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12/19/92: KSC CLOSES OUT ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR AND PREPARES FOR 1992

Bruce Buckingham
407/867-2468                                   Dec. 19, 1991

KSC RELEASE NO. 143 - 91

     Kennedy Space Center ended the year 1991 with quality and
success in mind. Throughout the past 12 months, the KSC team has
responded to the challenges set forth by the space agency and in
many cases exceeded those expectations.

     KSC successfully launched six Space Shuttle missions during
the past year, began flight processing for the newest orbiter in
the fleet, and began construction of several facilities that will
be key to America's future role in space.

     The first Shuttle launch of 1991 did not occur as early as
originally hoped. When cracks were found on the orbiter Discovery
(STS-39) external tank door hinge mechanisms -- after the vehicle
was at the pad -- the vehicle was returned to the Orbiter
Processing Facility for repairs.

     Processing was then focused on Atlantis' mission STS-37 and
the Gamma Ray Observatory, which turned out to be the year's
first mission. Thereafter, the launch team was able to meet the
launch schedule and mission objectives for the rest of the year.

     Later, another problem with cracks was overcome. This time
microscopic cracks were found on several T-seals located between
the orbiter's wing leading edge reinforced carbon-carbon thermal
barrier panels. The seals were repaired or replaced and flight
schedules resumed.

     Also, for the first time since 1986, several Space Shuttle
missions were scheduled for possible prime site landing not only
at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., but at KSC as well. Two
flights did in fact make planned landings at Kennedy's shuttle
landing facility in 1991.

     A renewed confidence from the Shuttle program office to
resume planned landings back at KSC was rewarded when Discovery
(STS-39) and Atlantis (STS-43) made perfect touchdowns on the
15,000-foot-long runway.

     Late this year, NASA announced the Program Director for
Space Shuttle will move office functions from Washington, D.C. to
KSC. The post will be headed by Leonard S. Nicholson, currently
the Space Shuttle Program Deputy Director. Nicholson will replace
Robert L. Crippen in the position, but will be joining him in
Florida as Crippen becomes KSC's new Center Director. The moves
are effective Jan. 1, 1992.

     Outgoing Center Director Forrest McCartney will leave KSC's
top post at the end of the year. His tenure as KSC's fourth
Center Director saw the space agency through 19 safe and
successful Shuttle missions and numerous unmanned expendable
vehicle launches.


1991 SPACE SHUTTLE MISSIONS:

     The following is a brief summary of the 1991 Shuttle
missions (all times are Eastern):


STS-37 -- Atlantis was launched at 9:22 a.m. on April 5. It
landed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., at 9:55 a.m. on April
11.

MISSION: The primary objective of this mission was to deploy the
Gamma Ray Observatory into low earth orbit. The observatory, the
second of NASA's four "Great Observatories," was designed to
conduct an extensive on-orbit search for celestial gamma ray
emissions over a two-year period. When the spacecraft's high gain
antenna failed to deploy properly, crewmen Jerry Ross and Jay Apt
made an unscheduled contingency spacewalk to free the antenna.

     The spacecraft has already returned significant new
information about the sources of gamma rays in the universe.

     The next day after deployment of the observatory, Ross and
Apt performed the first scheduled spacewalk since 1985 to test
and judge various means for astronauts to move themselves and
equipment on Space Station Freedom.


STS-39 -- Discovery was launched at 7:33 a.m. on April 28. It
landed at KSC at 2:55 p.m. on May 6.

MISSION: This was the eighth mission dedicated to the Department
of Defense, however, it was the first unclassified DOD mission.
The unclassified payload consisted of Air Force Program-675;
Infrared Background Signature Survey; and Space Test Pallet
Satellite.

     Discovery made an unplanned landing at KSC's shuttle landing
facility when unacceptable weather conditions persisted at
Edwards Air Force Base. This was the seventh time in 40 shuttle
missions an orbiter landed at KSC.

STS-40 -- Columbia was launched at 9:24 a.m. on June 5. It landed
at EAFB at 11:51 a.m. on June 14.

MISSION: The third Space Shuttle mission of the year was designed
around the first Spacelab Life Sciences mission, SLS-1, the first
spacelab dedicated entirely to life sciences research. During the
mission's nine-day flight, the seven member crew performed about
18 different experiments to explore how the heart, lungs, blood
vessels, and other body organs responded to microgravity.

     The crew also studied possible causes of space sickness and
the changes in muscles and bones during space flight and the
readjustment to gravity once back on Earth. Twenty-nine rats were
carried onboard to facilitate the experiments on bone and muscle.

STS-43 -- Atlantis was launched at 11:02 a.m. on Aug. 2. It
landed at KSC at 8:23 a.m. on Aug. 11.

MISSION: The principal objective of this mission was the
deployment of NASA's fourth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
(TDRS). Following deployment from the orbiter's payload bay, the
Inertial Upper Stage Booster successfully placed the 4,905 pound
communications satellite into geosynchronous orbit about 22,300
miles above the Earth.

     Atlantis landed back at KSC's shuttle landing facility in
the first planned end-of-mission landing at KSC since 1985.

STS-48 -- Discovery was launched at 7:11 p.m. on Sept. 12. It
landed at EAFB at 3:38 a.m. on Sept. 18.

MISSION: The mission objectives of the Upper Atmosphere Research
Satellite (UARS) are to better understand the character of the
ozone depletion of the Earth's upper atmosphere and to continue
the assessments of human activities in current atmospheric
changes. UARS was successfully deployed on day three of this
five-day mission. It will monitor events in the Earth's higher
atmospheric regions over the north and south poles for two years.
The satellite has performed flawlessly since launch.

STS-44 -- Atlantis was launched at 6:44 p.m. on Nov. 24. It
landed at EAFB at 5:34 p.m. on Dec. 1.

MISSION: The second non-classified Department of Defense payload
to be launched aboard the Shuttle this year featured the Defense
Support Program (DSP) satellite. This spacecraft was designed to
detect nuclear detonations and missile launches while stationed
about 22,000 miles above the earth. Following DSP deployment on
the first day of flight, the crew concentrated on a variety of
secondary military and medical payloads and experiments on board.

     The mission was cut short by three days due to the failure
of one of three Inertial Measurement Units. Landing had been
scheduled for KSC. Due to the failed instrument, flight rules
dictated a landing at EAFB on the next opportunity available.

NEW KSC FACILITIES AND MODIFICATIONS

     After Discovery (STS-48) landed at Edwards Air Force Base
and was ferried back to KSC on Sept. 26, the vehicle was towed to
the newest of KSC's Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) bays. First
flow processing went well for the new bay. Discovery, now slated
for mission STS-42 in Jan. 1992, was transferred to the Vehicle
Assembly Building on Dec. 13.

      The new OPF bay, located north of the VAB, is the most
modern of the three processing facility bays. It is about the
same size as the other two and adjacent to a new two-story
support area. OPF bay 3 was initially used for off-line orbiter
inspections, repair work and vehicle modifications. It was
upgraded to full support status in September and will greatly
enhance KSC's efficiency and ability to process vehicles for
launch.
                          *   *   *   *

     In anticipation of the time NASA will begin launching
elements for the assembly of Space Station Freedom, construction
began on the half-million-square-foot Space Station Processing
Facility (SSPF) located in KSC's Industrial Area. Ground was
broken on March 26 for the facility which, when complete, will be
occupied by about 1,000 NASA and contractor employees.

     The three-story SSPF will have over 63,000 square feet of
dedicated payload processing space. It is the largest new
construction facility undertaken at KSC since the Apollo era. The
total cost of construction is valued at about $56 million. It is
due to be completed in late 1994.

                          *   *   *   *

     In May, ground was broken for the Canister Cleaning and
Rotation Facility (CCRF). The multi-purpose facility will be used
for cleaning and maintaining KSC's twin payload transport
canisters. Each canister is 65 feet long and is used to transfer
both horizontal and vertical payloads between payload and orbiter
processing facilities and the launch pads.

     The new CCRF will allow workers the necessary space to
properly store, clean and when necessary rotate to horizontal or
vertical the canisters without having to make unnecessary trips
to the VAB to use the overhead bridge cranes. The CCRF will have
7,200 square feet of high bay outfitted with a 100-ton crane for
lifting and rotation. The facility will be located in the KSC
Industrial Area behind the Headquarters Building. The total
construction cost of the CCRF is about $5.3 million. It is
scheduled to be operational by mid-1992.

                          *   *   *   *

     Also in May, ground was broken for KSC's new Space Shuttle
Processing Control Center (PCC). This three-story, 99,000-square-
foot facility will be dedicated to orbiter testing, launch team
training and Launch Processing Systems maintenance for the Space
Shuttle. The PCC will be located between the OPF and the
Operations Support Building in the Launch Complex 39 area.

     The $8.9 million facility is scheduled to be operational by
June 1992. It will compliment the existing Launch Control Center
in performing the hundreds of Shuttle tests required during
processing flows each year.


                          *   *   *   *

     Modifications were made to Launch pad 39-B, causing the pad
to go off-line for about six months this year. About 50
modification and repair contracts were earmarked for pad work.
Modifications and improvements were made to the environmental
control system, the payload changeout room, the rotating service
structure, and hardware and electrical systems. This down-time
also provided an opportunity to make improvements to the safety
and overall efficiency of the launch facility.

     The estimated cost of the modifications is about $3.3
million. The first Space Shuttle to be launched from pad 39-B
following this work will be Endeavour's maiden flight, scheduled
for next year on mission STS-49.


                          *   *   *   *

     Several enhancements are underway for KSC's shuttle landing
facility. Increases to the safety margins for Space Shuttle
landings include improved lighting systems, re-paving both ends
of the runway, and shoring-up the 3-mile-long landing strip's
shoulders. The estimated cost of the project is about $350,000.


                          *   *   *   *

     The four-lane widening of Kennedy Parkway South (State Road
3), one of KSC's busiest highways, was completed this past summer
giving long awaited relief from severe traffic congestion during
rush hours. The $3.2 million project was coupled with Brevard
County's commitment to widen its portion of the much traveled
Route 3. With work on KSC's portion of the highway complete, KSC
employees are assured of a safer and quicker drive to and from
work.

                          *   *   *   *

     At KSC's Spaceport USA, NASA and the Astronauts Memorial
Foundation (AMF) completed construction of a monument dedicated
to fallen astronauts titled, "Space Mirror."

     Vice-President Dan Quayle joined NASA Administrator Richard
Truly to visit the monument on opening day, May 9, 1991. They
addressed a crowd of nearly two thousand who had gathered on the
six-acre tract to see the 42-foot-high by 50-foot-wide wall of
polished granite. Etched on the "Space Mirror" are the names of
14 astronauts who have died while furthering the cause of space
exploration. Mechanically driven and computer controlled, the
mirror rotates in sequence with the rising and setting of the sun
each day.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

     Space-related employment and contracts at KSC boosted
Florida's economy by $1.4 billion during fiscal year 1991. This
represents an increase of about $100 million over the previous
year.

     Employment numbers at KSC also rose. Permanent federal
employees at KSC now number about 2,700. Nearly 3,500 people were
employed through construction and tenant jobs at KSC. The
majority of workers at KSC are employed by on-site contractors
and total about 12,900. Overall, approximately 19,050 workers
were employed at KSC through the close of the fiscal year on
September 30.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

RECYCLING

     KSC entered 1991 on a major paper recycling drive that has
only grown during the past 12 months. In February the General
Services Administration contracted with East Coast Paper Stock
Inc. of Rockledge, Fla., to purchase waste paper generated at
KSC. To date the KSC paper recycling program has exceeded one
million pounds of reusable paper and the number is growing daily.
Estimates indicate KSC could recycle nearly 50,000 pounds of
paper every week once the paper program is fully operational.

TASK TEAM LEADER

     A revolutionary concept in management has taken hold in the
Shuttle processing world. Task team leaders are being assigned to
various qualifying functions and jobs with the purpose of
streamlining resources, focusing management oversight and
reducing paperwork. As jobs are scheduled, a task leader is
assigned to track its progress. With the assistance of team
members, this individual has the authority to make decisions and
arrange for help to keep the job moving. This person will help
focus the work and be responsible for the entire operation from
start to finish.

     Currently, more than 1,800 jobs on the Space Shuttle have
been targeted for a task team leader. The intent of the task
leader is to make work in the OPF more efficient. The long term
effect will ultimately reduce the amount of time a vehicle spends
in the OPF, allowing the program a higher flight rate.

     The task team leader concept is credited for contributing to
the record OPF flow of Atlantis for mission STS-43. Atlantis was
in the OPF for a record low 59 days, besting the post-Challenger
record by 10 days. Originally, managers had hoped for a 65-day
flow at best. The relatively small number of orbiter problems was
also a help in breaking the record, giving workers a jump on the
major tasks and shortening the schedule.

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

     Another major thrust within KSC management in 1991 is the
Total Quality Management concept. TQM teams are being formed
weekly as KSC strives to implement this new way of management.

     The initial teams are being formed by non-management-level
workers. More and more of that is giving way to a rise in teams
formed from management levels down as supervisors and managers
become familiar with TQM principles.


MILESTONES REACHED

     NASA's newest Space Shuttle orbiter, Endeavour, was
delivered to KSC on May 7. The new orbiter was rolled out of the
Rockwell manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif., on April 25,
and ferried cross-country on NASA's newest modified 747 Shuttle
Carrier Aircraft.

     Endeavour is the fifth Space Shuttle to be built -- the
first in over four years. Endeavour was funded as a replacement
vehicle for the Space Shuttle Challenger, following its loss in
January 1986.

     The new orbiter features two distinct differences from its
three sister ships. Endeavour, designated OV-105, sports a drag
chute modification to aid in decelerations and reduce loads on
the brakes and landing gear. Endeavour also has been equipped
with additional internal plumbing and electrical connections to
support extended duration missions of two weeks or more.

     The vehicle was temporarily located in the Vehicle Assembly
Building when first delivered to KSC. While there several major
components were installed including the liquid hydrogen 17-inch
disconnect, ammonia boiler, flash evaporator and external tank
door drive mechanisms.

     On July 25, Endeavour was transferred to OPF bay 1. It was
powered up for the first time at KSC on August 8. This milestone
in the first flow processing of the new vehicle signified the
kick-off of major electrical tests.

     Endeavour is targeted to be rolled out of the OPF and to the
VAB for solid rocket booster and external tank stacking early
next year. Endeavour will then be moved out to the newly modified
pad 39-B for the mandatory Flight Readiness Firing of the three
main engines.

     Endeavour's first mission, STS-49, is currently targeted for
May 1992. The primary objective of the mission involves the
retrieval, repair and re-boosting of the INTELSAT-VI
communications satellite. Extra-vehicular activity, or
spacewalks, will be required to successfully perform this
objective.
                          *   *   *   *

     The first of NASA's operational Space Shuttle orbiters,
Columbia, was sent off to the Rockwell Facility in Palmdale,
Calif., about two months following the delivery of Endeavour to
KSC. At Palmdale, Columbia has been treated to extensive
modifications to support extended duration missions. The oldest
of NASA's orbiters will also undergo structural inspections and
systems maintenance.

     About 50 modifications are planned for Columbia. These
include the installation of improved nose wheel steering
capability, carbon brakes on the main landing gear and five new
general purpose computers. Columbia also will be outfitted with
the drag chute modification and its thermal protection system
will be upgraded.

     Part of NASA's long range plans involve keeping Shuttles in
space for longer periods of time. Columbia, with its new capacity
for extended flight, will be the first orbiter to fly a planned
13-day mission -- the United States Microgravity Laboratory-1,
scheduled for the summer of 1992.

                          *   *   *   *

     The $40 million complex of Spaceport USA, the NASA visitors
center at Kennedy Space Center, celebrated its 25th anniversary
July 16. The first tour of Kennedy Space Center occurred in 1966
and the first permanent facility was opened at the present
location of Spaceport USA in 1967. This year alone, nearly 2
million people have trekked through Florida's fourth most popular
tourist attraction.


WHAT'S AHEAD

     KSC continues to keep an eye on the future as planning and
scheduling for the next year proceeds. NASA has manifested eight
Space Shuttle missions in 1992 and three expendable vehicle
launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

     The 1992 expendable schedule begins with NASA's Extreme
Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) scheduled for launch in May aboard an
Air Force Delta 2. This spacecraft will identify, map and catalog
extreme ultraviolet sources in the universe.

     Other expendable missions include Geotail to be launched on
a McDonnell Douglas Delta 2 and the Mars Observer to be launched
on a Martin Marietta Titan III.

     Half of the Space Shuttle missions scheduled for next year
will feature spacelab components. The majority of astronauts'
time on missions STS-42, STS-45, STS-50 and STS-47 will be spent
in spacelab modules housed in the payload bay of the orbiters.
These modules are currently under build-up at KSC.


     The eight Shuttle missions scheduled for 1992 are (in launch
order):

STS-42 -- Discovery will carry into orbit the first International
Microgravity Laboratory (IML) mission. The seven member crew will
spend seven days in space conducting a variety of experiments on
materials and life sciences. These experiments are designed to
accommodate research in the zero gravity environment of space.

     IML-1 is an international research endeavor combining the
efforts of hundreds of scientists from 18 countries. The week
long mission will have experiments conducted 24 hours a day.

     Following this mission, Discovery will be returned to the
OPF for refurbishments and modifications similar to those
currently in work on Columbia.

STS-45  --  Atlantis will carry into orbit the Atmospheric
Laboratory for Applications and Sciences (ATLAS-1). The seven
member crew on this eight-day mission will concentrate their
efforts on measuring the effects of the sun on the Earth's
atmosphere and climate. Effects of industrial facilities and
agricultural activities on our planet will also be evaluated.
Additional studies will focus on various sources of ultraviolet
light in the universe and determine what effect the Earth's
electric and magnetic fields have on each other. Around the clock
experimentation is scheduled.

STS-49  --  Endeavour's maiden flight will feature the most
complex satellite retrieval mission ever undertaken by NASA. This
seven-day mission will involve spacewalking astronauts to
rendezvous with the stranded INTELSAT-VI (International
Telecommunications Satellite) and attach to it a solid rocket
motor for re-boosting.

     INTELSAT was launched aboard a Titan vehicle in March 1990.
Due to a satellite/launch vehicle separation problem, the
spacecraft was left stranded in low Earth orbit. The orbit was
stabilized and plans worked out to perform the rescue in space.

     Endeavour will carry into orbit a 23,000 pound perigee kick
motor in a specially designed cradle located in the payload bay
of the orbiter. Using special power tools with extensions and
electrical connectors, two astronauts will capture the INTELSAT
and attach to it the new kick motor. The mission is scheduled to
conclude with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base. Upon landing,
the new orbiter drag chute modification will be deployed.

STS-50  --  Making the first return to flight since extensive
modification and refurbishment is the Space Shuttle Columbia.
Modifications to Columbia allow this to be the first extended
duration orbiter (EDO) flight. The mission is scheduled to last
13 days. Two additional days in flight are possible with
provisions added for potential contingency.

     Columbia's mission is to take into orbit the United States
Microgravity Laboratory (USML-1). These spacelab mounted
experiments will center on microgravity materials processing
technology and science and research requiring a low-gravity
environment. Space station technology and applications will be
emphasized during the flight. USML consists of 10 scientific
experiments and associated hardware housed in a long spacelab
module. A crew of seven will operate the experiments during the
possible record breaking mission.


STS-46  --  Atlantis will deploy EURECA (European Retrievable
Carrier) on flight day 1 of the mission and the TSS (Tethered
Satellite System) on flight day 4. EURECA is currently at the
Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. TSS is
a cooperative NASA/Italian project and is currently being
processed for launch in the Operations and Checkout Building.

     EURECA is a European Space Agency sponsored, reusable, free-
flying platform. It will be deployed from the payload bay and
retrieved about a year later by the Space Shuttle. TSS is a 5-
foot in diameter spherical satellite weighing about 1,140 pounds.
It will be doled out on a superstrong conducting cord, a Kevlar
cord about the diameter of pencil lead. Then, like trolling for
fish, it will dangle from the payload bay at a length of about 12
miles before being reeled back in.

     The tether reel is designed to hold up to 68 miles of
tether. The TSS satellite itself is composed of eight exterior
sections with access doors for servicing batteries, windows for
sun and Earth sensors, and surface mounted umbilical connectors.


STS-47  --  Endeavour, on its second mission, will carry into
orbit Spacelab-J (Japan) on a seven-day flight. This cooperative
effort between NASA and NASDA (National Space Development Agency
of Japan) will feature 22 materials experiments and 12 life
sciences experiments. STS-47 payload specialist Mamoru Mohri will
be the first Japanese astronaut to fly aboard the Shuttle.


STS-52  --  Columbia will deploy the Laser Geodynamic Satellite,
or LAGEOS, spacecraft. LAGEOS is designed to help establish a
system of very precise Earth geodesy. LAGEOS is a passive payload
with its entire surface covered with special reflectors. The
spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at KSC early next year for
processing. The mission is scheduled to last nine days and carry
a crew of six.

STS-53  -- The last mission manifested for next year is the Space
Shuttle Discovery, returning to service following extensive
modifications. Discovery is slated for a four-day flight
dedicated to the Department of Defense. A crew of five is
scheduled to fly.