DOCSLIB.ORG

Happy Holidays!!!

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

December 2000 Cosmonotes Décembre 2000 The Newsletter of the Canadian Alumni of the International Space University Le Bulletin des Anciens Etudiants Canadiens de l’Université Internationale de l’Espace reminiscing on an Aerospace Medicine docked to the Station, three HAPPY Elective at KSC, and an article from the spacewalks will be conducted to busy, busy, busy MSS6. Another deliver, assemble, and activate the opinion piece is included in this issue, U.S. electrical power system on board HOLIDAYS!!! this time on The Dreams our Star Stuff the ISS. The electrical power system, Here is the December 2000 edition of is Made of – thank you to Eric Choi which is built into a 47-foot integrated your CAISU newsletter, Cosmonotes, (SSP 99) for polling the alumni and truss structure known as P6, consists again packed with many fascinating writing a delightful article from all of solar arrays, radiators for cooling, articles from alumni and friends. This responses received. batteries for solar energy storage, and electronics. P6 is the first section of a issue of Cosmonotes was slightly Thank you to all alumni who system that ultimately will deliver 60 delayed to include an article on the volunteered to write articles for times more power to the ISS research November 30th launch of STS-97 with Cosmonotes! It is thanks to the facilities than was possible on Mir. Canadian Astronaut Marc Garneau on constant willingness of alumni to board, a launch that many CAISU contribute that this newsletter keeps Mission Specialist Marc Garneau members were present in Florida to getting better (and thicker!) with each (Ph.D.) will attach P6 to the evolving view thanks to an invitation from the issue. ISS using the Shuttle’s Canadian-built Canadian Space Agency! Thank you to robotic arm in coordination with As this is the last issue of the year Audrey Robinson-Seurig (SSP 91) for spacewalking Mission Specialists 2000, on behalf of the 1999-2000 writing me the launch article on a tight Joseph R. “Joe” Tanner and Carlos I. CAISU Board of Directors, I would like deadline while in the midst of her move Noriega (Lt. Col., USMC) who will to wish everyone un Joyeux Noël et to Germany! make the final connections. The une Bonne Année!!! Recent CAISU activities also include spacewalkers will then prepare P6 for Chantal Lamontagne SSP 95 the subsequent deployments of the our Annual General Meeting, our yearly 2000 CAISU Membership Director large solar arrays and radiator, which Roadshow, the CSA merchandising Editor, Cosmonotes project, and the CAISU Day are important steps in the activation of Conference Workshop held in the electrical power system. The 120- conjunction with the CASI Astronautics CAISU Members See foot solar arrays will provide a five -fold Conference in Ottawa at the beginning increase in power, which is needed for Spectacular Space the first ISS crews to live and work in of November. Although a preliminary conference report was ready for Shuttle Launch the U.S. segment of the Station. Later publication, it was decided to wait until in the mission, the Space Shuttle by Audrey Robinson-Seurig (SSP 91) astronauts will be the first to visit the the full, detailed final report on the CAISU Day Conference Workshop was About 20 CAISU members and their three Station crew members, astronaut completed to present it to our guests gathered at NASA’s Kennedy Bill Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, members. The final report will be Space Center (KSC) and Cocoa Beach mailed out to CAISU members and in Florida recently to experience the who have resided on the Station since conference participants in the new Space Shuttle launch of the STS-97 November 2, 2000. year. mission which features Canadian Space Agency astronaut Marc Launch Day Events You will also find in this issue articles Garneau. on the MSS5 Team Project, the 2 SSP On the morning of November 30, 2000, CAISU members took a five-hour 2000 Design Projects, the ISU Chile- STS-97 Mission cruise on the Canadian Navy vessel Kourou Space Center Tour, many alumni updates, a message from During this 11-day mission, the Space HMCS Glace Bay for a sea-side view of the Space Shuttle on launch pad 39-B, CFISU President Rod Tennyson, a final Shuttle orbiter Endeavour will initially which was five miles away at closest report on the Mars Society Convention, rendez-vous and dock with the an update on ADAM events, inhabited International Space Station approach. Membership News and alumni (ISS), which is traveling about 200 Later in the afternoon at the Hilton gatherings in Ottawa and Toronto, a miles above the Earth at more than Coc oa Beach Oceanfront, we joined report on the 1st Annual ISU*USA 17,000 miles per hour. Commander about 300 guests at an outdoor Pre- Alumni Congress, an article on Brent W. Jett, Jr. (CDR, USN) and Pilot Launch Reception to honour Marc Enhancing Youth Participation in Space Michael J. Bloomfield (Lt. Col., USAF) Garneau and to celebrate the STS -97 Activities, another on the Space will be responsible for catching the launch. Television sets placed around Generation Advisory Council, an article Station, docking with it and then the oceanfront deck and a video departing from it. While the Shuttle is Page 2 projection on the outer wall of the hotel slight range problem that was quickly slow but successful docking of the displayed the latest updates from resolved. Space Shuttle orbiter and the ISS, was NASA Select TV, including the a popular pastime. Relaxing on the Following the Pre-Launch Reception, astronauts donning their flightsuit beach and playing sports, such as the guests boarded buses that helmets and walking to the bus that beach volleyball and swimming, were transported them to the different transports them to the launch pad. The other favourite activities. At KSC, some vivid pink-orange sunset overhead at viewing sites. CAISU members CAISU members observed wildlife, watched the launch from a site along the reception matched the NASA ranging from alligators and turtles to Select TV broadcast of the heavenly the causeway that was about five miles eagles with a 1,000-pound nest. Other from the launch pad. The cloudless backdrop behind the Space Shuttle CAISU members visited wildlife at evening sky was illuminated by a waiting on the launch pad. Near the Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando. myriad of stars and planets. We end of the reception, Marc Garneau’s wife Pamela (née Soame) shared her listened to the audio broadcast of Uplifting Music NASA Select as the countdown insight about the launch and mission, and a pre-recorded videotaped continued. At the scheduled time of On the way to the Space Shuttle 22:06 p.m., the Shuttle soared upward launch, several CAISU members message from Marc Garneau was from the launch pad on a blazing pillar entertained us on the slow bus ride with presented. of orange fire. After the Shuttle was songs involving various feats of During his third Space Shuttle flight, visibly well off the ground, we heard the physical and verbal dexterity. To close Garneau will operate the Shuttle’s delayed thunderous roar of the this article, I would like to share the robotic arm to help deploy the first powerful rockets. Shortly after the lyrics from my song entitled “A Vision of section of the giant solar arrays that will launch, a flash of light outlined a Tomorrow: Go, Shuttle, Go!”, which I provide power for the orbiting concentric arc around the Shuttle. This composed for a contest that involved International Space Station (ISS). As event looked like a “shooting star,” or writing a theme song for the “Teacher Canada’s first astronaut, Garneau meteor, piercing the atmosphere. in Space” Space Shuttle mission. The previously logged over 437 hours in However, from its location and timing, it contest was sponsored by Jim Rowley, space aboard STS -41G (Challenger) in could have been a solid rocket booster a teacher from my high school who was 1984 and STS-77 (Endeavour) in 1996. re-entering the atmosphere after it one of the “Teacher in Space” finalists After his initial flight, he served as burned out and separated from the from Ohio. The selected “Teacher in spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in external tank about two minutes Space” astronaut Christa McAuliffe flew Mission Control during Shuttle flights. A following the launch. Because of the on the tragic Challenger mission (STS- native of Quebec City, Canada, clear nighttime conditions, it was 51L) that was launched on January 28, Garneau earned a B.S. degree in possible to watch the Space Shuttle 1986 (which happens to be my engineering physics from the Royal ascend and accelerate away from us birthday). The destroyed Challenger Military College of Kingston and a until it appeared to shrink into a star- orbiter was replaced by Endeavour, Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the sized pinpoint of light that finally which carried Marc Garneau back into Imperial College of Science and disappeared at the horizon. According orbit on November 30, 2000. I would Technology in London, England. He to Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk, who like to dedicate this transcription of the also attended the Canadian Forces attended the CAISU post-launch party, lyrics to all astronauts past, present, Command and Staff College of the Shuttle was visible for seven and future. Toronto. minutes before it reached the horizon. “A Vision of Tomorrow: Go, Shuttle, He usually sees the Shuttle after Go!” ...3...2...1...Lift-Off! launch for only four minutes until it vanishes from sight. For more Lyrics and Music by Audrey A.
Recommended publications
  • NASA Develops Wireless Tile Scanner for Space Shuttle Inspection

    NASA Develops Wireless Tile Scanner for Space Shuttle Inspection

    August 2007 NASA, Microsoft launch collaboration with immersive photography NASA and Microsoft Corporation a more global view of the launch facil- provided us with some outstanding of Redmond, Wash., have released an ity. The software uses photographs images, and the result is an experience interactive, 3-D photographic collec- from standard digital cameras to that will wow anyone wanting to get a tion of the space shuttle Endeavour construct a 3-D view that can be navi- closer look at NASA’s missions.” preparing for its upcoming mission to gated and explored online. The NASA The NASA collections were created the International Space Station. Endea- images can be viewed at Microsoft’s in collaboration between Microsoft’s vour launched from NASA Kennedy Live Labs at: http://labs.live.com Live Lab, Kennedy and NASA Ames. Space Center in Florida on Aug. 8. “This collaboration with Microsoft “We see potential to use Photo- For the first time, people around gives the public a new way to explore synth for a variety of future mission the world can view hundreds of high and participate in America’s space activities, from inspecting the Interna- resolution photographs of Endeav- program,” said William Gerstenmaier, tional Space Station and the Hubble our, Launch Pad 39A and the Vehicle NASA’s associate administrator for Space Telescope to viewing landing Assembly Building at Kennedy in Space Operations, Washington. “We’re sites on the moon and Mars,” said a unique 3-D viewer. NASA and also looking into using this new tech- Chris C. Kemp, director of Strategic Microsoft’s Live Labs team developed nology to support future missions.” Business Development at Ames.
  • Contingency Shuttle Crew Support (Cscs)/Rescue Flight Resource Book

    Contingency Shuttle Crew Support (Cscs)/Rescue Flight Resource Book

    CSCS/Rescue Flight Resource Book JSC-62900 CONTINGENCY SHUTTLE CREW SUPPORT (CSCS)/RESCUE FLIGHT RESOURCE BOOK OVERVIEW 1 Mission Operations CSCS 2 Directorate RESCUE 3 FLIGHT DA8/Flight Director Office Final July 12, 2005 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas FINAL 07/12/05 2-i Verify this is the correct version before using. CSCS/Rescue Flight Resource Book JSC-62900 CONTINGENCY SHUTTLE CREW SUPPORT (CSCS)/RESCUE FLIGHT RESOURCE BOOK FINAL JULY 12, 2005 PREFACE This document, dated May 24, 2005, is the Basic version of the Contingency Shuttle Crew Support (CSCS)/Rescue Flight Resource Book. It is requested that any organization having comments, questions, or suggestions concerning this document should contact DA8/Book Manager, Flight Director Office, Building 4 North, Room 3039. This is a limited distribution and controlled document and is not to be reproduced without the written approval of the Chief, Flight Director Office, mail code DA8, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058. FINAL 07/12/05 2-ii Verify this is the correct version before using. CSCS/Rescue Flight Resource Book JSC-62900 1.0 - OVERVIEW Section 1.0 is the overview of the entire Contingency Shuttle Crew Support (CSCS)/Rescue Flight Resource Book. FINAL 07/12/05 2-iii Verify this is the correct version before using. CSCS/Rescue Flight Resource Book JSC-62900 This page intentionally blank. FINAL 07/12/05 2-iv Verify this is the correct version before using. CSCS/Rescue Flight Resource Book JSC-62900 2.0 - CONTINGENCY SHUTTLE CREW SUPPORT (CSCS) 2.1 Procedures Overview.......................................................................................................2-1 2.1.1 ................................................................................
  • Space Reporter's Handbook Mission Supplement

    Space Reporter's Handbook Mission Supplement

    CBS News Space Reporter's Handbook - Mission Supplement Page 1 The CBS News Space Reporter's Handbook Mission Supplement Shuttle Mission STS-125: Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 4 Written and Produced By William G. Harwood CBS News Space Analyst [email protected] CBS News 5/10/09 Page 2 CBS News Space Reporter's Handbook - Mission Supplement Revision History Editor's Note Mission-specific sections of the Space Reporter's Handbook are posted as flight data becomes available. Readers should check the CBS News "Space Place" web site in the weeks before a launch to download the latest edition: http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html DATE RELEASE NOTES 08/03/08 Initial STS-125 release 04/11/09 Updating to reflect may 12 launch; revised flight plan 04/15/09 Adding EVA breakdown; walkthrough 04/23/09 Updating for 5/11 launch target date 04/30/09 Adding STS-400 details from FRR briefing 05/04/09 Adding trajectory data; abort boundaries; STS-400 launch windows Introduction This document is an outgrowth of my original UPI Space Reporter's Handbook, prepared prior to STS-26 for United Press International and updated for several flights thereafter due to popular demand. The current version is prepared for CBS News. As with the original, the goal here is to provide useful information on U.S. and Russian space flights so reporters and producers will not be forced to rely on government or industry public affairs officers at times when it might be difficult to get timely responses. All of these data are available elsewhere, of course, but not necessarily in one place.
  • GAO-07-595T NASA: Issues Surrounding the Transition from The

    GAO-07-595T NASA: Issues Surrounding the Transition from The

    United States Government Accountability Office Testimony before the Subcommittee on GAO Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences, Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, U.S. Senate For Release on Delivery Expected at 2:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, March 28, 2007 NASA Issues Surrounding the Transition from the Space Shuttle to the Next Generation of Human Space Flight Systems Statement of Allen Li, Director Acquisition and Sourcing Management GAO-07-595T March 28, 2007 NASA Accountability Integrity Reliability Highlights Issues Surrounding the Transition from Highlights of GAO-07-595T, a testimony the Space Shuttle to the Next Generation before the Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences, of Human Space Flight Systems Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, U. S. Senate Why GAO Did This Study What GAO Found On January 14, 2004, the President NASA is in the midst of a transition effort of a magnitude not seen since the announced a new Vision for space end of the Apollo program and the start of the Space Shuttle Program more exploration that directs the than 3 decades ago. This transition will include a massive transfer of people, National Aeronautics and Space hardware, and infrastructure. Based on ongoing and work completed to- Administration (NASA) to focus its date, we have identified a number of issues that pose unique challenges to efforts on returning humans to the moon by 2020 in preparation for NASA as it transitions from the shuttle to the next generation of human future, more ambitions missions. space flight systems while at the same time seeking to minimize the time the United States will be without its own means to put humans in space.
  • Tventy Five Years with CANADARM

    Tventy Five Years with CANADARM

    Canada celebrates Tventy five years with CANADARM -Canada’s ticket to the Space Shuttle and ISS Human participation is necessary in order to build large constructions in Like a space – that is a fact, to put it mildly human arm - but without the use of the right tools it will be impossible. With nerves When the plans for a shuttle of copper wiring, system first were introduced, a bones of graphite manipulator system was introduced as fibre, and electric a necessity, a robotic arm that could motors for muscles, deploy and retrieve space hardware Canadarm is like from the payload bay of the shuttle. the human arm. It Canadian industrial companies has rotating joints: accepted the challenge, and the two at the shoulder, manipulator system, Canadarm, made one at the elbow its space debut in November, 1981. and three at the The design and building of the Shuttle wrist. At 15 metres Remote Manipulator System also and weighing less marked the beginning of Canada’s than 480 kilograms, close collaboration with NASA in Canadarm can manned space flight. lift over 30,000 But the development did not kilograms in the stop there. A similar system for the weightlessness of Canadarm2 gives Canadian scientists space station was developed, and in space-or the mass of a fully loaded access to the Station’s laboratory April 2001, Space Shuttle Endeavour bus, using less electricity than a facilities to conduct experiments. delivered a package that was Canada’s teakettle. It also entitles key contribution to the International The brain of “In fact, the Station could Canada to send the system is a an astronaut to Space Station, the Canadarm 2.
  • STS-134 Press

    STS-134 Press

    CONTENTS Section Page STS-134 MISSION OVERVIEW ................................................................................................ 1 STS-134 TIMELINE OVERVIEW ............................................................................................... 9 MISSION PROFILE ................................................................................................................... 11 MISSION OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................ 13 MISSION PERSONNEL ............................................................................................................. 15 STS-134 ENDEAVOUR CREW .................................................................................................. 17 PAYLOAD OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 25 ALPHA MAGNETIC SPECTROMETER-2 .................................................................................................. 25 EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER 3 ......................................................................................................... 31 RENDEZVOUS & DOCKING ....................................................................................................... 43 UNDOCKING, SEPARATION AND DEPARTURE ....................................................................................... 44 SPACEWALKS ........................................................................................................................
  • Csa 2020-21 Dp

    Csa 2020-21 Dp

    Canadian Space Agency 2020–21 Departmental Plan The Honourable Navdeep Bains, P.C., M.P. Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Industry, 2020 Catalogue Number: ST96-10E-PDF ISSN: 2371-7777 Table of Contents From the Minister ............................................................................. 1 Plans at a glance .............................................................................. 3 Core responsibilities: planned results and resources ............................. 5 Canada in Space ........................................................................ 5 Internal Services: planned results .................................................... 15 Spending and human resources ........................................................ 17 Planned spending ..................................................................... 17 Planned human resources.......................................................... 19 Estimates by vote ..................................................................... 19 Condensed future-oriented statement of operations ...................... 20 Corporate information ..................................................................... 23 Organizational profile ................................................................ 23 Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do ....... 23 Operating context .................................................................... 23 Reporting framework ...............................................................
  • The Role and Training of NASA Astronauts In

    The Role and Training of NASA Astronauts In

    Co-chairs: Joe Rothenberg, Fred Gregory Briefing: October 18-19, 2011 Statement of Task An ad hoc committee will conduct a study and prepare a report on the activities of NASA’s human spaceflight crew office. In writing its report the committee will address the following questions: • How should the role and size of the activities managed by the Johnson Space Center Flight Crew Operations Directorate change after space shuttle retirement and completion of the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS)? • What are the requirements of crew-related ground-based facilities after the space shuttle program ends? • Is the fleet of aircraft used for the training the Astronaut Corps a cost-effective means of preparing astronauts to meet the requirements of NASA’s human spaceflight program? Are there more cost-effective means of meeting these training requirements? The NRC was not asked to consider whether or not the United States should continue human spaceflight, or whether there were better alternatives to achieving the nation’s goals without launching humans into space. Rather, the NRC’s charge was to assume that U.S. human spaceflight would continue. 2 Committee on Human Spaceflight Crew Operations • FREDERICK GREGORY, Lohfeld Consulting Group, Inc., Co-Chair • JOSEPH H. ROTHENBERG, Swedish Space Corporation, Co-Chair • MICHAEL J. CASSUTT, University of Southern California • RICHARD O. COVEY, United Space Alliance, LLC (retired) • DUANE DEAL, Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. • BONNIE J. DUNBAR, President and CEO, Dunbar International, LLC • WILLIAM W. HOOVER, Independent Consultant • THOMAS D. JONES, Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition • FRANKLIN D. MARTIN, Martin Consulting, Inc.
  • Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

    Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration Commercial Orbital Transportation Services A New Era in Spaceflight NASA/SP-2014-617 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services A New Era in Spaceflight On the cover: Background photo: The terminator—the line separating the sunlit side of Earth from the side in darkness—marks the changeover between day and night on the ground. By establishing government-industry partnerships, the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program marked a change from the traditional way NASA had worked. Inset photos, right: The COTS program supported two U.S. companies in their efforts to design and build transportation systems to carry cargo to low-Earth orbit. (Top photo—Credit: SpaceX) SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket on May 22, 2012, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Second photo) Three days later, the company successfully completed the mission that sent its Dragon spacecraft to the Station. (Third photo—Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls) Orbital Sciences Corp. sent its Antares rocket on its test flight on April 21, 2013, from a new launchpad on Virginia’s eastern shore. Later that year, the second Antares lifted off with Orbital’s cargo capsule, (Fourth photo) the Cygnus, that berthed with the ISS on September 29, 2013. Both companies successfully proved the capability to deliver cargo to the International Space Station by U.S. commercial companies and began a new era of spaceflight. ISS photo, center left: Benefiting from the success of the partnerships is the International Space Station, pictured as seen by the last Space Shuttle crew that visited the orbiting laboratory (July 19, 2011). More photos of the ISS are featured on the first pages of each chapter.
  • Life Support Baseline Values and Assumptions Document

    Life Support Baseline Values and Assumptions Document

    NASA/TP-2015–218570 Life Support Baseline Values and Assumptions Document Editors: Molly S. Anderson Michael K. Ewert John F. Keener Sandra A. Wagner Responsible National Aeronautics and Space Administration Official: Molly S. Anderson CTSD, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mail Code EC2 2101 NASA Road One Houston, Texas 77058 March 2015 THE NASA STI PROGRAM OFFICE . IN PROFILE Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to the • CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected advancement of aeronautics and space science. The papers from scientific and technical conferences, NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) symposia, seminars, or other meetings sponsored Program Office plays a key part in helping NASA or cosponsored by NASA. maintain this important role. • SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, technical, The NASA STI Program Office is operated by or historical information from NASA programs, Langley Research Center, the lead center for NASA’s projects, and mission, often concerned with scientific and technical information. The NASA STI subjects having substantial public interest. Program Office provides access to the NASA STI Database, the largest collection of aeronautical and • TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. English- space science STI in the world. The Program Office language translations of foreign scientific and is also NASA’s institutional mechanism for technical material pertinent to NASA’s mission. disseminating the results of its research and development activities. These results are published Specialized services that complement the STI by NASA in the NASA STI Report Series, which Program Office’s diverse offerings include creating includes the following report types: custom thesauri, building customized databases, organizing and publishing research results .
  • Preparation of Papers for AIAA Technical Conferences

    Preparation of Papers for AIAA Technical Conferences

    Asteroid Redirect Crewed Mission Space Suit and EVA System Architecture Trade Study 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jonathan T. Bowie , Raul A. Blanco , Richard D. Watson , Cody Kelly , Jesse Buffington , Stephanie A. Sipila NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 This paper discusses the Asteroid Redirect Crewed Mission (ARCM) space suit and Extravehicular Activity (EVA) architecture trade study and the current state of the work to mature the requirements and products to the mission concept review level. The mission requirements and the resulting concept of operations will be discussed. A historical context will be presented as to present the similarities and differences from previous NASA missions. That will set the stage for the trade study where all options for both pressure garment and life support were considered. The rationale for the architecture decisions will then be presented. Since the trade study did identity risks, the subsequent tests and analyses that mitigated the risks will be discussed. Lastly, the current state of the effort will be provided. Nomenclature ACES = Advanced Crew Escape Suit ACFM = Actual cubic feet per minute AEMU = Advanced Extravehicular Mobility Unit AES = Advanced Exploration Systems ARCM = Asteroid Redirect Crewed Mission ARGOS = Active Response Gravity Offload System BRT = Body Restraint Tether DCCI = David Clark Company Inc. DRM = Design Reference Mission EMU = Extravehicular Mobility Unit EOS = Emergency Oxygen System EVA = Extravehicular Activity FSA = Feedwater Supply Assembly ISS = International Space Station
  • Orbiter Processing Facility

    Orbiter Processing Facility

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Shuttle: Orbiter Processing From Landing To Launch he work of preparing a space shuttle for the same facilities. Inside is a description of an flight takes place primarily at the Launch orbiter processing flow; in this case, Discovery. Complex 39 Area. TThe process actually begins at the end of each acts Shuttle Landing Facility flight, with a landing at the center or, after landing At the end of its mission, the Space Shuttle f at an alternate site, the return of the orbiter atop a Discovery lands at the Shuttle Landing Facility on shuttle carrier aircraft. Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing one of two runway headings – Runway 15 extends Facility is the primary landing site. from the northwest to the southeast, and Runway There are now three orbiters in the shuttle 33 extends from the southeast to the northwest fleet: Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour. Chal- – based on wind currents. lenger was destroyed in an accident in January After touchdown and wheelstop, the orbiter 1986. Columbia was lost during approach to land- convoy is deployed to the runway. The convoy ing in February 2003. consists of about 25 specially designed vehicles or Each orbiter is processed independently using units and a team of about 150 trained personnel, NASA some of whom assist the crew in disembarking from the orbiter. the orbiter and a “white room” is mated to the orbiter hatch. The The others quickly begin the processes necessary to “safe” the hatch is opened and a physician performs a brief preliminary orbiter and prepare it for towing to the Orbiter Processing Fa- medical examination of the crew members before they leave the cility.