NEWS

Volume 5, Number 29 Kennedy Space Center, Fla. August 4, 1966 Public Bus Tours Off To Resounding Start

Visitors flocked to the Kennedy Space Center during the first week of guided bus tours at a rate that would result in nearly a million visitors to the Spaceport by this time next year. Men, women and children from nearly all the 50 states, several Canadian provinces and at least a dozen countries around the world boarded air- conditioned buses at Gate 3 unanimous in placing Launch to see closeup the world-fa- Complex 39 at the top of the mous launch facilities of the list of what impressed them Spaceport and Cape Kennedy. most on the tours. DR. KURT H. DEBUS, left, Director, Kennedy Space Center, receives Additional buses had to be Typical of the high praise "Minuteman" flag from Raphael H. O'Malley, right, Treasury Depart- added by the GSA motor pool for the tours voiced by the ment official, for KSC's outstanding Savings Bond participation. John from the very first day to the visitors was the comment of W. Donovan, center, served as bond drive chairman at KSC. original fleet of 15 leased to an Ohio man. "I like the fact handle the demand. Depar- that it brings the Space Age ture time for the first bus very close to you, makes it very real," he said. "It's a KSC Awarded Minuteman was advanced from 8:30 to 8 three-dimensional thing in- in the morning, and buses stead of just reading about continued to leave past the it." Flag For Bond Drive originally planned cutoff time of 3:30 each afternoon to ac- First customers for the The "Minuteman" flag- J. Gurney (R), Florida 11th commodate the flood of tour- tours were a Fayetteville, symbol of excellence in the district, Winter Park; Emilio ists. N.C. couple who got up July 22 at 5:30 a.m., skipped U.S. Savings Bond drive—was Q. Daddario (D), Conn; and Highlights of both tours breakfast and arrived at the accepted by Dr. Kurt H. De- George E. Brown Jr. (D), Calif. Congressman William have been the Vehicle As- ticket windows two hours be- bus in a ceremony held July C. Cramer (R) of the Florida sembly Building and the fore the first bus was sched- 22 at the Kennedy Space Cen- 12th district, St. Petersburg, 500-F vehicle on Pad A. Visi- uled to leave. Eel Wilkerson, ter. also attended the ceremony. tors comments were nearly an employee of the Carolina Telephone Company, was sur- Participation in the bond prised to find himself first drive at the Space Center was in line. After the tour, Wilker- 92 per cent. This was the son expressed an opinion most successful drive to date echoed by many other visi- at the Spaceport. tors in the clays since. Dr. Debus congratulated "Being a taxpayer," he - employees for their out- said, "I was kind of glad to see where my money was standing contribution. "This going and to what use it is truly makes us stockholders being put." in the security of our country, the cause of liberty, and in Mrs. Wilkerson teaches the space program," the di- school in Fayetteville. She be- rector said. lieves the tour will prove to be of great help in answering Present at the ceremony in the questions of her students front of the KSC Headquar- about the space program. ters Building were five mem- An average of about 1,800 bers of the U.S. House of persons a day have been tak- Representatives. Four are ing the bus tours. In addition, members of the House Com- more than 4,500 sightseers mittee on Science and Astro- BYRON G. JACKSON, TWA tour manager, left, welcomes first ticket saw the Spaceport from their nautics: Chairman Olin E. buyers on July 22. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wilkerson of Fayetteville, N. C. own cars the first Sunday Teague (D), Texas; Edward arrived at the tour office at 6:30 a.m. after bus tours began.

W' Page 2 SPACEPORT NEWS August 4, 196Í The Public Discovers Us Public response to the NASA/KSC escorted bus tour program has been overwhelmingly favorable. By the fifth day of the activity, the vehicle fleet which had been sup- plemented by emergency GSA action reached the satura- tion point. Steps were being taken concurrently by top management to increase the number of tour buses at the earliest practicable date. There is every reason to ex- pect this will become a permanent and vital element in NASA's efforts to inform and educate the public with respect to the space program and its results. Inevitably, the influx of autos and people caused some delay in the movement of commuter traffic inbound and outbound via the NASA Causeway. Remedial actions are being taken and the cooperation of the State of Florida will be a necessary factor in the solution. The Center will not countenance the prolonged existence of any hazard, either to commuting employees or to the public coming to MOBILE Service Structure undergoes interface tests at Complex 39's the Center in good faith to see and hear what we can tell Pad A. them about the launch activities conducted at CKAFS and KSC. In this interim period, management will appreciate Service Structure Moved the patience and cooperation of the personnel who must travel the NASA Causeway in connection with their of- ficial duties.

To Pad For Testing launcher, following a stop- oxygen and liquid hydrogen While Astro- derwent interface tests to de- and-start move that spanned were not flowed, Henschel nauts John Young and Mi- termine the compatibility of five hours. News media re- added. (The Saturn V uses chael Collins were making its systems with similar fa- presentatives witnessed this liquid hydrogen in its upper aerospace history above the cilities on the 500-F, mobile phase of the move. two stages with a liquid oxy- three weeks ago, anoth- launcher and the pad. It was The third and final day gen oxider for all three er prime plateau in this na- then removed to its parking centered o n compatibility stages.) tion's manned lunar landing site following three days' checks to determine how well No propellents were flow- program was reached at the testing which began Wednes- the service structure's five ed while the Mobile Service Kennedy Space Center when day, July 20. clamshells enclosed the 500-F Structure was at the pad space vehicle. Personnel also since testing was confined to the transporter successfully During the first day, the tested the structure's fire- other areas. carried the Mobile Service service structure was carried fighting water deluge system Structure for the first time along the crawlerway half- A number of interface which had been interfaced from its parking area to Pad way to the pad for a series of tests also were conducted be- with pad facilities. A at Launch Complex 39, a speed checks in which the tween an unloaded Mobile distance of approximately transporter reached one mile During the past weeks, Launcher and the pad last one-and-one-half miles. per hour. It was then return- crews practiced loading RP-1 March before the 500-F was propellents aboard the first erected. A total of 300,000 The 402-foot-high, 9.5-mil- ed to its parking site for the stage of the 500-F, duplicat- gallons of water were pumped lion-pouncl structure joined night. ing the same technique« that from a one-million-gallon ca- the Saturn Y facility vehicle On the following day, will be used when the first pacity reservoir located near (500-F) and its mobile launch- Thursday, the transporter Saturn V undergoes final Pad A through both pad and er which have been under- moved the service structure launch preparations. A total mobile launcher systems. The going tests at the pad since halfway up the pad's 1300- of 200,000 gallons of RP-1 water deluge system will be the end of May. foot-long ramp and then were pumped from storage used to cool the pad area brought it down again to the Formerly known as the tanks adjacent to Pad A, ac- prior to, during and follow- base, where it remained over- Arming Tower, the Mobile cording to Charles F. Hen- ing the Saturn V's fiery lift- night. Service Structure provides schel, NASA Space Vehicle off. 360 degree access to the Friday, the tractor-like Test Supervisor. The 500-F is scheduled t^ space vehicle at the pad dur- vehicle carried the service Henschel said that crews be returned to the Vehic, ing final launch preparations. structure up the ramp and maintained an outstanding Assembly Building in Septemr It will be removed to its park- 'placed it atop four mount safety record during the pro- ber for demating. The second ing area prior to launch. supports on the pad adjacent pellent loading and other or S-II stage will be barged The service structure un- to the 500-F and mobile checkout of cryogenic ground to Huntsville, Ala. for addi- support equipment. Liquid tional testing. SPACEPORT CAP HONORS BRANDT NEWS The local squadron of the branch of KSC's Unmanned Civil Air Patrol has been re- Launch Operations. He was a named the Schuyler B. Brandt founding member of the In- Published each week by the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Senior Squadron, honoring dian River Senior Squadron, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the KSC branch chief who Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 32899 was the squadron's command- now named in his memory. John W. King, Chief, Public Information Office er until his death May 1. He participated in a number L. B. Taylor, Jr., Editor Brandt was Chief of the of search and rescue missions Russell F. Hopkins, Staff Photographer Technical Support Operations for the Civil Air Patrol. August 4, 1966 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3 Saturn Launches Old Hat For KSC s Cene Sestile The flight checkout list was the gamut from informal held tightly between the fin- shirtsleeve discussions in the gers of the young engineer blockhouse to more detailed as he sat before a console in- planning sessions with prime side the blockhouse at Com- mission personnel. plex 37 while a 22-story-tall "It is difficult to describe uprated Saturn I launch the feeling one experiences vehicle rumbled into the sky as he monitors the checkout only 1,200 feet away from the of several thousand vehicle fortified structure. components being reported by GENE SESTILE mans console in LC37 Blockhouse Eugene "Gene" Sestile rol- more than 200 NASA and con- led his swivel chair back from tractor personnel," Gene not- Then it is the terminal ness is heavily considered. the monitoring console and ed. "But one thing is for countdown—T-30 minutes — Though only 30 years old, puffed vigorously at a half- sure, it is definitely a team that captures the undivided Gene's background in the smoked cigarette, witnessing effort and no one person can attention of hundreds of per- "space business" has been the final step in a seemingly or does take credit, for the sonnel at the launch pad as varied. Before joining NASA endless process that had be- overall job," he added. well as at tracking and moni- here at the Space Center a toring locations spread throu- year-and-a-half ago, he serv- gun weeks before when the The puzzle begins to fall in- ghout the world. During this ed five years as a test con- two Saturn stages were erect- to place about a week to 10 time Gene continues h i s ductor on the Titan II ICBM ed at the pad. days prior to launch during launch vehicle monitoring program at the Martin Com- Gene is no stranger to the the countdown demonstration reports that are being fed to pany's Denver, Colorado plant. dozens of details required to test which simulates every him through his headset re- prepare a Saturn for flight conceivable launch condition. A 1959 graduate of the ceiver. He then reports his University of Denver with a since he served as the vehicle Personnel are especially on analysis of the situation to test conductor for SA-10 and the lookout for potential pro- bachelor's degree in mathe- the prime space vehicle test matics, Gene is married to as assistant vehicle test con- blems during this test. Cryo- conductor. Even though Gene ductor for both the SA-201 genics are loaded aboard the the former Patricia Morse, does not make the final de- also from Ambridge, Pa. The and SA-203 flights. launch vehicle's two stages cision to launch, his opinion and ground support equip- couple lives in Titusville In his current position as of the vehicle's flight readi- with their four children. launch vehicle test conductor ment is checked out thorough- for the upcoming SA-202 ly at this time. flight, Gene is responsible Gene related that it is stand- for the coordinating daily pad ard procedure for him to SESTILES' COUNT DOWN WITH DAD planning and scheduling ac- phone his wife to tell her to Millions of Americans will much as possible, and it's a tivities with the stage con- either hold or forget about follow the launch of the disappointment when he can't tractors — Chrysler, first serving him supper since it is Apollo/Saturn 202 space ve- be home as planned. stage; Douglas, upper stage; not uncommon for his days to hicle next month. Few will be and IBM, instrument unit. He run 15 or more hours during "This is especially true more anxious for its success also coordinates launch ve- the final week before launch. when he works all week long. than Mrs. Gene Sestile, wife hicle testing with The tension really mounts, The children miss him and checkout during the final of NASA's vehicle test con- sure look forward to seeing according to Gene, at T-12 ductor for the 202. days of the countdown. hours when personnel verify him in the evening." About a month before the that all systems are in "go" For several months, Pat Do his working hours inter- launch, the 30-year-old en- condition. Telemetry and Sestile has uncomplaingly fere with other housekeeping gineer spends much of his communications equipment at adjusted her housekeeping activities? Pat grinned, "Yes time shuttling between meet- both the Space Center and the routine to meet her husband's —His chores! They have to ings at the Cape and Space Air Force Eastern Test Range demanding work schedule. take second place to every- Center for reviews that run are checked at this time. She has had to rearrange thing else. I wonder when the meals because of last minute lawn will be mowed, and some overtime, cancel social plans of the furniture could use because of heavy prelaunch repairing." activity and, in general, live The Sestile family moved on a minute-to-minute basis. to Florida 18 months ago As Pat explained, "I'm when Gene began his career never sure what time Gene with NASA, and Pat says the will be getting home on any whole famliy loves it here. given day. Whenever possible, Considering all of the ap- the children and I wait for parent inconveniences inher- him before we eat, and if I'm ent in Gene's job, would Pat pretty sure he'll be home by want to change things if she 6:30, I plan on that. could ? "However, it's not unusual "Not a bit", she exclaimed. for him to call at the last "My prime concern is for minute and tell us to go on Gene. He is so happy with his without him. We both realize job that I wouldn't think of how important it is for him anything else for him. As long MRS. SESTILE and children relax in family pool. to be with the children as as he is contented, so am I." Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS August 4, 196Í

i^l i. ' James Wootton Joins

IK Jf- ''4?» J^ÍÉM^^!^; *** Apollo Program Office \ _ Dr. Kurt H. Debus, Direc- m f ^ tor of the Kennedy Space il t < Center, recently announced Dodd Hess Balch Martin the appointment of James C. Wootton to the key position of Assistant for Systems En- gineering in the Apollo Pro- KSC Vacation Vote gram Office. In his new position, Woot- ton will be responsible to the Manager of the Apollo Pro- Favors 'Open Road' gram for support on systems engineering aspects of pro- With vacation time in full swing, the Spaceport gram management. Inquirer asked a number of KSC and contractor employe- Wootton comes to the Space es how they spent or were planning to spend their vaca- Center from George Wash- tions. ington University, where James Wootton Here are their answers: he was Associate Professor Turret Branch with the RICHARD DODD, DESIGN ENGINEERING: of Engineering and Director Bureau of Aeronautics, Naval "I toured Europe by automobile." of the Center for Measure- Department, Washington, D. ARCHIE HESS, TWA: ment Science. Prior to his C. "I stayed at home and worked around the house." teaching assignment, he com- From 1946 until 1949 he KATHY BALCH, LVO: pleted a Naval career, retir- studied at the U.S. Naval "I plan to take a cruise to the Bahamas by banana ing with the rank of Captain Postgraduate School at An- boat." in July, 1965. napolis and at Massachusetts BOB MARTIN, TECHNICOLOR: Wootton, a native of Vir- Institute of Technology, earn- "It's all over, but it was great — a horseback camp- ginia, completed grade and ing degrees of Bachelor of ing trip in the Grand Teton National Forest." high schools in Burkeville, Science and Master of Science. CONNIE SIEGEL, GE: and attended college at Vir- After completing his advanc "My relatives are coming to visit so I'll spend my ginia Polytechnical Institute, ed schooling, he was made vacation at home." Lynchburg Division. In 1936 Deputy Director of Arma- DON SCOVILLE, LVO: he took a position with the ment Division with the Bur- "My vacation was spent in Michigan, visiting rela- National Advisory Commit- eau of Aeronautics, where he tives and fishing a bit." tee for Aeronautics (fore- served until 1952. BOBBIE CLARK, SUPPORT OPERATIONS: runner of NASA) at Langley After a course of study at "I went to the Smokey Mountains where I spent my Field, Virginia. the Naval War College and time loafing and visiting friends." In 1938 Wootton completed several other assignments, MART LAIUS, DESIGN ENGINEERING: naval flight training and was Wootton was made Deputy "I'm a KSC summer student and I'll spend my va- commissioned an Ensign in Technical Director of the cation working for NASA." the U.S. Navy. He was as- Navy's Polaris project and signed to the carrier, USS later served as Assistant Yorktown, and flew with Chief of Naval Research. Torpedo Squadron 5 until For his work on the Polaris August 1940 when he became project, Wootton was award- an instructor at the Naval ed the Legion of Merit. Air Station, Pensacola. A year In April 1963 he was de- later he was transferred to signated Commanding Of- the Naval Air Station, Nor- ficer, Naval Avionics Facility folk, Virginia, where he as- in Indianapolis, Indiana. sumed the position of Project Wootton is an Associatt Officer and Test Pilot at the Fellow of the American In- Aircraft Armament Unit. stitute of Aeronautics and In July, 1943, he became Astronautics, a member of head of the Aircraft Turret the American Geophysical NIMBUS 2 PASSES FINAL TEST Section, Armament Test Di- Union, and a member of the vision at Patuxent River, U.S. Naval Institute. Nimbus II, the largest the 912-pound experimental Maryland. Subsequently, he Wootton and his wife, the weather ever launch- weather-eye has performed served as Avaition Ordnance former Jean Speers Lorimer ed, passed its final test ob- perfectly, is in a near-polar Material Officer on the staff of New Smyrna Beach, Flori- jective after two months of circular orbit 700 miles above of the Commander, Air Force, da, plan to locate their family continuous operation. It is Earth. U.S. Pacific Fleet, and later in that area. now being readied for exten- Nimbus' two daytime was assigned as a member The Woottons have three sive infrared photo coverage cameras and two infrared of an Aviation Technical In- children. Their son, James, is of hurricane breeding areas (nighttime) detectors, are telligence Unit in occupied on military duty with the in the Atlantic Ocean. expected t o provide the Japan. Navy. Their other children Launched from the West- greatest hurricane coverage In 1945 Wootton returned are Janice, a student at ern Test Range by KSC's Un- to date from a single weather to the United States to be- Shenandoah College, Virginia, manned Launch Operations, platform. come head of the Aircraft and Joel, thirteen. August 4, 1966 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 5 Disaster Control Center Ready For Big Winds Perhaps it is boredom or with the Command Post at maybe a form of escapism, Patrick, Central Control at but whatever the reason there the Cape, the U.S. Weather are some people to whom the Office at KSC, and with the arrival of a hurricane brings TWA Hurricane Command an air of excitement and is as Post located in the KSC fire- much a cause for celebration house. as a new addition to the fam- The members of the "ride- ily. out" crews, which together One man who considers can number from 100 to 200 this type of addition as any- NASA and contractor per- thing but a "blessed event" sonnel are all volunteers and is KSC's Disaster Control Of- are assigned to vital facilities ficer, Ralph Wilson. at the Center. Their ranks in- clude high voltage men, me- "I suppose it is just human chanics, maintenance spec- nature to feel this way and ialists, and those on stand-by, to welcome anything that ready to repair any damage. provides a break in the rou- tine," offered Wilson. "But Before the hurricane other frankly this type of storm crews are busy performing can be nothing but bad news." various tasks in preparation. One of their more important Wilson in his position has duties is the dismounting of the responsibility for furnish- the delicate antennae at dif- ing the policy and guidance ferent sites on Merritt Island. in hurricane plan develop- Because of time limitations ment and in coordinating plan and hazards imposed by high implementation for the safe- winds on roof tops, this type guard of personnel and fa- of operation calls for highly RALPH WILSON, KSC's disaster control officer keeps track of a cilities during hurricanes. skilled and thoroughly-train- hurricane's position. During storms or other emergencies, his office Hurricane planning, while ed crew. springs into action to help safeguard personnel and facilities. of major importance, is only What are the prospects for one of the functions this of- this year? fice performs. Others include "This season is a rather Heavy Schedule Keeps planning for nuclear emer- unusual one. Our first big gencies, fire and explosion, blow, Alma, was only the civil disturbances, etc. fourth on record ever to strike Since NASA began opera- Florida in June, and I be- Launch Crews Busy tions in this area there has lieve was probably the earli- been only minimal damage est in the books," recalled Four interplantetary Surveyor B spacecraft to the resulting from hurricanes. Wilson. "I hesitate to try to probes, the first in a series Moon in mid-S eptember, "We've been brushed once or read anything from this, but of biosatellites and the third where it is supposed to soft twice but never hit full if nothing else the season uprated Saturn I are tenta- land and send back high-re- force," added Wilson. Well in will certainly be a long one." tively scheduled to be launch- solution television pictures of advance of the official hurri- ed from Cape Kennedy soon. the lunar surface. If success- cane season, a period stretch- The Lunar Orbiter space- ful, Surveyor B, like its pre- ing from June 1 to November craft is set to be launched be- decessor, , will 30, Wilson is busy preparing tween August 9 and 13 atop gather valuable data that a hurricane plan 700 pages in an Atlas-Agena from Complex will help prepare the Apollo length which covers all con- 13. It is expected to orbit the astronauts for the first Am- ceivable hurricane contingen- Moon from as close as 25 erican lunar landing. cies. miles and send back high re- Toward the end of Septem- "The plan is not infallible", solution pictures of the lunar ber, an Orbiting Solar Obser- said Wilson, "since each surface. vatory (OSO) is to be launch- emergency is different, but Around August 17, Pioneer we do follow it closely as a ed from Complex 17 to meas- B wil be launched into solar ure x-rays and ultraviolet point of departure, depending, orbit from Complex 17 by an of course, on what the par- light emitted by the sun. OSO Improved Delta. The space- will be orbited by a Delta ticular emergency dictates." craft will send back data launch vehicle. During a hurricane Wilson about magnetic field activity and two assistants man the in the solar region. The first biosatellite, set KSC Hurricane Control Cen- for a mid-October launch, will ter located on the second The Apollo-Saturn 202 mis- floor of the headquarters NORRIS (NORM) SWITZER, GE's sion is scheduled to take contain a variety of plant and building. Along with an em- Apollo Support Department, has place no earlier than August animal life forms which will ergency task crew of 18 scat- been selected as GE's Apolloneer 20 when the third uprated be subjected to weightless- Saturn I wil be launched from tered throughout the build- Award winner for June. The ness and radiation. At the ing, he "rides-out" the storm Complex 34 to test space- award is presented monthly to completion of the three-day until the "all clear" is sound- GE employees exhibiting out- craft and vehicle feasibility in ed. standing professional performan- preparation for the first mission the biosatellite is From this Control Center ce under the department's Zero three-man Apollo flight. scheduled to reenter and be he maintains communication Defects program. NASA plans to send the recovered. Page 6 SPACEPORT NEWS August 4, 196Í Schooling Is Popular With KSC Employes Training is big business at Kennedy Space Center. "Course enrollments at KSC in the area of employee de- velopment will probably ex- ceed 3,000 this year," said Ernest C. Spivey, Chief of the Systems Training and Em- ployee Development Branch. More than 80 Spaceport employees are now working toward their master's de- grees. Programs are ad- ministered by the University of Florida, Florida State Uni- versity, Rollins College and Brevard Engineering College. Training of this type falls into two broad categories— scientific and technical train- ing, and supervisory and management training. JACK Boonstra and Jim Lavender, both of RCA, monitor systems in the Operational Television area of Students attend classes at Complex 37's launch control center. the KSC Training Building and at Port Canaveral facili- ties. Others commute to Rol- lins and BEC for graduate Communications' Duties Vary study. At the undergraduate level, Spaceport employees attend One of the busiest KSC or- of the space vehicle during public adress, closed circuit classes at Brevard Engineer- ganizations during the Gemini countdown enabling them to TV and other equipment as ing- College, Brevard Junior 10 mission was KSC's Com- detect any trouble. well as the cross connect from College, and the Rollins Col- munications Branch. When Mission 203 of the for all arterial cables at KSC. lege Branch at Patrick Air They have wide responsibili- Uprated Saturn IB program There are 209 mobile radio Force Base. ties including operational and was launched recently, two units in vehicles and 118 "KSC employees may at- administrative intercom, television cameras were portable units. This mobile tend other universities and closed circuit TV, data trans- mounted within the forward radio system is used to co- Colleges for specialized train- mission, public address and dome of the S-IVB's liquid ordinate activities of fire- ing," said Spivey. paging, mobile radio, ad- hydrogen tank to determine fighting apparatus, patrol NASA pays tuition costs ministrative telephane, car- what happens to the fuel cars, emergency vehicles and for training which is required rier, teletype, facsimile, tape during its weightless state. maintenance crews. In ad- or job-related. recorders, audio and video and The pictures were sent to dition, there are separate sys- Under the KSC Co-Opera- wide band transmission. KSC by the Unified S Band tems in both transporters, tive Education Plan, 81 un- Billie J. Smith is chief of (USB) located at KSC during each with stations to aid dergraduates alternate for- the group and Charles Wright launch and relayed to Hunts- in steering the six mililon mal classroom study with on- is his deputy. There are 20 ville, Ala., and Houston. Dur- pound machine. the-job training at the Space- NASA personnel in the group ing orbit, the pictures were The Operation Intercom- port. with prime contractors RCA received at KSC and Houston munication System (OIS) also To qualify as a "co-op," the and Southern Bell. and relayed to the other is maintained by the branch main prerequisites are good points. The branch provides op- There are two types of OIS, grades and the recommenda- eration and maintenance of KSC telephone switching OIIS, RF capable of 112 chan- tion of a student's colege co- all data distribution and com- equipment has a higher call- nels and audio capable of 42 operative office, according to munications t r a n s m i ssion channels. This network pro- Spivey. Fields of study are ing rate than any other sys- plant faiclities which serve vides voice communications generally limited to science tem of comparable size in the NASA contractors at KSC, between the blockhouse, and engineering positions. A United States. There are 7,000 Cape Kennedy, of base loca- Houston and Huntsville, as few accounting majors are telephones at KSC. The tions and Department of De- well as KSC points. included. switchboard handles 10,000 fense facliities at KSC. Seminars and non-credit calls during a normal work- The branch also provides short courses are offered A second responsibility is day. circuits for Data Transmis- to perform communications sion, the communications to under the Scientific and Tech- The Communications, Dis- nical Program, and the Super- planning, including special computers, particularly from tribution and Switching Cen- visory and Management De- studies and operational analy- the ACE control room in the velopment Program. Classes ses of existing and planned ter (CD & SC), maintained Manned Spacecraft Opera- range from a seminar on con- communications systems. by RCA, is the hub of KSC tions Building which allows tamination control to a lec- The closed circuit television communications. The Center MSOB to control the count- ture on Operations Manage- at launch sites allows engine- houses the KSC telephone down on the spacecraft at the ment. ers to watch various systems switchboard, audio recording, complex. August 4, 1966 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 7 Center Congratulated Saturn V Elec. System On Start Of Bus Tours Most Complex Dr. Kurt H. Debus, Center have approved. We of the As- Director, received the follow- sociation feel that the public "What we are working with ing congratulatory messages of America deserve this op- here is the largest and most on the initiation of NASA portunity and we deeply ap- complex electrical system in Tours last week. preciate it and will work with the world." The man speaking From: Governor Haydon you in any way possible to I was Frank Bryan, Deputy Burns—It is my extreme help make these tours a suc- Chief of KSC's Electrical pleasure in behalf of all of cess. Systems Branch who was re- Florida, to convey our heart- From: Charles W. Camp- ferring to the system of elec- iest congratulations on the bell, Chairman, Florida De- trical arteries leading to the beginning of regular opera- velopment Commission,—Con- Frank Bryan vital organs of the Saturn V ional bus tours at the Center gratulations to you and your stages. on July 22. I know the new associates on the inaugura- "The system employed," facilities will have a great im- tion of scheduled bus tours Mission SAFETY-70 Bryan continued, "is over pact on our tourist industry through the Kennedy Space 1,000 times more complex by providing a more adequate Center on July 22. The citi- Promotes Safe than the one used on the means of better informing our zens of our country will be Mercury/Redstone. In those many interested visitors of gratified with this new ad- Driving days we were still formulat- the overall operations of the dition which will enable them ing and developing philoso- Space Center. Best wishes for to become better acquainted Last month, President phies and techniques to ad- continued growth and success with operations and the fine Johnson was informed by vance the state of the art. in all of your activities. job you are doing. We are in- Secretary of Labor Wirtz Today our problems are vast- From: William H. (Bill) deed appreciative of the con- that more than 50 depart- ly different. We receive a Rountree, State Representa- tribution the John F. Kennedy ments and agencies of the tremendous amount of hard- tive, Brevard County, Florida Space Center is making to Government had inaugurated ware from all over the coun- —Congratulations to you up- Florida and wish you continu- programs during the past try that is assembled for the on the institution of the daily ed success in this new pro- year to meet the objective of first time and then must work bus tours of the John F. gram. Mission SAFETY-70. as an integrated system, also Kennedy Space Center and From : Gene Roberts, Presi- The purpose of Mission for the first time." Cape Kennedy. The public dent, Greater Titusville SAFETY-70 is to reduce fed- A native of Port Arthur, will truly appreciate your wis- Chamber of Commerce—Our eral employee injuries and Texas, Bryan joined the Army dom and interest in making sincere congratulations on costs 30 percent by 1970. Ballistic Missile Agency in possible for them a personal your official offering of daily As a participating agency, Huntsville in 1957, where he visit through the marvelous escorted tours of Kennedy KSC is ahead of its goal so worked on electrical inter- Space Center and Base. You Space Center and Cape Ken- far, but there is room for face between the first Mer- and NASA are to be com- nedy. We pledge our full co- further improvement. cury spacecraft and Redstone mended for your awareness operation to NASA and TWA booster. Since then he has of the importance of such to help make this a success- During the first six months taken part in a variety of pro- tours in enhancing the under- ful endeavor. of this year, over 200 acci- jects within the overall space dents were investigated by standing and support of the From : B. W. Simpkins, program. the KSC Patrol. public for your future space President, Cocoa Rockledge The Electrical System efforts. Area Chamber of Com- President Johnson listed Branch which is responsible From: Stanley I. Hand. Ex- merce — Congratulations, we motor vehicle accidents as the for the electrical support ecutive Director, Florida commend you for making it major cause of death in the equipment on all Saturn pads, Council of 100—On behalf of possible for the general public federal service. "Government in addition to the electrical all members of the Florida to make daily bus tours of vehicles," said the President systems of the various stages Council of 100, it is my sin- Cape Kennedy and the Ken- "cover nearly 2 3/4 billion of the Saturn launch vehicles, cere pleasure to wholehearted- nedy Space Center, and offer miles annually. uses computers to control all ly congratulate the Kennedy our full support and coopera- "We must look more close- its equipment from holddown Space Center on the occasion tion for the success of the ly at both the drivers and the arms to retro - rockets. All of offering daily bus tours of Spaceport Tours. vehicles they operate. Our that is, except the basic safety the Space Center and the From : Jack Hurck, Presi- drivers must be carefully functions which are controll- Cape to the good citizens of dent, Cape Canaveral Cham- selected, t horoughly tested ed by direct line. the United States of America. ber of Commerce — Congra- and properly trained. Perhaps one of the biggest Please accept the Council's tulations on the inauguration "Our vehicles must comply jobs facing the Electrical best wishes and God's speed of the Kennedy Space Center with the highest safety stan- Systems Branch is, as Bryan in your daily endeavors. Tour program. Its success dards and must be maintained said, "to mold our individual From: Percy L. Hedgecock, will be a great step toward in top condition." abilities and those of the President, Astronaut Trail public understanding of NA- stage contractors into a smo- Association — On behalf of SA and will make Brevard tical and foresighted move of oth functioning team respon- the Astronaut Trail Associa- County one of the greatest great value to every U.S. sive to all our requirements. tion which represents VIP's tourist attractions in the Citizen and to Brevard Coun- In addition to their regular from all of Brevard County, world. ty. We are grateful for your functions, the Branch under we congratulate you on open- From : R. P. Murkshe, May- continued interest in the Chief W. O. Chandler is pre- ing the Kennedy Space Cen- or, City of Cocoa Beach, — public awareness of the Space sently involved in activating ter enabling the public to see Congratulations on the com- program and the benefits that Firing Room 2 in the Launch the Space Center of the world mencement of the daily Space accrue to our area as a result Control Center at Complex by the bus tours that you Center Tours. This is a prac- of your open door policy. 39, U Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS August 4, 196Í KSC Employees 'V COUNTING Share In New 8Ì7 DOWN C.S. Pay Act rK5jyjL4QCsA WITH THE EDITOR The new Civil Service Pay Act wil mean an increase of about $30,000 for every two- week pay period to KSC fed- eral employes. KSC and contractor person- G. A. Sewell, chief of pay nel and their immediate fa- and travel, said the total in- mily members IB years and crease under the bill is 3.2 older are eligible to join a per cent of which 2.9 per cent new bowling league that will will be an across-the-board feature activity in lanes pay raise and the rest in throughout Brevard County. fringe benefits. The new league, sponsored The act, passed July 18, by the Kennedy Athletic also provides for an increase MEMBERS of the Site Activation logistics group from Marshall Space Recreation Social, will be in overtime pay to a maxi- Flight Center and KSC met in the Launch Control Center here recent- made up of 12, 5-man mixed mum of $6.08 per hour and ly to discuss data management. From left to right are Ed House, Tom teams which will bowl in the Sunday premium pay of 25 Collins and Lamont Goldston, all of MSC; Clarence Randall of Boeing, following four areas: Titus- per cent of base pay for regul- MSG; Tom McCullough of MSC; Bart Downes, Launch Site Documen- ville, Cocoa-Merritt Island, ar scheduled work. tation, KSC, and Al Harper, KSC data manager. Cocoa Beach and Melbourne- The general pay increase, Eau Gallie. retroactive to July 3, will be Persons now bowling for reflected on pay checks to be KSC, MSFC Data Management existing teams may also join issued Aug. 10. Overtime and the new KSC-contractor lea- Sunday premium pay provis- gue, acording to J. B. Russell, ions will not go into effect Group Meets At KSC KARS chairman for compe- until July 31. titive sports. Data management person- Harper said the meeting The General Scheduled in- nel from Marshall Space Team activity is scheduled July 13 in Firing Room 4 was creases, including grades 1 Flight Center and KSC met in to begin in September and very productive. Ways to ex- and 10 for each. the Launch Control Center continue through April or pedite delivery and receipt GS-1 $3,609-$4,707; GS-2 recently to discuss ways to May, Russell added. of essential drawings and $3,925-$5,122; GS-3 $4,269- improve communications be- manuals were discussed by Interested persons may con- $5,565; GS-4 $4,776-$6,216; tween the two centers. the Site Activation logistics tact Russell at 867-4934. GS-5 $5,331-$6,915; GS-6 $5,- "Software costs can amount group. 867-$7,649; GS-7 $6,451-$8,- to as much as 50 per cent of Harper noted that Marshall 368; GS-8 $7,068-$9,183; GS-9 procurement costs," said A1 designs, builds and delivers $7,696-$10,045; GS-10 $8,421- Harper, KSC's data manager. to KSC ground support equip- $11,013; GS-11 $9,221-$12,- "You have only managed half ment, booster and documen- 056; GS-12 $10,927-$14,338; the job if you manage only tation necessary to operate GS-13 $12,873-$16,905; GS-14 hardware." and maintain the equipment. $15,106-$19,803; GS-15 $17,- 550-$23,013; GS-16 $20,075- Dear Sir: $25,435; GS-17 $22,750-$25,- of service and employes age 800; GS-18 $25,890. 60 with 20 years of service. I have made a school report Retirement previously was on the moon so I would appre- The maximum hourly over- based on 20 years of service ciate it if you would send me time pay of $6.08 is based on for those 62 and 30 years of a compliment. the rate paid step of the GS-10 service for those 55, but with classification. The old maxi- Miks W. a reduced annuity for those mum was $5.40 an hour based Los Alamitos, Cal. under 60. W.S. FORD, right, general man- on the rate paid step 1, GS-9. ager, North American Aviation The new hourly rate in this However, for those who re- The National Aeronautic;, Space and Information Systems grade is $5.55 which will be tire before their nearest re- and Space Administration has~ Division at KSC, welcomes Mark paid as the maximum over- tirement age, the annuity is extended its contract with the Onesty, left, and Jeff Hadden time rate from July 3 until reduced one-sixth of one per Boeing Company, Cocoa after the pair bicycled from July 31, when the overtime cent for every month under Beach, Florida, for continued Long Beach, Mississippi to watch provisions of the new bill be- the retirement age of 55, and work on the Apollo/Saturn V the recent Gemini 10 flight. Jeff come effective. one-twelfth of one per cent Launch Complex 39 at Mer- began his trip last January when Sunday premium pay will for each month less than 60. ritt Island. he peddled from California to be allowed employes regular- Any officer or employe on The cost-plus-fixed-fee con- Mississippi, where he met Mark ly scheduled to work anytime an approved leave without tract extension for $11,259,- and his father, who is employed from midnight Saturday to pay may elect to continue his 221 provides for site-activa- by North American at the Miss- midnight Sunday. The pre- Federal Group Life Insurance, tion, design engineering and issippi Test Facility. mium will be 25 per cent of Federal Employees Group operational support as well as * tf the employes' base wage. Sun- Life Insurance or health bene- pre-launch, launch, and post- The number of women in day premium pay will not be fits coverage if he applies launch preparations at the Federal jobs paying $10,000 paid for Sunday overtime. within 60 days after starting Saturn V Launch Complex. or more has increased 26 per- Immediate retirement with his leave, and pays both em- The extension brings the total cent since President Johnson annuity is provided for em- ploye and agency contribu- effort under this contract to took office. ployes age 55 with 30 years tions to the fund. $32,368,430.