the Space Center. Safety fea- safety viewpoint, every man clude the addition of slide fueling operations, and trans tures in the Vehicle Assem- ned launch is of equal im wires at both Saturn V launch fer of the mobile service bly Building, on the mobile portance. pads, the activation of high structure to its parking site launchers, at the launch pad "There are always hazards bay 2 in the Vehicle Assem several hours prior to liftoff. and in other areas reflect the such as those associated with bly Building, and the addition The constant review of pro engineering guidance of Safe- propellant loading and pres of protective overlays to the cedures pertaining to check ty Technology. surizing the space vehicle roofs of the VAB and the out and launch and the moni "These individual activi- and if we cannot eliminate Launch Control Center. toring of hazardous tests is ties by the Branches merge these hazards we seek to re "This is a constant·effort," accomplished by the Opera to form a total mode of op- duce them as much as pos~ Williams said, "in which all tions Safety Branch, headed eration for the Safety Of- sible," he said. of our people in Design En by John T. McGough. fice," said Charles A. Over- KSC's overall safety record gineering participate. For ex The Industrial Sa f e t y bey, Deputy Director of the was term~d excellent by the ample, Walt Parsons' shop Branch is concerned with the Safety Office. Deputy DIrector. will examine designs from an wide range of industrial ac He attributed this "in great electrical and electronic point tivities which take place PROPER POSTURE measure to the emphasis of view. Albert Zeiler brings here such as machine shop "We have been reviewing placed on safety" by top KSC his years of experience into operations, work area -'safety, and improving these pro- officials and excellent safety an examination of mechanical and personal protective equip grams since launch operations programs within Spaceport designs. And it's this way ment. began here. Thus, the Safety contractor organizations. throughout the organization." Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS July 3, 1969 Boeing Tests First Stage North American Rockwell The Boeing Atlantic Test eous oxygen, liquid hydrogen, Five hundred and fifty ployees have been working Center has three broad sup liquid oxygen, RP-1 fuel, en North American Rockwell on the Saturn S-II stage in port functions on the Apollo/ vironmental control systems, (NR) Launch Operations em the VAB with A. C. Martin, Saturn V program at KSC. tail service masts, service ployees in Apollo CSM Test director of Saturn S-II Op The first area involves the arms, mobile launch tower, Operations are working with erations, and Tom Martin, test and erection of the first transporter, spacecraft sup NASA personnel preparing test conductor for S-II-506. stage of the Saturn V, which port, flame deflector, hold Spacecraft 107 for its epic The stage, which arrived by Boeing builds at NASA's Mi down arms, vehicle auxiliary moon-landing mission. barge in early February, was choud Assembly Facility in support equipment and hand Buz Hello serves as Vice first taken to the low bay New Orleans. ling and access equipment. President and General Man area in the VAB for several The company also provides ager of NR Launch Opera weeks of tests before mating Boeing provides technical three software systems: pro tions. to the first and the third integration and evaluation of pellant tanking computer, da Working with T. J. O'Mal stages. Saturn V launch operations ta transmission and digital ley, director of Apollo CSM The mating took place in and design and logistics en events evaluator. Operations for Launch Opera early March, right after the gineering on various ground Dean L. Morehead is the tions, and with Dan Jensen, launch of Apollo 9. It was support systems. new director of Boeing's Flor 107 Spacecraft Chief, NR followed by a series of in The ground support respon ida Operations. He took over technicians have been check dividual systems checks and sibilities, comprising 17 ma when F. L. Coenen was nam ing, rechecking, verifying, overall launch vehicle tests. jor areas, account for the ed Assistant Manager of Boe and testing every item on the Since moving to the launch bulk of the company's 2,900 ing's five-state Southeast Di command and service module pad last month, the S-II man work force. The areas vision. since it arrived at the NASA crew, working with their involved are: Morehead's Deputy is J. J. Skid Strip on January 21. NASA counterparts, have Gaseous hydrogen, gaseous Cully, the Saturn V Manager Two hundred other North continued sub-system tests helium, gaseous nitrogen, gas- under Coenen. American Rockwell Space Di and supported the Flight vision Launch Operations em- Readiness Test. MDAC's Third Stage Grumman's Lunar Module After the third stage of the Responsible for MDAC op Apollo 11 space vehicle ar erations at KSC on not only At KSC, Grumman is re simulating space environ rived at KSC, engineers and the Apollo 11 flight, but also sponsible for the lunar mod ment. technicians for the McDon all Apollo and Delta pro ule (LM) portion of the Apol Integrated Systems tests nell Douglas Astronautics grams, are MDAC Florida lo Spacecraft systems check are performed in the VAB Company (MDAC) began a Test Center Director S. D. out and tests. Grumman pro after mating with the boost detailed series of checkout" (Steve) Truhan, and his De vides qualified management, er. Grumman also provides procedures to assure it per puty Director K. J. (Ken) technical and administrative the highly qualified team of forms well. Young. personnel services, equip LM propellant handlers and The third stage has a two Hal Eaton, Jr., Director of ment, materials and program the launch team that prepares fold mission, placing the Saturn/Apollo Programs is support to prepare for, test the LM for its countdown. spacecraft into earth orbit responsible for the entire and service the LM through Base Manager of the Grum 'and later restarting to insert third stage program direction pre-launch, launch and post man team at KSC is George the command, service and for MDAC here. launch activities at the KSC. M. Skurla; Director of Test lunar module into its trans Supporting both the Sat Systems integrity tests, me Operations, Wiley Williams; lunar trajectory. urn/Apollo and Delta pro chanical mating with the Director of Operations Sup Follow i n g satisfactory grams for MDAC at KSC are command module and mission port, Richard Barton; Man checkout, the stage was mated Operations Director A. E. simulations with the flight ager of Quality Control, Dom with other stages and space (Sarge) Willer and F. V. crew in the LM are per inic Pastore; and Manager craft and moved to Pad A (Fred) Edmons, Administra formed in the MSO Building, for Administration, Ted for preparation for launch. tion Director. with the altitude chambers Hammen, Jr. TWA Base Support IBM's Computer Operation The base support services Electrical distribution sys. The IBM Cape Kennedy after liftoff," explains Robert and medical contracts under terns are functional. This in Facility's team of launch spe E. Ehrhardt, Jr., Engineer direction of Harry Olander, cludes direct generator power cialists tests, checks out, and ing manager. vice president - government to launch critical facilities. monitors the performance of Inside the three-foot-high contract operations, has re TWA's key people for Apol the ground and airborne in Instrument Unit - onboard ported to NASA Installation lo 11 include: Frank Herbaty, strumentation and electronic "nerve center" of the booster Support that TWA is in a Director, Plant Engineering equipment that will launch vehicle - are some 60 com state of readiness to support and Maintenance; L. S. Bjor the Apollo 11 vehicle and ponents specially engineered Apollo 11. 10, Director, Logistics; W. E. start it toward the moon. to guide Apollo/Saturn into Support services under Beaty, Jr., Director, Security; "Our task here is to oper earth orbit, then into lunar Base Manager Jim Stephen J. V. Hyde, Director, Quality ate the Saturn ground com trajectory, and to send in son is providing fire control, Assurance; T. C. Anderson, puter complex," says Facility flight data about vehicle per security, electrical and me Director, Operations Support; Manager Ammon G. Belle formance back to mission chanical utilities, fa c iIi t y R. J. McMinn, Director, Con man, Jr. controllers. maintenance and logistics tract Administration; C. F. "With this elaborate, semi A team of experienced systems engineers and test support. Critical cleaning spe Beatty, Director, Finance and automatic diagnostic check cifications are being met on out network, we monitorev conductors under' George M. the mobile launcher, hlObile Accounting; and J. D. Keil, ery critical operating system Smith, Test Operations man service structure and launch Director, Industrial Rela aboard the launch vehicle ager, participates in every pad. tions. from stage erection until well major preflight test. July 3, 1969 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Bendix Launch Support GE Provides GSE The Bendix Corporation's the converter compressor fa "General Electric's Ground ESE - The Saturn V ve Launch Support Division at cilities and high pressure gas Support Equipment never hicle for the Apollo 11 mis KSC has treated each launch storage and distribution fa leaves the ground ... but sion will be examined, in as the most important to the cilities. without it, neither does any spected, tested and controlled Space Program, and with The Altitude Chambers De thing else on NASA's Project by the largest array of check NASA and other contractors partment is responsible for Apollo." out equipment in the Apollo is working toward perhaps the operation of the test facil These words describe in a Program. This booster diag the most important human ity which puts the Apollo nutshell the primary role of nosis will be accomplished feat in history - landing a spacecraft through simulated the General Electric Com through the use of Electrical man on the Moon, says Gen altitude runs. pany's Apollo Systems in the Support Equipment (ESE) eral Manager Frank W. Propellants, Life Support history-making Apolo 11 lun developed and built by GE's Vaughn. and Ordnance Department is ar landing mission. Apollo Systems. Bendix provides support re responsible for receiving, The GE effort at the Ken One of the important func-· quired for launch vehicle and handling, storage, transfer, nedy Space Center is headed tions performed by ESE is to spacecraft operations for this sampling and testing of vari up by Kennedy Programs initiate and control the term critical mission as it has for ous ordnance and propellant General Manager E. F. Low inal countdown sequence. The all launches in the Apollol materials. ell. Terminal Countdown Sequen Technical Shops Depart cer is initiated at T-187 sec Saturn V program. The Ground Support Equip This includes operation, ment maintains engineering onds and controls all the and manufacturing facilities ment may be divided broadly critical functions required to maintenance and site manage into three functional areas: ment of launch complexes, including machine, mechani launch. cal, paint, electrical and elec ACE-SIC - The Apollo LCCE - Where other GE test facilities and ground sup spacecraft and lunar module port equipment. tronic components repair provided systems check out shops. will begin their complicated and control the Apollo space Launch Complex Operations Systems Safety Department lunar landing mission only craft and the Saturn V launch is responsible for mainte provides monitoring of all after having thorough pre vehicle, the Launch Control nance and operation of the highly hazardous operations launch ground testing from and Checkout Equipment giant transporter, the VAB, for launch vehicles, manned a vast complex of checkout (LCCE) performs this func Complex Control Center, In spacecraft, ordnance and pro equipment provided by Gen tion for many of the launch dustrial Water Facility, ma pellants. eral Electric. facilities. jor systems on Pads A and Other departments include For example, the Accep The LCCE measures the B, mobile launchers and mo Engineering Operations, Re tance Checkout Equipment loading of propellants into the bile service structure. liability and Quality Assur (ACE) system through the Apollo launch vehicle by Propellants Systems Com ance Department, Industrial aeromed console monitors the means of the Propellant Tank ponents Laboratory is re Operations, Logistics, Test Apollo 11 crew's physical con ing Computer System. In ad sponsible for the chemical an Requirements Management, dition during the entire peri dition, LCCE controls the re alysis on all propellant sys Spacecraft Test Support, Sat od after they ingress the com traction at lift-off of the tems and components. urn V Test Support, Con mand module through lift-off. swing arms. High Pressure Gas Depart tracts Management, Account ment maintains and operates ing and Industrial Relations. FEC: Communications AC: Guidance & Navigation Federal Electric Corpora Under Richard Dell, the tion functions as a basic part FEC measurements depart AC Electronics, a division Though the job of checkout of the NASA-contractor team ment provides such services of General Motors, supplies ends at liftoff, the G&N team at KSC. the guidance and navigation maintains a high interest dur as the operation of measure On the Apollo 11 mission, ments laboratories, instru (G&N) systems for both the ing the entire mission. ment calibration, field mea command module and the lun The system will control all as on previous flights of the moon program, the interna surements and engineering, ar module for Apollo mis spacecraft burns, including the maintenance of reference sions. the descent burn to the lunar tional service associate of ITT supports NASA in the main standards, and the installa Portions of the systems surface on Apollo 11 and the tion and maintenance of mea insertion burn from the lunar tenance and operation of a are built by subcontractors wide range of communica surements systems. Raytheon and Kollsman. surface. The G&N job will be com tions and instrumentation Electronic data processing The G&N teams at KSC are systems. (EDP) tasks are handled in responsible for the test plan pleted when the parachutes open southwest of Hawaii. "You might say that our James Spencer's department. ning, conducting and evalua company operates the entire This includes computation tion, assuring that the sys Heading the AC Electron ics contingent at KSC is nervous system of the space ranging from real-time data tems are flight-ready. This center," says T. J. Cameron, development to scientific pro testing starts in the altitude Frank Dasse, assisted by John Kaiser. Supervisors in Project Director. gramming. In the automatic chambers in the MSO Build data processing (ADP) de ing and finishes at liftoff. clude Jim Ballard, Adminis For example, the commun tration; Harry, Spacecraft ications and timing depart partment under Frank Ros Since the G&N system is Operations and Command ment, headed by Ralph Belon, coe, all of NASA's commercial the primary means for the Module Checkout; Ron Lingg, maintains and operates sys and industrial computation astronauts to know where Lunar Module Checkout; Pal tems ranging from fire alarm needs are handled. they are and what to do in mer Peters, Quality Control; circuits to operational closed In Blaine Sweatt's teleme space, the checkout involves Keith Cherne, Lab and Sup circuit TV (OTV), operation trics department, services to a high degree of astronaut port; and Marion Sanders, intercommunications system NASA include Apollo-Saturn participation. Analysis. (018) and the KSC central telemetry, facility protection The typical check involves The Supervisor for Kolls timing facility, which main tracking, launch data systems a liftoff to splashdown simu man here is Walt Allen, while tains time standards within and transmission facilities lation, adding significantly Dave Hendricks heads Ray a tiny fraction of a second and the electromagnetic com to the proficiency of the crew. theon's operation. accuracy. patibility branch. Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS July 3, 1969 , Thousands Here Make Launch Possible When Apollo 11 roars to have been preparing the Heading the team for can's Tom Martin, second life from Launch Pad A in space vehicle for its historic NASA are William H. Schick, stage; Ron Shane of McDon July, thousands of Spaceport mission. Under the technical test supervisor; Norm Carl nell-Douglas for the third employees will have worked direction of NASA test con son, launch vehicle test con stage, and Tom Kitchens of hard to make this flight pos ductors, the Government-in ductor; C. A. Chauvin, com IBM for the instrument unit. sible. dustry launch team assembled mand - service module test Skip Chauvin of the Space Since January, Spaceport and tested the Apollo space conductor, and Fritz Widick, craft Operations Directorate engineers and technicians craft in the Manned Space lunar module test conductor. has overall responsibility for craft Operations Building and Schick represents the Di the preparation of the space the Saturn V rocket in the rector of Launch Operations, craft command and service Cat-Dow: Vehicle Assembly Building. Rocco Petrone. As test super modules. He supervises the Following mating of the visor, he coordinates all tests run on the modules by Construction spacecraft and rocket in the launch-related activities, in North American test conduc VAB, the fully assembled cluding spacecraft operations, tors in the Manned Space The completion of all 363-foot Apollo 11 began the launch vehicle operations and craft Operations Building. "highly desirable" and "man first leg of its journey May support operations. Stan Jensen is the' North datory" construction modifi 20 atop the giant transporter. Schick holds frequent meet American spacecraft manag cation jobs. at KSC highlight As Apollo 11 rolled out to ings with his test conductors er. ed Catalytic-Dow's effort on Pad A, the KSC launch team to discuss scheduling, prob Responsibility for oversee the Apollo 11 mission. geared up for final testing. lem areas, and specialized ing the lunar module that is Richard E. Velliquette, Cat This includes the Flight Read test requirements. As launch expected to touch down on alytic-Dow's Vice President iness Test and Review and the approaches, these meetings the moon rests with Fritz and General Manager, said C 0 u n t dow n Demonstra are held daily. Widick, also of KSC's Space through coordination with tion Test. Norm Carlson, test conduc craft Operations Directorate. NASA and maintenance con The Countdown Demon tor for the Saturn V launch To him, this will be the prime tractors, the firm was able to stration was a critical, round vehicle, represents the Direc test of the lunar module. completely review and vali the-clock dress rehearsal for tor of Launch Vehicle Opera H e a din g the Grumman date engineering drawings launch. Hundreds of careful tions. He has four contractor checkout team is Mark Goode and component lists on criti ly selected operational and test conductors who report on kind, spacecraft test engineer. cal systems required to sup support activities are carried the progress of their stages. Other key NASA personnel port the launch. out by the entire team, sim They are Bob Verdier, Boe include John Hurd, command Superintendent Jim Lus ulating actual launch-day con ing's test conductor for the service module manager; ter's crew modified and im ditions. first stage; North Ameri- John Beeson, lunar module proved the Firex water pip manager and Gary Richards, ing system for the mobile NASA test support controller. service structure and mobile Inspecting Saturn V launcher, while construction Soon, the sleeping giant team can test the pulse of the 2 Trips Planned forces completed installation will roar to life and rocket rocket during checkout and of the retrieval system on the men to the moon. conduct the launch. Slide Wire Cab Emergency Even now there is a stir \ Access to the Saturn V By KARS Panel Egress System and finalized ring inside the gleaming skin. all slide wire modifications. to install test equipment, to KSC Civil Service and con Specialists thread through a make modifications, and to tractor employees may now Catalytic-Do,w Ironworkers, catacomb of parts and com conduct inspections - is care under General Foreman Clyde make reservations for two ponents, preparing it for fully controlled. trips planned by the KARS Stephens, finished structural launch. modifications to the mobile "A man must have the Travel Committee. Work goes on inside the right badges and the right A four-day, three-night La service structure. Saturn V rocket almost from reasons to get in any of the the time the various stages bor Day weekend trip to Mon Catalytic-Dow engineers, in stages," stated Robert G. Ab tego Bay, Jamaica will depart addition to updating and vali and spacecraft arrive until it bott, who heads the Saturn dating about 1,500 system departs for the moon. August 29 and return Sep V Qua lit y Surveillance tember 1. The group rate of drawings on launch critical "The stages must be in Branch. systems, designed a redund spected and tested," said Don $120 includes round trip air ant water source system for ald R. Oswald, Chief of the INSIDE MAZE transportation from Miami the liquid hydrogen burn Quality Surveillance Division Inside the rocket techni and the modified American pond and made refinements at the Spaceport. "There are cians work in a maze of plan at the Colony Hotel. in the design of the SLA fre always modifications to make. pumps, valves, fuel lines, wir A seven-day cruise on the on fire suppression and pre It is exacting, demanding ing and electronic devices. SS Ariadne to San Juan, Pu vention system. Engineers J. work." They move carefully on spe erto Rico and St. Thomas, Hilding and J. R. Jones Work on the Saturn V is cially designed walkways and Virgin Islands will be from played key roles in these ef accomplished by stage con access platforms. Conspicuous November 21-28. forts. tractors. Inspections are per red tags identify non-flight A special KARS group fare includes round trip charter The! Engineering Repository formed by members of Os equipment which must be re wald's staff. moved before liftoff. bus service to Miami and all supports NASA and contrac port taxes. One fare at $185 tors at KSC, processing more MATE, CHECKOUT "Additionally, strict rec Stages of the moon rocket ords are maintained of all for all state rooms on the than 700 drawings daily and Caribbean deck is offered on keeping track of thousands of were mated and checked out tools used by anyone working changes to facility engineer in the VAB. To check out the inside the rocket," he said. a first come, first serve basis. ing documentation. rocket, technicians install test "In some cases we require For further information on Logistics men made a final equipment linking the Saturn that tools be tethered. Any these trips, call 867-8027 be review of launch critical V to the Launch Control Cen thing that goes inside, and tween 9 :30 a.m. and 1 :30 spares to make sure there ter and from this control does not fly, must come out p.m. Monday, Tuesday and were no last-minute problems. point members of the launch again !" Wednesday.