April 2014 

NASA/TM–2014-218335 

VAB Temperature and Humidity Study 

John E. Lane 

ESC-Easi 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 

Robert C. Youngquist 

NASA 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 

Edward Muktarian 

ESC-SGT 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 

Mark A. Nurge 

NASA 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 
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April 2014 

NASA/TM–2014-218335 

VAB Temperature and Humidity Study 

John E. Lane 

ESC-Easi 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 

Robert C. Youngquist 

NASA 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 

Edward Muktarian 

ESC-SGT 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 

Mark A. Nurge 

NASA 

Kennedy Space Center, Florida 

National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration 

Ames Research Center 

Moffett Field, California 94035-1000 

NASA/TM-2014-218335 

April 2014 

Available from: 

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information National Technical Information Service 

7115 Standard Drive 5285 Port Royal Road 

Hanover, MD 21076-1320 Springfield, VA 22161 

(301) 621-0390 (703) 487-4650 
Contents 

1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................1

2 SUMMARY .......................................................................................................1

3 INSTRUMENTATION LOCATION ................................................................1

3.1 Temperature and Humidity Data Logger: MadgeTech RHTemp101A .............3

3.2 2012 Installation Locations ................................................................................3

3.3 2013 Installation Locations ................................................................................4

4 WIND TOWERS ...............................................................................................5

5 DETAILED DATA ANALYSIS EXAMPLES .................................................8

5.1 Example 1, Early December 2013 .....................................................................8

5.2 Example 2, November 27-28, 2013 .................................................................10

5.3 Example 3, January 5-8, 2014..........................................................................11

5.4 Example 4, June 14-15, 2013 ...........................................................................13

5.5 Example 5, August 30-31, 2013 ......................................................................14

6 2012 DATA .....................................................................................................16

6.1 Temperature .....................................................................................................16

6.2 Humidity ..........................................................................................................19

7 2013 DATA .....................................................................................................22

7.1 Temperature .....................................................................................................22

7.2 Humidity ..........................................................................................................25

8 MODELING VAB TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS ...................................28

8.1 Setting up the Model ........................................................................................28

8.2 Examples ..........................................................................................................29

8.3 VAB Data.........................................................................................................31

9 DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................36

APPENDIX A. 1994–2009 HISTORICAL DATA ...................................................................37

Figures 

Figure 3-1. Tower B elevators as seen from Tower B west end (left). A temperature 

and humidity data logger and typical mounting location on a wire 

fence railing (right). ...........................................................................................2

Figure 3-2. Location of T&H sensors in the VAB. Sensor location: (Left to right) The 

first column of sensors is along Tower E and High Bay 3 and the 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

April 2014 

second column of sensors is along Tower B and High Bay 2. The two 

sensors stacked vertically (shown at the far right) are in High Bay 4. .............2

Figure 3-3. Front view of the temperature and humidity data logger, 36 mm 57 mm 

16 mm in size. .................................................................................................3

Figure 4-1. Location of the three wind towers used to gather outside temperature and 

humidity data around the VAB. .........................................................................6

Figure 4-2. 2013 combined daily minimum and maximum wind tower temperatures 

for towers 311, 412, and 509. ............................................................................7

Figure 4-3. Thermograph of daily minimum temperatures for wind towers 311 (shown 

as 2 km), 412 (shown as 3 km), and 509 (shown as 4 km). Towers 412 

and 509 are approximately 3 km each from the VAB. ......................................7

Figure 5-1. Detailed temperature and humidity data for December 1-6, 2013...........................9

Figure 5-2. Detailed temperature data for November 27-28, 2013. .........................................10

Figure 5-3. Detailed temperature and humidity data for January 5-8, 2014. ............................12

Figure 5-4. Detailed temperature and humidity data for June 14-15, 2014. .............................14

Figure 5-5. Detailed temperature and humidity data for August 30-31, 2013. ........................15

Figure 6-1. Minimum and maximum temperature thermographs throughout the year 

for Tower B. .....................................................................................................17

Figure 6-2. Minimum and maximum temperature thermographs throughout the year 

for Tower E. .....................................................................................................18

Figure 6-3. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for towers B and E 

for all levels per tower. ....................................................................................18

Figure 6-4. Daily minimum and maximum humidity thermographs for Tower B versus 

height................................................................................................................20

Figure 6-5. Daily minimum and maximum humidity thermographs for Tower E versus 

height................................................................................................................21

Figure 6-6. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for towers B and E for 

all levels per tower. ..........................................................................................21

Figure 7-1. Daily minimum and maximum temperatures thermographs for Tower B 

versus height. ...................................................................................................23

Figure 7-2. Daily minimum and maximum temperature thermographs for Tower E 

versus height. ...................................................................................................24

Figure 7-3. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for towers B and E 

for all levels per tower. ....................................................................................24

Figure 7-4. Daily minimum and maximum temperature thermographs for Tower B 

versus height. ...................................................................................................26

Figure 7-5. Daily minimum and maximum temperature thermographs for Tower E 

versus height. ...................................................................................................27

Figure 7-6. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for towers B and E for 

all levels per tower. ..........................................................................................27

Figure 8-1. December 5-10, 2013, wind Tower 412 and a sinusoidal fundamental.................32

Figure 8-2. July 5-9, 2013, Wind Tower 412 and a sinusoidal fundamental. ..........................33

Figure 8-3. December 5-10, 2013, plot of the temperature variation at Level 25-E, 

HB-3, along phase matched fundamental. ......................................................34

Figure A-1a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................38
Figure A-1b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................39

Figure A-2a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................41

Figure A-2b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................42

Figure A-3a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................44

Figure A-3b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................45

Figure A-4a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................47

Figure A-4b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................48

Figure A-5a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................50

Figure A-5b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................51

Figure A-6a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................53

Figure A-6b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................54

Figure A-7a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................56

Figure A-7b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................57

Figure A-8a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................59

Figure A-8b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................60

Figure A-9a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................62

Figure A-9b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................63

Figure A-10a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................65

Figure A-10b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................66

Figure A-11a. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................68

Figure A-11b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................69

Figure A-12a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................71

Figure A-12b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................72
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

April 2014 

Figure A-13a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, 

and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. .............................................74

Figure A-13b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and 

the VAB, including all instrumented levels. ....................................................75

Tables 

Table 2-1. 2012 Data logger locations and serial numbers .......................................................4

Table 2-2. 2013 Data logger locations and serial numbers .......................................................5

Table 6-1. Summary of temperature statistics, including all instrumented levels per 

tower. ...............................................................................................................16

Table 6-2. Summary of humidity statistics, including all instrumented levels per 

tower. ...............................................................................................................19

Table 7-1. Summary of temperature statistics, including all instrumented levels per 

tower. ...............................................................................................................22

Table 7-2. Summary of humidity statistics, including all instrumented levels per 

tower. ...............................................................................................................25

Table A-1a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................37

Table A-1b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................37

Table A-2a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................40

Table A-2b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................40

Table A-3a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................43

Table A-3b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................43

Table A-4a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................46

Table A-4b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................46

Table A-5a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................49

Table A-5b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................49

Table A-6a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................52

Table A-6b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................52

Table A-7a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................55

Table A-7b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................55

Table A-8a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................58

Table A-8b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................58

Table A-9a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................61

Table A-9b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................61

Table A-10a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................64

Table A-10b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................64

Table A-11a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................67

Table A-11b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................67

Table A-12a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................70

Table A-12b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................70

Table A-13a. Temperature (F°) ....................................................................................................73

Table A-13b. Humidity (%) .........................................................................................................73
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NASA/TM-2014-218335 

April 2014 

Abbreviations and Symbols 

% percent 

%RH percent relative humidity 

°C degree Celsius 

°F degree Fahrenheit 

°R Rankine 

2-D two-dimensional 

3-D three-dimensional 

HB High Bay 

K Kelvin 

km kilometer 

KSC John F. Kennedy Space Center 

m meter 

mg milligram 

mL milliliter 

MPCV Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle 

RTD resistance temperature detector 

SLS Space Launch System 

T&H temperature and humidity 

VAB Vehicle Assembly Building 

Definition 

thermograph: As it relates to this report, a thermograph is a color-coded graph showing 

temperature or humidity as a color-coded value plotted on a 2-D graph. The relationship between 

color and value plotted (temperature or humidity) is decoded by a color bar key to the right of the 

graph. The horizontal position is time and the vertical position is a distance. In the VAB, this 

distance corresponds to vertical height or level number. For wind towers, this distance is 

roughly a distance from the tower to the VAB. 

 
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NASA/TM-2014-218335 

1 

1 INTRODUCTION 

Current Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) upgrades and modifications are well underway in 

preparation for KSC’s future spaceport operations and launch services. These construction 

alterations are designed to accommodate NASA’s future Space Launch System (SLS), MultiPurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), as well as the commercial business portion of KCS’s future 

spaceport services. Part of these facilities upgrades involves 3-D volume characterization of the 

VAB environment, specifically temperature and humidity (T&H) throughout the year. This data 

is expected to assist in quantifying the VAB environment and in preparing the facilities for future 

spaceport and launch operations. 

2 SUMMARY 

In 2012, 17 data loggers were placed in the VAB to measure temperature and humidity at 

10-minute intervals over a one-year period. In 2013, the data loggers were replaced with an 

upgraded model and slight adjustments to their locations were made to reduce direct solar 

heating effects. The data acquired by the data loggers was compared to temperature data 

provided by three wind towers located around the building. It was found that the VAB acts as a 

large thermal filter, delaying and reducing the thermal oscillations occurring outside of the 

building. This filtering is typically more pronounced at higher locations in the building, probably 

because these locations have less thermal connection with the outside. We surmise that the lower 

elevations respond more to outside temperature variations because of air flow through the doors. 

Temperatures inside the VAB rarely exceed outdoor temperatures, only doing so when 

measurements are made directly on a surface with connection to the outside (such as a door or 

wall) or when solar radiation falls directly on the sensor. A thermal model is presented to yield 

approximate filter response times for various locations in the building. Appendix A contains 

historical thermal and humidity data from 1994 to 2009.

3 INSTRUMENTATION LOCATION 

To provide the data needed for temperature and humidity characterization, 17 temperature and 

humidity sensors were installed vertically along towers B and E in late December 2011. The goal 

was to collect data about every 20 meters (m) from the ground level to the ceiling, corresponding 

to approximately five levels per sensor. Figure 3-1 (left) shows the south Tower B elevator, as 

seen from the west end of Tower B, where each door corresponds to a level. The ceiling at Level 

411⁄2, just below the roof (approximately 158 m above the ground level), is shown in the upper 

right of the image. Figure 3-1 (right) shows a typical data logger installation as used at each of 

the 17 sites. The data loggers were fastened with Velcro (later replaced with strapping tape) to 

the railing or other convenient location, as shown in Figure 3-1 (right). The data loggers were 

programmed to acquire temperature and humidity readings every 10 minutes. Figure 3-2 shows 

the distribution of the 17 sensors that were located between the south side of Tower B and the 

north side High Bay 2 and between the north side of Tower E and the south side of High Bay 3. 

In addition, data loggers were placed on the ground (Level 1) and on the ceiling (Level 411⁄2) in 

High Bay 4. 
Figure 3-1. Tower B elevators as seen from Tower B west end (left). A temperature and 

humidity data logger and typical mounting location on a wire fence railing (right). 

Figure 3-2. Location of T&H sensors in the VAB. Sensor location: (Left to right) 

The first column of sensors is along Tower E and High Bay 3 and the second column of 

sensors is along Tower B and High Bay 2. The two sensors stacked vertically (shown at the 

far right) are in High Bay 4. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

3 

3.1 Temperature and Humidity Data Logger: MadgeTech RHTemp101A 

The MadgeTech RHTemp101A temperature and humidity data logger is a state-of-the-art, lowcost, compact sensor that is ideal for this task (see Figure 3-3). The RHTemp101A provides a 10-

year battery life, a 1-second reading rate, and 1,000,000 readings per channel, making it ideal for 

short- or long-term deployments. Additional features include a multiple start/stop function, 

optional memory wrap, precision resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensing element, battery 

life indicator, optional password protection, programmable high/low humidity alarms, and more. 

With the free MadgeTech Data Logger Software for data analysis and reporting, data can be 

viewed in °C, °F, K, °R, %RH, mg/ml water vapor concentration, and dew point. The data can 

also be automatically exported to Excel for further calculations. This software can be 

downloaded directly from the manufacturer’s website (www.madgetech.com) and installed on 

multiple computers. 

The MadgeTech RHTemp101A temperature and humidity data logger uses a precision RTD 

element to measure temperatures between –40 °C and 80 °C. It has a temperature resolution of 

0.01 °C and an accuracy of ± 0.5 °C. It uses an internal semiconductor to measure humidity over 

a range of 0 to 95 %RH. Its resolution is 0.1 %RH and its accuracy is ± 3.0 %RH. 

Figure 3-3. Front view of the temperature and humidity data logger, 

36 mm 57 mm 16 mm in size. 

3.2 2012 Installation Locations 

The 2012 installation of 17 data loggers is summarized in Table 2-1. Initially, sites 16 and 17 

were located at the north and south turnstiles, respectively, but these two sensors failed in the 

first month due to water intrusion from rain. The replacement data loggers shown in this table 

were relocated to Level 1 of High Bay 4 (HB-4) and High Bay 3 (HB-3), respectively. 

 
Table 2-1. 2012 Data logger locations and serial numbers

Site Number Serial Number VAB Location 

1 N66116 Lev 411⁄2 (ceiling) 

2 N66112 Lev 36E 

3 N66115 Lev 40B 

4 N63090 Lev 32E 

5 N63082 Lev 28E 

6 N66117 Lev 25E 

7 N63083 Lev 19E 

8 N63086 Lev 16E 

9 N63081 Lev 7E 

10 N63088 Lev 32B 

11 N66118 Lev 28B 

12 N63089 Lev 25B 

13 N66113 Lev 20B 

14 N66114 Lev 16B 

15 N63085 Lev 7B 

16 N79493 Lev 1 HB-4 

17 N66112 Lev 1 HB-3 

3.3 2013 Installation Locations 

In March 2013, all of the data loggers were replaced with the latest version from MadgeTech. 

This new version had substantially increased memory so that the practice of zeroing-out memory 

after data downloading was ended and all subsequent measurements were kept in data logger 

memory for the length of the test (March 2013–April 2014). Because of the increased memory, 

the sample rate was doubled, decreasing the sample period from 10 minutes to 5 minutes. The 

data logger at site 16 in High Bay 4 was moved from the telescope sway table (which was in full 

view of the High Bay 4 hanger door) to a nearby location in High Bay 4, but blocked from the 

view of the door to reduce direct solar heating. This is a significant detail in interpreting the high 

2012 readings (T > 100 F) as compared to the same time period in 2013. 

 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

5 

Table 2-2. 2013 Data logger locations and serial numbers 

Site Number Serial Number VAB Location 

1 P03507 Lev 411⁄2 (ceiling) 

2 P03521 Lev 36E 

3 P03510 Lev 40B 

4 P03505 Lev 32E 

5 P03516 Lev 28E 

6 P03524 Lev 25E 

7 P03520 Lev 19E 

8 P03523 Lev 16E 

9 P03508 Lev 7E 

10 P03511 Lev 32B 

11 P03515 Lev 28B 

12 P03512 Lev 25B 

13 P03522 Lev 20B 

14 P03526 Lev 16B 

15 P03509 Lev 7B 

16 P03506 Lev 1 HB-4 

17 P03513 Lev 1 HB-3 

18 P03519 North Turnstile 

4 WIND TOWERS 

Knowing the temperature and humidity distribution within the VAB was useful, but to 

understand this information it was necessary to compare it to the temperature variations that 

occurred outside of the building. We first attempted to gather outside data by placing data 

loggers in the turnstiles, but, as mentioned previously, two of these failed because of water 

intrusion. Also, the one placed in the north turnstile in 2013 showed excessive temperature 

variations caused by solar heating of this small metallic building and by possible greenhouse 

heating caused by translucent paneling. Consequently, outside temperature data was obtained 

from three wind towers located around the VAB (see Figure 4-1 for their locations). The wind 

towers, also referred to as meteorological towers (http://kscwxarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/Reports/ 

WeatherTower) supplied humidity data, but that data is not shown in this report. 

The data obtained from the wind towers was updated every 5 minutes, though there were 

numerous dropouts. Even so, the data density was adequate to use in the comparisons shown in 

the following figures. Note from Figure 4-1 that the towers are located roughly 2 km to 3 km 

from the VAB and, on occasion, it is believed that differences in the wind tower data and the 

VAB data could have been caused by rain falling on one structure but not the other. An example 

of this is shown in Section 5.4. Also, Tower 311 occasionally shows less extreme temperature 

variations than the other two towers, possibly because the location is surrounded by water. 
Figure 4-1. Location of the three wind towers used to gather outside temperature and 

humidity data around the VAB. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

7 

Figure 4-2. 2013 combined daily minimum and maximum wind tower temperatures for towers 311, 412, and 509. 

Figure 4-3. Thermograph of daily minimum temperatures for wind towers 311 (shown as 2 km), 412 (shown as 3 km), and 509 

(shown as 4 km). Towers 412 and 509 are approximately 3 km each from the VAB. 

Figure 4-4. Thermograph of daily maximum temperatures for wind towers 311 (shown as 2 km), 412 (shown as 3 km), and 509 

(shown as 4 km). Towers 412 and 509 are approximately 3 km each from the VAB.
5 DETAILED DATA ANALYSIS EXAMPLES 

Devising a strategy for displaying and analyzing the huge volume of data collected over the past 

two years was a challenge. This section shows complete sets of temperature and humidity data 

for a few example short periods, covering a few days at a time. The goal of the section is to 

understand the detailed data at the highest order of resolution, before going to the remaining 

sections. The data in the remaining sections is reduced to something more manageable by taking 

the daily minimum and maximum values. Note that the data logger at Level 1, HB-3 vanished 

sometime during the spring or summer of 2013, presumably due to construction in the immediate 

vicinity. It was replaced in September 2013. Therefore, the Level 1, HB-3 data is missing in the 

plots corresponding to the summer months. The analysis performed in this report attempts to 

make some predictions concerning the VAB door state, but actual door state data was generally 

unavailable. 

In reference to the graphs in this section, follow these steps to convert Microsoft Dublin Julian 

date to calendar date. 

Step 1: Add the value 2415018.5 to the time from the graph’s horizontal time axis.

Step 2: Go to the USNO Julian Date Converter, http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/JulianDate.php

Step 3: Paste result from Step 1 into Julian Date: under Julian date to Calendar date heading. 

Step 4: Click Compute Calendar date. 

5.1 Example 1, Early December 2013 

Figure 5-1 shows the temperature and humidity variations measured by the data loggers at 17 

locations in the VAB, one at the north turnstile, and the temperature-only data from the three 

wind towers from December 1 to 6, 2013. The three wind towers are in reasonable agreement in 

tracking the outside temperature variations over each daily cycle. The north turnstile data tracks 

with the wind towers during daytime, but indicates the turnstile area is warmer than the outside 

temperature at night. Most of the VAB’s temperatures, as expected, fall between the extremes of 

the outside temperature variations. The brown trace in Figure 5-1 corresponds to the data logger 

placed at Level 7, Tower B, HB-2 and shows daily temperature spikes roughly 24 hours apart. 

The most plausible explanation for these spikes is direct solar heating. If the HB-2 door is open, 

the sun may shine directly onto the data logger for a few minutes each day. 

The humidity data is approximately tracking the inverse of the temperature, which would be 

expected if the absolute humidity (i.e., the water content of the air) was constant. Note that the 

temperature spikes at Level 7, Tower B, HB-2, are now relative humidity dips reflecting this 

inverse dependence. However, a more careful review of the data showed that the filtering seen in 

the temperature data was reduced in the humidity data. For example, the humidity at Level 1, 

HB-4, varied more rapidly than the temperature at that location. This may indicate that the data 

loggers were measuring the temperature of the structure that they were attached to, which was 

slow to respond to outside temperature variations, while the humidity in the air was not affected 

by the structural temperature. An alternate explanation is that the air was heated or cooled by the 

building as it rose from the lowest levels, where the humidity was not affected as much by the 

building’s structure. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

9 

Figure 5-1. Detailed temperature and humidity data for December 1-6, 2013. 
5.2 Example 2, November 27-28, 2013 

Figure 5-2 shows the temperature drop associated with a cold front arriving during the night of 

November 27, 2013. As the cold front came in, the three wind towers and the north turnstile all 

tracked closely, except that the north turnstile had a late afternoon heating spike. We suspect this 

was caused by the late afternoon sun entering the turnstile through its translucent wall and 

causing greenhouse heating. The green spike was caused by a wind tower data anomaly and 

should be ignored. 

This figure shows that all of the locations within the VAB dropped in temperature because of the 

cold front, exhibiting a variety of time-delayed responses. The peak temperature delay between 

the wind towers and Level 1, HB-4 and HB-3, is about 0.7 hours. The peak delay between the 

ceiling and wind towers is about 2.2 hours. The temperature at HB-3, Level 1, tracks the 

temperature at HB-4, Level 1, but is about 5 degrees warmer. This suggested that the HB-3 doors 

were closed and the HB-4 doors could have been open. The plots also indicate that the HB-2 

doors were letting in air; however, the general trend here is that the time delays in responding to 

outside temperatures changes increase with increasing height in the building. 

Figure 5-2. Detailed temperature data for November 27-28, 2013. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

11 

5.3 Example 3, January 5-8, 2014 

Figure 5-3 shows the wind tower and VAB temperatures from January 5 to 8, 2014. The outside 

temperature on January 6 was warming due to solar heating and the building temperatures 

followed this rise. At about 1:15 p.m., a sudden cold front came through that resulted in a 

40 degree drop outside by the next morning. When the cold front first arrived, temperatures in 

the VAB continued to rise for a short time and then began to drop; the Level 7, HB-2, location 

reached its peak 17 minutes after the cold front arrived, and the VAB ceiling reached its peak 

about 28 minutes after this 1:15 p.m. event. 

This data set is interesting because of the response curves of the various locations in the VAB. 

Each location in the VAB had a different response time, with the low levels of the building 

responding quickly and the highest levels of the building responding more slowly. It appears that 

in the morning of January 7, the HB-2 doors were opened, causing the data logger at Level 7, 

HB-2, to suddenly become colder and then to track the outside temperature more closely for the 

rest of the day. This location showed a small temperature spike at about 5:30 p.m., likely due to 

solar heating from the setting sun coming through the HB- 2 doors and warming the data logger. 

The humidity dropped along with the temperature (contrary to the inverse relationship in 

Example 1) because the absolute water content of the air was lower behind the cold front. Also, 

all locations within the VAB dropped at the same rate, indicating that the air was being 

circulated throughout the entire building within a few hours after the cold front arrived. 
Figure 5-3. Detailed temperature and humidity data for January 5-8, 2014. 

 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

13 

5.5 Example 4, June 14-15, 2013 

Figure 5-4 shows the temperature variations from the wind towers and the VAB locations for 

June 14 and 15, 2013. In this case, the north turnstile began to reach excessively high 

temperatures that then suddenly fell. After this, the temperature climbed again and then fell 

again. This suggests one or two short afternoon rainstorms, common in Florida, coupled with 

localized cloud cover. Note that Wind Tower 311, located east of the VAB, was substantially 

cooler than the other two wind tower locations, which might be due to differential cloud cover or 

to the presence of water near this wind tower. 

Most areas in the VAB follow typical filtered temperature profiles, averaging and delaying the 

outside temperature. However, the data suggests that the High Bay 4, and possibly the High Bay 

2, doors were open before the first rain event, causing the corresponding temperatures to track 

the wind towers. Then, when the rain started, the doors appear to have been closed, causing a 

sudden cooling, especially at Level 1, HB-4. This conjecture is further substantiated by the 

humidity data. The humidity values throughout the VAB responded rapidly until the rain started 

and then for the next day and a half, the humidity readings vary more smoothly, indicating less 

exchange with the outside air. 
Figure 5-4. Detailed temperature and humidity data for June 14-15, 2014. 

5.6 Example 5, August 30-31, 2013 

Figure 5-5 shows temperature and humidity data for August 30 and 31, 2013. On August 30, the 

north turnstile showed high temperatures, while most of the temperatures inside of the VAB are 

following typical averaged, delayed, profiles. At around 11:47 a.m., the north turnstile reached 

its peak temperature and fell rapidly, which likely indicated rainfall. It is interesting to note that 

the VAB ceiling temperature, which normally has a delayed response relative to outside 

temperature changes, responded quickly in this case, suggesting that the ceiling had been chilled 

by the rain. On the second day, the ceiling showed signs of responding more quickly than the rest 

of the VAB to outside temperature changes, possibly indicating that the ceiling vents were open. 

The humidity data also reflects this rapid response of the ceiling environment, which is contrary 

to the prior data shown. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

15 

Figure 5-5. Detailed temperature and humidity data for August 30-31, 2013. 

 
6 2012 DATA 

This section summarizes the temperature and humidity data taken during 2012. 

6.1 Temperature 

Thermographs in the following pages show the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded 

throughout the year versus height in VAB towers B and E. Following this is a plot of the 

maximum and minimum temperatures seen in VAB towers B and E over the year. The extremely 

high temperatures measured in Tower B in the summer and fall are due to the site at Level 1 of 

High Bay 4, where the data logger was apparently exposed to sunlight repeatedly for many days. 

Detailed analysis of that event shows that the time of day the data logger was exposed to sunlight 

was almost always around 5:00 p.m. local time. 

Table 6-1. Summary of temperature statistics, including all instrumented levels per tower. 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB Tower B 

 Hi: 81.8 86.8 108.5 107.7 

 Lo: 39.5 59.3 74.1 45.4 

Hi-Lo: 42.3 27.4 34.4 62.3 

 Avg: 68.6 76.2 81.0 70.0 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB Tower E 

 Hi: 81.6 87.6 89.6 84.5 

 Lo: 39.7 59.6 74.8 47.8 

Hi-Lo: 41.9 28.0 14.8 36.7 

 Avg: 68.6 76.3 81.2 70.1 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 

 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

17 

Figure 6-1. Minimum and maximum temperature thermographs throughout the year for Tower B. 
Figure 6-2. Minimum and maximum temperature thermographs throughout the year for Tower E. 

Figure 6-3. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for towers B and E for all levels per tower.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

19 

6.2 Humidity 

Thermographs in the following pages show the maximum and minimum humidity values 

throughout the year seen versus height in VAB towers B and E. Following this is a plot of the 

maximum and minimum humidity values in VAB towers B and E over the year. Humidity values 

cover nearly the full range, but the average is around 70%, with a drop of a several percentage 

points in the winter months and a peak of several percentage points above average in the summer 

months. 

Table 6-2. Summary of humidity statistics, including all instrumented levels per tower. 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB Tower B 

 Hi: 96.1 94.4 95.9 98.9 

 Lo: 18.1 23.6 28.6 18.6 

Hi-Lo: 78.0 70.8 67.3 80.3 

 Avg: 67.1 71.3 76.4 71.8 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB Tower E 

 Hi: 94.2 95.8 95.9 98.9 

 Lo: 18.2 23.6 51.9 26.0 

Hi-Lo: 76.0 72.2 44.0 72.9 

 Avg: 67.3 71.7 76.5 72.1 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 
Figure 6-4. Daily minimum and maximum humidity thermographs for Tower B versus height. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

21 

Figure 6-5. Daily minimum and maximum humidity thermographs for Tower E versus height. 

Figure 6-6. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for towers B and E for all levels per tower.
7 2013 DATA 

This section summarizes the temperature and humidity data recorded during 2013. 

7.1 Temperature 

Thermographs are provided showing the maximum and minimum temperature throughout the 

year versus height in VAB towers B and E. Following this is a plot of the maximum and 

minimum temperatures seen in VAB towers B and E over the year. The temperature extremes in 

High Bay 3 adjacent to Tower E are more representative of the actual VAB interior temperatures. 

Direct sunlight was apparently not a condition in this area during the data collection period. High 

Bay 4, Level 1, sensor was hidden from the door during this data collection period. However, 

Level 7 between Tower B and High Bay 2 experienced direct sunlight conditions during a few 

days when the sun was at the correct elevation and azimuth angles, leading to higher than normal 

temperatures. Note the gap in March 2013 data where the old data loggers were replaced by 

latter model loggers with expanded memory. 

Table 7-1. Summary of temperature statistics, including all instrumented levels per tower. 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB Tower B 

 Hi: 90.3 89.7 89.9 88.5 

 Lo: 44.2 61.7 73.8 48.2 

Hi-Lo: 46.0 28.1 16.0 40.3 

 Avg: 67.3 76.5 81.2 73.5 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB Tower E 

 Hi: 78.7 87.2 89.5 85.6 

 Lo: 46.8 64.6 74.3 48.8 

Hi-Lo: 31.9 22.6 15.3 36.8 

 Avg: 67.1 76.7 81.3 73.6 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

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Figure 7-1. Daily minimum and maximum temperatures thermographs for Tower B versus height. 
Figure 7-2. Daily minimum and maximum temperature thermographs for Tower E versus height. 

Figure 7-3. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for towers B and E for all levels per tower.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

25 

7.2 Humidity 

The following thermographs show the maximum and minimum humidity throughout the year 

seen versus height in VAB towers B and E. Following this is a plot of the maximum and 

minimum humidity seen in VAB towers B and E over the year. Humidity values cover nearly the 

full range, but the average is around 70%, with a few percent drop in winter months and a few 

percent rise in the summer months. 

Table 7-2. Summary of humidity statistics, including all instrumented levels per tower. 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 ----------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB Tower B 

 Hi: 98.2 93.2 95.9 97.9 

 Lo: 21.8 36.3 49.8 37.9 

Hi-Lo: 76.4 56.9 46.1 60.0 

 Avg: 71.1 74.1 77.5 74.0 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB Tower E 

 Hi: 97.2 92.2 94.6 97.9 

 Lo: 22.6 36.4 49.8 39.8 

Hi-Lo: 74.6 55.8 44.8 58.1 

 Avg: 70.8 74.3 77.8 74.0 

 -----------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

26 

Figure 7-4. Daily minimum and maximum temperature thermographs for Tower B versus height. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

27 

Figure 7-5. Daily minimum and maximum temperature thermographs for Tower E versus height. 

Figure 7-6. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for towers B and E for all levels per tower. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

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8 MODELING VAB TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS 

8.1 Setting up the Model 

This section develops a simple two-parameter thermal model for a building such as the VAB. 

The parameters are: the time constant of the building and an internal temperature offset, the 

definitions of which will become clear in the development. 

It is assumed that the temperature outside of the building, ( ) T i out , is being monitored at equally 

spaced time intervals (for example, every hour) and is known. The index, i , is a counter in time 

pointing to each temperature reading. The goal is to predict the temperature inside of the 

building, ( ) T i in . 

To develop the model, three standard thermal equations are needed. The first equation states that 

the difference in temperature between the inside and the outside of the building causes energy to 

flow into or out of the building. This is a net power flow and the equation, sometimes called 

Fourier’s Law, is written as

( ) ( ( ) ( )) P i kT i T i walls out in   (1) 

where ( ) P i walls is the power flow and k is the building’s effective thermal conductivity 

(including both conductive and convective coupling through the walls, ceiling, doors, etc., 

between the inside and the outside of the building). Arbitrarily, positive power flow has been 

chosen as occurring when energy flows into the building. 

Inside Temp, Tin(i).

Total Internal 

Energy, E(i)

Outside Temp, 

Tout(i)

Heat Flows

through the

walls, Pout(i)

Heat is generated

internally, Pin(i)

The second equation is a heat capacity expression that relates the temperature inside of the 

building to the total heat energy, E i( ), inside of the building. It is typically written as 

() () E i cT i  in (2) 

where c is the heat capacity of the building. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

29 

The third equation recalls the definition of power as the change in energy per unit of time. The 

change in the total heat energy in the building is given by the sum of two powers, the one 

introduced above describing the power flowing through the walls, and the power flowing into the 

building through other means, ( ) P i other , such as electrical consumption, air conditioning, engine 

operation, etc. 

( ) ( ) ( 1) () () walls otherEi Ei Ei P iP i

t t

 

 

  (3) 

where t is the time interval for data collection. 

These three equations can be combined and solved for the temperature inside of the building, 

yielding the following expression with three terms. 

( ) / ( ) ( 1) ( ). (/) (/) (/)

other

in in out

t ck t P i Ti Ti T i

t ck k t ck t ck

 

  

  

Starting from the right-hand side, the first term is the contribution from the other heat energy 

sources and sinks; the second term is the contribution from the building’s latent heat; and the 

third term is the contribution from the heat flowing through the walls. This equation can be 

simplified in two ways. First, note that the heat capacity and thermal conductivity only show up 

as a ratio, c k/ , which has units of time. So replace this with the parameter, bt , which will be 

shown below to be the building’s thermal time constant. Also, assuming that the term ()/ P ik other

is a constant, then it can be replaced with a building temperature offset parameter, Tb . This 

parameter, Tb , is the average difference in temperature between the inside and the outside of the 

building. Making these changes yields 

( ) ( 1) ( ( )). b

in in b out

b b

t t Ti Ti T T i

tt tt



  

 

Two examples are shown in the following section. 

8.2 Examples 

Example 1: 

In this case the outside temperature stays steady at 70 degrees for 50 hours and then jumps by 

20 degrees to 90 degrees where it stays for the next few days. This is of course a nonphysical 

occurrence, but shows the role that the two parameters play. The building temperature offset has 

been set to 5 degrees (the building inner temperature was started at 75 degrees) and the building 

inner temperature stays 5 degrees higher than the outside temperature until the temperature jump 

occurs. A few days after this jump, the building has returned to a stable temperature equal to 

5 degrees higher than the outside temperature, i.e., 95 degrees. The building time constant, bt , 

has been set equal to 10 hours and it can be seen that 10 hours after the temperature jump, at 

hour 60, that the temperature inside of the building is about 88 degrees, which is 65 percent of 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

30 

the way to the final temperature of 95 degrees. In other words, the parameter, bt , is indeed the 

time constant of the building (the time needed to move about 63 percent of the way to the final 

stable value). The following figure shows the role of the two parameters in the modeling of the 

building’s temperature.

Example 2: 

This example is a little more realistic in that a day/night cycle is shown for the outside 

temperature. Again, the building time constant has been set to 10 hours and the building 

temperature offset has been set to 5 degrees, yielding the prediction shown for the building’s 

internal temperature. The building’s internal temperature oscillates, but is delayed in time and 

reduced in amplitude when compared to the outside temperature. While the outside temperature 

oscillates by 40 degrees (peak to peak), the inside of the building only oscillates about 10 

degrees. Also note that the peak temperature inside of the building occurs several hours after the 

outside temperature peaks. Finally, the average temperature outside is 75 degrees but the average 

temperature inside of the building is 80 degrees, reflecting the 5 degree building temperature 

offset. 

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Temperature 

Time in Hours 

outside temp

Inside temp
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

31 

8.3 VAB Data 

The model described above can be generalized to apply to specific locations within the VAB. 

Each location has its own response time and its own offset temperature. These response times 

can be affected by changes in the building’s configuration, for example, opening the VAB doors 

and ceiling vents will allow the building to respond more quickly to changes in the outside 

temperature. Analyzing two short time periods during the 2013 year provided insight into the 

magnitude of the response times seen by various locations within the VAB. 

The two time periods studied were six days in December 2013 (December 5-10) and five days in 

July 2013 (July 5-9). The temperature variation during these two periods was relatively periodic 

allowing the outside and inside temperatures to be correlated against a 24-hour period sinusoid. 

From the analysis above, we can think of the building’s response to the outside temperature 

variation as similar to that of a first-order filter. If the outside temperature variation is periodic, 

then the inside temperature variations will also be periodic. These periodic variations can be 

decomposed into Fourier series and the fundamental components can be compared to obtain a 

phase difference, i  , between the outside and inside temperatures for each location (note that all 

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Temperature 

Axis Time in Hours 

outside temp

Inside temp
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

32 

phases presented here are in radians). Then the response time for that location, i t , can be found 

from the low-pass filter phase shift equation 

(hours) 24tan[ ]/ (2 ) i i t    	 

For example, the outside temperature variation at wind tower 412 over the six days in December 

is plotted below along with a best-fit fundamental sinusoid (the amplitude of the sinusoid is 

arbitrary). The peaks of the sinusoid are shifted from the temperature peaks due to the ramp 

shape in the outside temperature (slow cool-off in the evening followed by rapid warming the 

next morning). Contrast this with the warmer temperatures seen in the July plot where the 

temperature plots are more symmetrical and the sinusoid peaks better correspond to the 

temperature peaks. 

The table on the next page shows the phase delay for the best fit to each wind tower’s 

temperature data compared to a sinusoid. This phase is averaged to find a phase for the outside 

temperature variation. 

Figure 8-1. December 5-10, 2013, wind Tower 412 and a sinusoidal fundamental. 

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

70

75

80

Day

Temperature degrees F
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

33 

Figure 8-2. July 5-9, 2013, Wind Tower 412 and a sinusoidal fundamental. 

Tower 412 Tower 509 Tower 311 Average Peak time 

July phase 3.92 3.96 3.91 3.93 15 hours 

December 

phase 

3.65 3.68 3.73 3.69 15.9 hours 

The relative phase of the fundamental for each window tower during the July and December 

periods compared to a sinusoid. The average phases (in radians) and peak times are also shown. 

Now, consider the temperature variations inside of the VAB over the same periods. Again, a best 

24-hour period sinusoid fit is found to this data in order to obtain a phase shift. The plot below 

shows a sample of this data taken at location 6, Level 25-E, HB-3, during December 5-10. Note 

that, as expected, the data variations are less than those outside of the VAB and are shifted to the 

right (later in the day). 

0 1 2 3 4 5

76

78

80

82

84

Day

Temperature degrees F
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

34 

Figure 8-3. December 5-10, 2013, plot of the temperature variation at Level 25-E, HB-3, 

along phase matched fundamental. 

Location Dec 

phase 

Peak 

times 

Phase 

Diff 

Time Response 

(hours) 

Ceiling HB-4 2.96 18.7 –0.73 3.4 

Lev 36-E, HB-3 3.09 18.2 –0.60 2.6 

Lev 40-B, HB-2 3.05 18.3 –0.64 2.8 

Lev 32-E, HB-3 2.98 18.6 –0.71 3.3 

Lev 28-E, HB-3 3.07 18.3 –0.62 2.7 

Lev 25-E, HB-3 3.07 18.3 –0.62 2.7 

Lev 19-E, HB-3 3.09 18.2 –0.60 2.6 

Lev 16-E, HB-3 3.12 18.1 –0.57 2.5 

Lev 7-E, HB-3 3.27 17.5 –0.42 1.7 

Lev 32-B, HB-2 3.12 18.1 –0.57 2.5 

Lev 28-B, HB-2 3.04 18.4 –0.65 2.9 

Lev 25-B, HB-2 3.04 18.4 –0.65 2.9 

Lev 20-B, HB-2 3.03 18.4 –0.66 3.0 

Lev 16-B, HB-2 3.14 18 –0.55 2.4 

Lev 7-B, HB-2 3.4 17 –0.29 1.1 

Lev 1, HB-4 3.1 18.2 –0.59 2.6 

Lev 1, HB-3 2.96 18.7 –0.73 3.4 

North Turnstile 3.67 15.9 –0.00 0 

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

Day

Temperature degrees F
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

35 

Location July 

Phase 

Peak 

Times 

Phase Diff Time Response 

(hours) 

Ceiling HB-4 2.70 19.7 –1.22 10.6 

Lev 36-E, HB-3 3.16 17.9 –0.77 3.7 

Lev 40-B, HB-2 2.9 18.9 –1.03 6.3 

Lev 32-E, HB-3 3.14 18.0 –0.79 3.9 

Lev 28-E, HB-3 3.22 17.7 –0.71 3.3 

Lev 25-E, HB-3 3.25 17.6 –0.68 3.1 

Lev 19-E, HB-3 3.33 17.3 –0.60 2.6 

Lev 16-E, HB-3 3.41 17.0 –0.52 2.2 

Lev 7-E, HB-3 3.73 15.8 –0.20 0.8 

Lev 32-B, HB-2 3.14 18.0 –0.79 3.9 

Lev 28-B, HB-2 3.14 18.0 –0.79 3.8 

Lev 25-B, HB-2 3.15 18.0 –0.78 3.8 

Lev 20-B, HB-2 3.18 17.8 –0.75 3.5 

Lev 16-B, HB-2 3.35 17.2 –0.58 2.5 

Lev 7-B, HB-2 3.61 16.2 –0.32 1.3 

Lev 1, HB-4 3.55 16.4 –0.38 1.5 

North Turnstile 3.92 15.0 –0.01 0.0 

These two tables supply the fundamental harmonic phase delay (compared to a sinusoid) and 

corresponding peak times for each location in the VAB for the December and July periods. Phase 

differences compared to the wind towers are shown and from this time responses are obtained. 

The two tables shown above provide the results of the analysis and show the December and July 

phases for the fundamental component of the temperature variation at various locations within 

the VAB. These tables also show the corresponding time of the peak for the fundamental, the 

difference in phase compared to the phase of the outside fundamental, and the time response of 

that location within the VAB. 

The North Turnstile is a small independent building outside of the VAB that is open to the 

environment. The matching phase relationship between the data logger in this location and the 

wind towers helps to support the analysis. Higher levels within the building have the longest 

response times, peaking with the ceiling. In July the outside temperature fundamental peaks at 

about 3 p.m., but the ceiling temperature fundamental does not peak until nearly 8 p.m. This long 

time-delay yields an even longer time constant (due to the nonlinear response of the tangent 

function) of more than 10 hours for that location. 

Level 7 is anomalous, likely due to sunlight heating the area near the data loggers; causing these 

sites to peak in temperature earlier than the other locations and yielding a corresponding smaller 

time constant. It is difficult to draw other conclusions from the data since the building 

configuration may have varied during these time periods; for example, the doors were likely in 

different positions in July than in December. However, knowing that most locations in the VAB 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

36 

have 2 to 3 hour delays in response to changes in the outside temperature may be useful in 

predicting interior conditions. 

9 DISCUSSION 

The VAB is rarely in thermal equilibrium internally, i.e., the air temperature and the structural 

temperature are usually different. The VAB humidity data presented in this report suggests that 

the air within the building is recirculated within a couple of hours, but the thermal data shows 

response times for some areas in the building of many hours, reflecting the slow thermal 

response of the VAB structure. The temperature measurements shown in this document appear to 

be a combination of the air temperature and the structural temperature. Objects placed in the 

VAB will be convectively coupled to the air, but also coupled to the structure through 

conduction and radiation, and will be affected by both the temperature of the air and the 

temperature of the structure. The physics connecting temperature, humidity, air, and building 

mass is important to characterize, but to describe that complex relationship with a sufficient 

description is beyond the scope of this work. To quantify these relationships would be useful to 

future operations in the VAB and is, therefore, a prime candidate for future work. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

37 

APPENDIX A. 1994–2009 HISTORICAL DATA 

This appendix presents temperature and humidity data for the VAB that were gathered before the 

present activity was initiated. This data is being included for completeness, allowing this report 

to show the recently acquired 2012-2013 data, as well as data gathered during the Space Shuttle 

period. However, we do not know how this data was collected and, consequently, its accuracy is 

not known. In addition, this data was only taken at Levels 7 and 11 and should not be used to 

infer the temperature or humidity at higher locations within the VAB. 

A.1 1997 Data Summary 

Table A-1a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 80.6 87.9 89.2 83.8 

 Lo: 44.4 63.3 76.0 52.4 

Hi-Lo: 36.1 24.5 13.2 31.4 

 Avg: 70.3 76.9 82.2 71.4 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 85.0 90.2 89.4 84.2 

 Lo: 32.6 51.0 69.4 41.4 

Hi-Lo: 52.4 39.2 20.0 42.8 

 Avg: 66.2 73.8 80.7 68.2 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-1b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 99.8 100.0 100.0 100.0 

 Lo: 6.8 25.2 37.9 19.5 

Hi-Lo: 92.9 74.8 62.1 80.5 

 Avg: 67.6 73.3 76.1 66.2 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 100.0 99.8 100.0 

 Lo: 23.0 25.0 46.0 22.4 

Hi-Lo: 77.0 75.0 53.8 77.6 

 Avg: 83.4 81.0 82.6 78.4 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

38 

Figure A-1a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

39 

Figure A-1b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

40 

A.2 1998 Data Summary 

Table A-2a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 76.0 93.4 90.6 85.8 

 Lo: 52.4 61.4 77.3 53.1 

Hi-Lo: 23.6 32.0 13.3 32.8 

 Avg: 66.1 78.0 82.6 76.2 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 80.8 96.9 97.1 96.2 

 Lo: 42.8 53.4 73.2 48.4 

Hi-Lo: 38.0 43.5 23.9 47.8 

 Avg: 62.1 76.2 81.2 74.3 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-2b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 100.0 92.2 96.8 100.0 

 Lo: 26.8 10.8 41.3 31.0 

Hi-Lo: 73.2 81.4 55.5 68.9 

 Avg: 64.5 60.7 73.3 67.3 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 99.8 100.0 100.0 

 Lo: 24.6 19.8 40.7 47.6 

Hi-Lo: 75.4 80.0 59.3 52.4 

 Avg: 78.7 75.3 84.9 79.5 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

41 

Figure A-2a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

42 

Figure A-2b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

43 

A.3 1999 Data Summary 

Table A-3a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 78.0 84.5 90.6 83.2 

 Lo: 46.5 60.8 74.8 52.4 

Hi-Lo: 31.5 23.7 15.9 30.8 

 Avg: 68.2 76.3 82.1 72.8 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 80.5 91.1 95.3 83.5 

 Lo: 32.8 52.2 69.4 39.7 

Hi-Lo: 47.7 38.9 25.9 43.8 

 Avg: 65.3 74.8 80.5 70.0 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-3b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 86.6 96.9 94.3 100.0 

 Lo: 20.9 28.5 48.7 26.9 

Hi-Lo: 65.7 68.4 45.6 73.1 

 Avg: 60.0 66.0 73.1 62.6 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 99.9 100.0 100.0 100.0 

 Lo: 19.5 27.9 40.6 31.0 

Hi-Lo: 80.4 72.1 59.4 69.0 

 Avg: 73.6 81.1 82.8 77.8 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

44 

Figure A-3a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

45 

Figure A-3b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

46 

A.4 2000 Data Summary 

Table A-4a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 82.5 84.5 90.6 82.5 

 Lo: 46.5 59.5 76.0 41.7 

Hi-Lo: 36.1 25.0 14.6 40.9 

 Avg: 67.7 76.1 82.0 70.6 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 86.5 91.7 94.0 82.5 

 Lo: 33.6 47.8 69.2 36.7 

Hi-Lo: 52.9 43.9 24.8 45.8 

 Avg: 64.4 74.3 80.7 68.9 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-4b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 91.7 91.4 97.2 91.0 

 Lo: 27.3 25.6 49.4 23.1 

Hi-Lo: 64.4 65.8 47.9 67.9 

 Avg: 60.1 66.3 71.5 61.7 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 99.5 100.0 100.0 

 Lo: 29.6 27.8 43.4 32.0 

Hi-Lo: 70.4 71.7 56.6 68.0 

 Avg: 77.7 74.9 80.5 77.6 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

47 

Figure A-4a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

48 

Figure A-4b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

49 

A.5 2001 Data Summary 

Table A-5a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 80.6 87.2 88.6 83.2 

 Lo: 43.0 57.0 72.8 52.4 

Hi-Lo: 37.5 30.2 15.7 30.8 

 Avg: 66.1 77.2 81.6 74.0 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 86.5 92.5 90.1 88.2 

 Lo: 31.1 51.3 67.3 41.3 

Hi-Lo: 55.4 41.2 22.8 46.9 

 Avg: 62.9 75.0 79.4 71.5 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-5b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 92.2 85.1 86.7 88.4 

 Lo: 15.3 28.5 48.0 19.7 

Hi-Lo: 76.9 56.5 38.6 68.7 

 Avg: 63.1 62.8 70.7 63.0 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 99.6 99.9 100.0 

 Lo: 15.1 11.0 58.7 15.0 

Hi-Lo: 84.9 88.6 41.2 85.0 

 Avg: 79.6 76.3 85.6 78.1 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

50 

Figure A-5a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

51 

Figure A-5b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

52 

A.6 2002 Data Summary 

Table A-6a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 79.3 85.8 87.9 83.2 

 Lo: 45.8 67.8 75.4 52.4 

Hi-Lo: 33.5 18.1 12.5 30.8 

 Avg: 67.3 76.9 80.9 70.4 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 82.9 89.7 110.0 86.1 

 Lo: 32.2 66.0 66.7 42.0 

Hi-Lo: 50.7 23.7 43.3 44.1 

 Avg: 64.9 76.4 80.7 69.4 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-6b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 90.6 86.2 86.6 95.8 

 Lo: 14.6 36.9 49.3 28.9 

Hi-Lo: 75.9 49.3 37.3 66.9 

 Avg: 63.6 67.2 72.0 68.0 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

 Lo: 24.1 42.2 49.0 9.3 

Hi-Lo: 75.9 57.8 51.0 90.7 

 Avg: 79.1 78.9 82.4 77.9 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

53 

Figure A-6a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

54 

Figure A-6b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

55 

A.7 2003 Data Summary 

Table A-7a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 78.6 85.2 85.2 81.2 

 Lo: 41.7 53.1 74.8 49.8 

Hi-Lo: 37.0 32.1 10.4 31.4 

 Avg: 65.1 75.8 79.6 71.0 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 86.1 95.2 89.9 86.3 

 Lo: 30.6 45.1 70.0 39.3 

Hi-Lo: 55.5 50.1 19.9 47.0 

 Avg: 63.1 75.4 78.8 69.5 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-7b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 93.4 87.4 90.3 91.3 

 Lo: 13.0 23.5 58.6 21.3 

Hi-Lo: 80.4 64.0 31.7 70.0 

 Avg: 66.5 68.5 74.5 65.0 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 99.0 100.0 99.3 

 Lo: 23.9 30.9 10.0 6.9 

Hi-Lo: 76.1 68.1 90.0 92.4 

 Avg: 79.7 78.5 84.6 73.7 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

56 

Figure A-7a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

57 

Figure A-7b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

58 

A.8 2004 Data Summary 

Table A-8a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 76.7 85.8 89.2 82.5 

 Lo: 49.1 59.5 76.0 48.5 

Hi-Lo: 27.5 26.3 13.2 34.0 

 Avg: 65.0 75.3 80.7 71.5 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 85.4 95.5 98.2 - 

 Lo: 30.2 48.9 72.4 - 

Hi-Lo: 55.2 46.6 25.8 - 

 Avg: 62.8 74.5 80.5 - 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-8b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 89.8 88.4 100.0 100.0 

 Lo: 22.4 26.8 45.7 22.5 

Hi-Lo: 67.5 61.7 54.3 77.5 

 Avg: 64.2 65.7 72.8 66.2 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 99.8 97.6 - 

 Lo: 11.5 25.5 43.8 - 

Hi-Lo: 88.5 74.3 53.8 - 

 Avg: 78.9 77.3 78.1 - 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

59 

Figure A-8a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

60 

Figure A-8b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

61 

A.9 2005 Data Summary 

Table A-9a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 76.7 81.9 87.2 82.5 

 Lo: 45.1 56.3 76.7 53.1 

Hi-Lo: 31.6 25.6 10.5 29.4 

 Avg: 65.0 74.3 81.8 69.2 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 86.4 89.0 93.1 84.3 

 Lo: 36.3 51.9 56.8 43.4 

Hi-Lo: 50.1 37.1 36.3 40.9 

 Avg: 61.7 73.7 81.7 69.8 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-9b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 100.0 88.7 89.3 100.0 

 Lo: 23.9 26.1 45.0 30.4 

Hi-Lo: 76.1 62.5 44.3 69.7 

 Avg: 65.4 69.6 73.2 68.8 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 99.4 100.0 100.0 

 Lo: 6.3 8.8 19.9 28.4 

Hi-Lo: 93.7 90.6 80.1 71.6 

 Avg: 74.3 65.7 76.8 77.9 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

62 

Figure A-9a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

63 

Figure A-9b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

64 

A.10 2006 Data Summary 

Table A-10a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 78.6 83.2 87.2 83.2 

 Lo: 45.8 65.9 73.5 46.5 

Hi-Lo: 32.8 17.3 13.7 36.7 

 Avg: 64.9 75.8 80.6 70.8 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 104.4 99.9 91.5 94.0 

 Lo: 34.5 16.1 68.9 42.1 

Hi-Lo: 69.9 83.8 22.6 51.9 

 Avg: 64.0 75.8 80.5 70.5 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-10b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 96.0 87.2 96.6 93.7 

 Lo: 23.6 33.6 44.5 28.0 

Hi-Lo: 72.5 53.6 52.0 65.7 

 Avg: 62.7 66.7 73.5 69.2 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 99.9 100.0 100.0 100.0 

 Lo: 24.9 16.6 40.0 6.6 

Hi-Lo: 75.0 83.4 60.0 93.4 

 Avg: 74.2 75.9 79.2 73.6 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

65 

Figure A-10a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

66 

Figure A-10b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

67 

A.11 2007 Data Summary 

Table A-11a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 78.0 83.8 88.6 82.5 

 Lo: 48.5 55.7 73.6 47.1 

Hi-Lo: 29.5 28.2 15.0 35.4 

 Avg: 66.8 75.3 81.4 73.1 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 86.6 91.3 92.6 86.4 

 Lo: 37.2 44.9 72.3 39.6 

Hi-Lo: 49.4 46.4 20.3 46.8 

 Avg: 64.9 74.3 81.1 72.5 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-11b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 97.0 94.4 87.6 87.9 

 Lo: 27.6 26.4 48.8 23.2 

Hi-Lo: 69.4 68.0 38.7 64.7 

 Avg: 61.4 64.7 71.4 67.7 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 100.0 99.9 100.0 

 Lo: 8.6 24.8 23.4 30.3 

Hi-Lo: 91.4 75.2 76.5 69.7 

 Avg: 72.8 72.4 77.8 77.9 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

68 

Figure A-11a. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

69 

Figure A-11b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

70 

A.12 2008 Data Summary 

Table A-12a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 76.7 83.8 85.8 80.6 

 Lo: 41.0 53.1 74.1 51.8 

Hi-Lo: 35.7 30.8 11.7 28.8 

 Avg: 66.8 75.7 80.6 70.6 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 86.3 93.7 93.0 84.3 

 Lo: 35.0 46.8 70.1 44.6 

Hi-Lo: 51.3 46.9 22.9 39.7 

 Avg: 65.3 75.2 80.3 70.4 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-12b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 92.1 88.3 94.6 93.7 

 Lo: 14.2 21.0 51.1 24.3 

Hi-Lo: 77.9 67.3 43.4 69.5 

 Avg: 62.8 67.9 74.6 68.5 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 100.0 100.0 100.0 99.7 

 Lo: 28.0 18.4 40.8 23.6 

Hi-Lo: 72.0 81.6 59.2 76.1 

 Avg: 75.3 72.2 78.9 74.6 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

71 

Figure A-12a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

72 

Figure A-12b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

73 

A.13 2009 Data Summary 

Table A-13a. Temperature (F°) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 77.3 87.9 87.6 85.8 

 Lo: 38.8 61.4 75.9 46.9 

Hi-Lo: 38.5 26.4 11.7 38.9 

 Avg: 64.9 76.5 81.5 71.8 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 81.8 93.7 92.1 80.0 

 Lo: 31.1 45.3 71.6 68.8 

Hi-Lo: 50.7 48.4 20.5 11.2 

 Avg: 62.6 75.8 81.1 no data 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

Table A-13b. Humidity (%) 

 Winter Spring Summer Fall 

 Jan-Feb-Mar|Apr-May-Jun|Jul-Aug-Sep|Oct-Nov-Dec 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 VAB (HB-1/L7+HB-1/L11+HB-3/L11) 

 Hi: 86.4 88.6 99.4 93.3 

 Lo: 15.3 19.2 23.8 23.6 

Hi-Lo: 71.1 69.4 75.6 69.7 

 Avg: 58.0 69.2 62.6 59.8 

 -------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pads 39A+39B 

 Hi: 99.2 98.3 100.0 86.9 

 Lo: 15.7 22.9 51.9 49.8 

Hi-Lo: 83.5 75.4 48.1 37.1 

 Avg: 70.8 76.3 83.2 no data 

 --------------------------------------------------------
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

74 

Figure A-13a. Daily minimum and maximum temperature readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels.
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

75 

Figure A-13b. Daily minimum and maximum humidity readings for Pad 39A, 39B, and the VAB, including all instrumented levels. 
NASA/TM-2014-218335 

76 

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1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)

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2. REPORT TYPE 

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3. DATES COVERED (From — To) 

1994-2014 

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 

VAB Temperature and Humidity Study 

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 

NAS10-98001 

5b. GRANT NUMBER 

 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 

 

6. AUTHOR(S)

(1) Lane, John E. 

(2) Youngquist, Robert C. 

(3) Muktarian, Edward 

(4) Nurge, Mark A.

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 5e. TASK NUMBER 

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7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

(1) Easi 

Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 

(2) SGT, Inc. 

 Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 

(2, 4) National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 

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13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

14. ABSTRACT 

In 2012, 17 data loggers were placed in the VAB to measure temperature and humidity at 10-minute intervals over a one-year period. In 

2013, the data loggers were replaced with an upgraded model and slight adjustments to their locations were made to reduce direct solar 

heating effects. The data acquired by the data loggers was compared to temperature data provided by three wind towers located around the 

building. It was found that the VAB acts as a large thermal filter, delaying and reducing the thermal oscillations occurring outside of the 

building. This filtering is typically more pronounced at higher locations in the building, probably because these locations have less thermal 

connection with the outside. We surmise that the lower elevations respond more to outside temperature variations because of air flow 

through the doors. Temperatures inside the VAB rarely exceed outdoor temperatures, only doing so when measurements are made directly 

on a surface with connection to the outside (such as a door or wall) or when solar radiation falls directly on the sensor. A thermal model is 

presented to yield approximate filter response times for various locations in the building. Appendix A contains historical thermal and 

humidity data from 1994 to 2009.

15. SUBJECT TERMS 

Temperature, Humidity, Environmental Monitoring

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Robert C. Youngquist 

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