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

          KSC RELEASE NO. 143 - 91

          KSC CLOSES OUT ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR AND PREPARES FOR 1992

               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.