w

_._C'KHR- 13

MARCH 1989

Chronology of KSC and

KSC Related Events for 1988

(_A<A_]__101915) CHRON_L-_GY OF _5C AND KSC

RELAT_O EVENIS FOR 1983 Annual Report, 1988

(:New worl",., Services)-_ 110 p CSCL 05D

G3199

NQO-15040

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

N/ A

KSC FORM 16--12 (REV. 8/76)
f

T'
• y

Chronology

KSC and KSC

Events

1988

Selected

by Ken Nail,

Archivist

New

of

Related

for

Jr.

World Services, TnOo

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0

v

FOREWORD

This Chronology is published to fulfill the requirements of

KNI 2700.1 (as revised) to describe and document KSC's role in

NASA progress.

Naterlalm for this Chronology vere selected from a number of

publishedmources. The document records KSC events of interemt to

historians and other researchers. Arrangement is by date of

occurrence, though the mource cited may be dated one or more days

after the event.

NsteriaZs were researched and prepared for publication by

historian-archivist Ken Nail, Jr., of Hew World Servicem, Inc.,

EG&G subcontractor for KSC Library Servi_s. An index has been

included for added convenience to researchers _ and each entry has

been headlined;

Comment on the Chronology mhouldbedirected to the John F. Kennedy

Space Center, NWSZ-_, Kennedy Space Center, Florlda, 32899.

Walter L. Covi_n _

Center Services

J
V
CONTENTS

JANUARY ............................ 1

FEBRUARY ............................ 6

NARCH ............................. 10

APRIL ............................. 15

NAY .............................. 23

JUNE ............................. 30

JULY ............................. 38

AUGUST - 50

SEPTENBER ........................... 61

OCTOBER ooooeeeeeeeooooooooooooeeoeo " ?2

NOVENBER ........................... 82

DECENBER • • • • • • • • • • • • v • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 91

ZNDEX ............................ 101
VV
_J

JANUARY

January 3: DISCOVERY DELAYED 2 TO 3 MONTHS

The failure of a rocket booster nozzle will delay the scheduled June 2

launch of Discovery by two to three months, according to Gerald Smith,

chief of the solid rocket booster project at Marshall Space Flight

Center in Huntsville, AL. The current design of the boot ring - used

to anchor one end of the nozzle to the booster's casing - is inadequate,

officials said. "It's a possibility leaning toward a probability, w that

the current design won't be used, said John Thomas, solid rocket motor

redesign manager for NASA. The launch delay will be held to no more

than three months, if the design used in tests on August 30 can still

be used, officials said. ["Shuttle Shot Delay May Be 8 to 12 Weeks,"

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Jan. 4, 1988.]

January 4: NOZZLE RING DAMAGE SEVERE

NASA's redesigned solid rocket booster sustained more severe damage than

at first thought; serious design flaws could indicate further serious

delays for the Shuttle Program. John Thomas, NASA's head of the booster

redesign team, said engineers who disassembled the booster during the

weekend found "sharp breaks w in the nozzle's carbon outer boot ring and

had been ripped apart in six places. Investigators are studying reasons

other than design flaws to explain the test failure.

"It appears to be the design flaw s_ this point, but it's hard to say

until the investigation is completed," said David Winterhalter, NASA's

director of systems engineering and analysis. Thomas said it would take

"several more days" before engineers finished a detailed review of the

test evidence. NASA may decide to swap the failed boot ring design for

the one which was tested successfully in August and if that decision is

made, the segments could be shipped to Kennedy Space Center for stacking

in early March with a possible launch in September.

Winterhalter said "that's attractive in that we have the existing pieces

and schedule-vise it's a good option. But we don't want to move ahead

too fast." [Glisch, THE ORLAND_ SENTINEL, pp. A-1 & A-5, Jan. 5, 1988. ]

DELAY WON'T AFFECT KSC

"I don't see how eight to 12 weeks is going to affect us," said KSC

spokeswoman Lisa Malone concerning the effect the Dec. 23 test failure

of the SRB will have on Kennedy Space Center. Also today, an internal

NASA report prepared by a group of safety experts concluded that the

agency still lacks the engineers, guidelines or leadership to ensure

Shuttle safety; it concluded that safety was taking a back seat to

schedule pressures and costs. "As one worker put it, 'Their words say

safety, but their actions say don't worry about it'," the committee

report concluded. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Jan. 5, 1988.]
ORIG_NAL P£GE IS

OF POOR QUALITY

January 5= HOT GASES REACH 0 RING

Engineers from NASA and Morton Thiokol Inc. discovered that hot gases

reached an 0 ring seal in a critical rocket Joint in the Dec. 23 SRB

test failure. NASA officials expressed only minor concern because the

0 ring had stopped the gas and was not damaged, but they conceded that

the seal should not have been exposed at all to the gas. David

Winterhalter, in charge of the booster program for NASA, said that the

agency was studying it to see why it happened and that "we do not

believe it is harmful." [Sanger, THE NEW YORK TIMES, p. i, Jan. 6,

1988.]

January 6= NASA TO USE BACKUP PART IN MARCH TEST

John Thomas, chief of the booster redesign team for NASA, said that the

agency has decided to use a backup design for a failed component in the

SRB. NASA plans to push for a March 20 full-scale test firing of the

rocket. Thomas said the March test firing will not take place till

engineers have ascertained the cause of the Dec. 23 test failure. "What

we're continuing to do," said Thomas, "is to look at the hardware and

crank out the data that we hope will tell us what happened. What we've

got to do is understand all the possible failure modes." [Glisch, THE

ORLANDO SENTZNF.L, pp. A-1 & A-IO, Jan. 7, 1988.]

EG&G RETAINED FOR BOC

NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center awarded EG&G Florida Inc., a one

year, $144.88 million extension to its existing contract for bas_

operations services for 1988. Under the contract, EG&G will continue

to provide institutional and technical support services such as

utilities, facilities, administrative services, technical operations

and health and protective services at KSC. This is the sixth one-year

extension to the base operations contract first awarded to EG&G in Jan.

1983. EG&G Florida is part of the Government Services Division o_ EO&G

Inc., based in Wellesley, Mass. ["KSC Keeps EG&G As Base Operator,"

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 16Ct Jan. 7, 1988.]

DISCOVERY'S MAIN ENGINES

The first of Discovery's main engines arrived at Kennedy Space Center

tonight and will be installed Jan. I0. The other two engines are

expected in the next two weeks. Each of the engines has been test-fired

three times at NASA='s National Space Technology Laboratories near Bay

St. Louis, Mississippi. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Jan. 8,

1988.]

January 7= SpaceCRAFT FLAW LESS SERIOUS

A key component of the solid rocket booster tested Dec. 23 probably did

not fall off during the firing but rather just after the test ended, so

industry and Space officials do not view the problem as being as serious

aS first thought. J. R. Thompson, Marshall Space Flight Center

Director, said engineers _ound evidence that an abrupt change in boost,

pressure in the nozzle seconds after the test firing may have caused thV

8-foot diameter boot ring to drop off. In any event, the incident would

2
not have affected a Shuttle mission.

I, Jan. 8, 1988.]

[Wilford, THE NEW YORK TIMES, p.

Janumry 11: DISCOVERY DELAYED TILL JULY/AUGUST

Discovery's launch from Kennedy Space Center has been delayed from six

to ten weeks from its originally scheduled June 2 launch date, according

to NASA Spaceflight chief Rear Admiral Richard Truly. The delay is due

to the need to replace a booster nozzle component which failed in the

test-firing on Dec. 23, 1987. "I believe we are six to ten weeks from

our previous planning date" of June 2, Truly said. "That puts the next

Shuttle flight in the August time frame." A firm date will not be set

till investigators finish their work on the Dec. 23 test. [Fisher,

THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-I, Jan. 12, 1988.]

January 16: SOVIETS TOUR KSC

Soviet educators Joined American colleagues for a tour of Kennedy Space

Center which included the launch pads, industrial facilities and the

astronaut training facilities. The first Soviet delegation to the

United States since the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in December included:

Edgar Vladimirovich Linde, minister for higher education in Latvia;

Leonid Ivanovich Kiselovski, president of Byelorussian State University

in Minsk; and Vladimlr Pavilovich Shevchenko, president of Donetski

State University in Gonetz. The visit was sponsored by the American

Association of Colleges and Universities. [Greenberg, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 1B, Jan. 17, 1988.]

___ Jsnusry 21: FLORIDA SPACEPORT PROPOSED

The Florida Governor's Commission on Space recommended that the existing

launch complexes at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station should be

transformed into a "Florida Spaceport" to be used by private companies

for processing and launching commercial payloads. The commission,

established by Governor Bob Martinez, met at the Patrick Air Force Base

Officer's Club today. [Bixler, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 16C & 15C, Jan. 22,

1988.]

FLORIDA SPACE CAMP

Rod Collins, who headed the U. S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama,

has been named to supervise the start-up of Florida Space Camp to be

located near Kennedy Space Center, according to Space Camp Foundation

Executive Director Edward Buckbee. "There isn't a person better

qualified or more experienced in Space Camp operations than Rod

Collins. " The camp is expected to open April 3. ["Huntsville Director

Will Launch Florida Space Camp Near KSC," FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 4A, Jan. 22, 1988.]

January 22: SHUTTLE RUNWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle landing facility will undergo extensive

modifications under a $635,000 contract awarded by EG&G Florida Inc.

today to Jensen Construction Co. (Des Moines, Iowa}. Work is scheduled

to begin Jan. 26 with a mid-March completion date expected. NASA said

3
the modifications will "enhance landing safety by reducing...tire wear

during landing operations" at the Space center. The work is expected

to reduce the likelihood of emergencies at the 15,00C-foot runway, wher_

a brake failure and tire blowout placed Discovery in danger during an_mw

April 1985 landing at KSC. "Cross grooves" at either end o£ the runway

will be smoothed out on two 3, SO0-£oot sections. [Halvorson, FLORZDA

TODAY, p. 4A, Jan. 23, 1988.]

Jgnumry 24_ DISCOVERY MAIN ENOINES INSTALLED

By late evening, Discovery's third main engine was installed in the

Orbiter Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. The second main

engine's installation was begun at 8:15 a.m. having been moved by fork

lift out 0£ the Vehicle Assembly Building and moved to the OPF,

according to Space center spokeswoman Lisa Malone. The first of the I

and I/2 ton engines was installed on Discovery last week. The three

engines had successfully completed flight readiness tests at the

National Space Technology Laboratory] at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Nevertheless, Malone asserted, "there W_ll be a 20-second flight

readiness firing of the whole main propulsion system, including the main

engines, on the launch pad, probably this summer. Discovery's launch,

previously announced for June 2, will come no earlier than July 15.

[Cohen, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Jan. 25, 1988. ]

January 25= THIRD SRB TEST PLANNED

NASA has decided to conduct a third test of the Shuttle's solid rocket

booster prior to the launch of Discovery now predicted to come in early

or mld-August' David L. Winterhalter, director o£ systems engineerin_

and analysis for the Space agency, said that flaws would be--

intentionally induced in two tests of the SRBs. He said that an earlier

design o£ the rocket nozzle which had successfully passed tests in

August 1987 would be used for the first flight and that aft sections of

the rocket would be shipped to Kennedy Space Center in early March.

['Third Test Planned for Shuttle Booster," THE HEW YORK TIMES, p. 21,

Jan. 26, 1988.]

38nusry 26z STRUCTURAL "VARIATIONS" FOUND IN SHUTTLE

Structural "variations" were found in three of seven "aft skirt

assemblies" by engineers using new ultrasound scanning methods,

according to NASA spokesman Ed Medal at Marshall Space Flight Center in

Huntsville, Alabama, where the discoveries were made. Medal said it was

too early to characterize the "variations" as flaws. "What they've got

to do is understand what's being seen in ultrasound to determine if

there's a problem," he said. Medal also said that only seven of thirty

booster aft skirts had been tested to date but that all would be.

[Leary, THE HEW YORK TIMES, p. 10, Jan. 27, 1988.]

MEMORIAL DESIGN REVEALED

The unveiling o£ the final design for the Astronauts Memorial will take

place at the National Press Club in Washington, but Brevard County

residents can view the entire announcement program via satellite

transmission to the Galaxy Theater at Spaceport USA. Two of the fouz_=_

4
artists who created the winning design will be on hand at the Kennedy

Space Center attraction to meet the public. [Halvorson, F_RZDA TODAY,

p. 2A, Jan. 27, 1988.]

Jmn_mry 27: AUGUST LAUNCH FOR DISCOVERY

NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Flight, Rear Admiral Richard

B. Truly, told a Congressional hearing that the new launch date for

Discovery was August 4. NASA now plans to conduct three full-scale test

firings of the SRB's before Discovery's launch. Two will be conducted

with simulated manufacturing flaws to see whether such flaws would

affect safety; two such firings were conducted in 1987. Speaking before

a Congressional hearing, Truly said that a recent review of the program

Whas clearly demonstrated that we have struck the proper balance between

our first priority of safety and quality, while still maintaining our

commitment to return the Space Shuttle to flight just as quickly as we

can reliably do so." [Leafy, THE MEW YORK TXHES, p. 8, Jan. 28, 1988.]

Jsnumry 28: CHALLENGER COMMEMORATION

Kennedy Space Center workers and others paused today for 73 seconds to

remember the seven Challenger astronauts who died two years ago. Just

prior to Space center flags being lowered to half-staff, KSC Director

Forrest S. MoCartney spoke to fellow employees over closed circuit

television and the center's public address system.

WAs we make preparation to return the Space Shuttles to flight this

year, it is appropriate to take time Out to*remember the men and women

of the Challenger crew. Dick Scobee, Mike Smith, Ron McNair, Judy

Resnik, Ellison Onizuka, Greg Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe lost their

lives in the difficult task of learning about and stretching the

abilities of humankind to work in Space," McCartney said. "As we go

back to our varied tasks, w McCartney continued, "let us draw inspiration

from the people we honor today. And let us remember that the greatest

tribute we can pay them will be the successful launch of STS-26 and the

resumption of a regular flight schedule, w [Vosburgh, THE ORLANI_

S_TXNFJ., pp. A-I & A-13, Jan. 29, 1988.]

Jmnumry 31: THIRTIETH EXPlOReR I ANNIVERSARY

Explorer I was launched aboard a Jupiter C rocket from Cape Canaveral

thirty years ago today. The 30 I/2 pound satellite, which was launched

at 10:48 p.m., followed by 84 days the launching of Sputnik l, the

world's first satellite on Oct. 4, 1957, by the Soviet Union. The man

who ordered the launch was Major General J. Bruce Medaris, now 85 years

old and a semi-retired priest in the Anglican Church. [White, FLORIDA

TODAY, pp. IA-2A, Jan. 31, 1988.]

5
FEBRUARY

February 4z SDI TEST DELAYED

An important test for the Strategic Defense Initiative was delayed when

a potential problem was discovered in the second stage of its Delta

launch vehicle. The test was not immediately rescheduled. [Halvcrson,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 8A, Feb. 5, 1988.]

Shuttle LANDING PRACTICE

The Commander and Pilot of Discovery's first post-Challenger mission

arrived at Kennedy Space Center to begin Shuttle landing practice in

the Shuttle Training Aircraft, a modified Gulfstream If. Shutt±e

liftoff is now expected no earlier than August 4. [Halvorson, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 8A, Feb. 5, 1988.]

February 5z DELTA LAUNCH DELAYED

Bad weather postponed the launch of a Delta rocket with a military

payload till early next week, according to NASA officials. Experts also

continued to work on a second stage engine problem. Under new rules,

the launch cannot occur till the bad weather passes. The new guidelines

resulted from the loss of an Atlas Centaur rocket launched by NASA in

a thunderstorm last year. [G11sch, THE ORLAHDO SEMTZHEL, p. A-7, Feb.

6, 1988.]

February 6_ PRESS SITE HAY BE SCRUBBED

• It'sapossibiiit_ " that the Kennedy Space Center press site and VIP

viewing stands may have to be abandoned for safety reasons, according

to Charles Hollinshead, KSC's Public Affairs Director. The issue is

being debated as a result of safety studies now under way at the Eastern

Space and Missile Center, south of KSC.

WRight now," said Hollinshead, Wthe Air Force is showing us their

studies and taking into consideration what happened with 51-L," the

Challenger mission which ended tragically. Two concerns are a

catastrophic failure - such as an explosion - right after liftoff and

other critical, hazardous malfunctions - such as the loss of one of two

main engines or a solid rocket booster failure -early in the flight.

The current placement c_ the "impact line" - a boundary surrounding KSC

areas where access is limited to essential personnel during Shuttle

launches - is being debated. ESMC officials are urging NASA to consider

moving the safety perimeter - or "impact line" - farther west, well away

from the press site. That might cause denial of access to VIPs and

media to the current access and, Hol!inshead said, "Certainly we hope

that won't happen." [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, Feb. 7,

1988.]

V

6
= j February 8x DELTA LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY

An unmanned ll6-fcot Delta rocket was launched from pad 17B at Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station today at 5:07 p.m. The rocket carried a

three-ton military satellite in a mission designed as a test for the

Strategic Defense Initiative program of the Department of Defense. The

launch was seen as an important step in rebuilding confidence in the

American Space program.

A significant change in the decision process that was first used in

Delta 181 was formation of a management team to advise James L. Womack,

Launch Director, on whether to launch or hold at any point in the

countdown. The advisory group focused on weather, personnel fatigue,

external distractions and other factors that might escape the notice o£

the launch team.

John T. Conway, Director of Payload Management & Operations at Kennedy,

was the Advisory Team Leader. Members were Robert B. Sieck, director

of Kennedy Shuttle Launch Operations, George F. Page, Lockheed Space

Operations Co. Chief Technical Adviser, and Gerald W. Longanecker,

Director of Flight Projects at Goddard Space Flight Center. USAF Capt.

Thomas R. Strange, an Eastern Space and Missile Center Meteorologist,

was the weather adviser. Page formerly was Director 0£ the Shuttle

Program st Kennedy Space Center and also was Director of Expendable

Vehicle Operations, Womack's Job. The advisory group did not overrule

NASA or contractor launch teams at any point during the 135 minute

countdown which included three planned holds. [Broad, THE NEW YORK

TINES, p. 1, Feb. 9, 1988, [Kolcum, AVIATION WEEK & Space TECHNOLOGY,.

pp. 16-17, February 15, 1988.]

February lO_ NOZZLE BOLTS

The August 4 liftoff o£ the Discovery may be delayed pending the outcome

of a debate between NASA and Morton Thiokol Inc. over the necessity to

replace 72 bolts inside the nozzle of each solid rocket booster as a

safety measure. NASA said the replacement is being considered because

the bolts on hand are threaded all the way to the bolt head instead of

having a smooth bolt shank. The agency said the smooth shank might be

preferred to assure that new, special washers under the bolts seal

properly, preventing leaks which might otherwise occur along the path

of the bolt threads. ['NASA Debates Move to Replace Bolts in Nozzles

of Shuttle Rocket, m THE NEW YORK TIMES, p. 7 (National Edition), Feb.

11, 1988.]

February llz SUCCESSFUL BOOSTER TEST

A solid rocket booster with intentionally £1awed joints was successfully

tested today at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

John McCarty, Director of the Propulsion Lab at MSFC, described the test

as wlO0 percent successful, w The test was the second of ten scheduled

firings to check the effects of in-flight stresses on the redesigned

booster Joints. Project Manager Charles Vibbart said, We are attempting

to show that even if there is some malfunction, we do not get leakage."

[wChanges in Rocket for Shuttle Are Tested for Safety Margin, m THE NEW

YORK TIMES, p. 14, (National Edition), Feb. 12, 1988.]
<7 NEW NATIONAL SPACE POLICY

The Reagan Administration announced today a new national Space policy

which urges NASA "to venture into the solar system by first preparing

new technologies for sending people to the Moon and Mars." It also lays

out an increased role for commercial Space ventures. NASA Administrator

Dr. James Fletcher said, "The policy clearly establishes that, for the

first time, the United States has a long-range goal of expanding human

presence and activity beyond Earth orbit into the solar system." The

Administration has requested _II.3 billion Ear NASA in the fiscal year

beginning Oct. 1, 1989. The budget includes $I00 million to begin a $I

billion program to study technologies for establishing a scientific base

on the Moon. The program, designated Pathfinder by the Administration,

envisions a Moon base perhaps by the year 2000 and 8 manned mission to

Mars early in the 21st century. [Broad, THE NEW YORK TIMES, p. 14,

(National Edition), Feb. 12, 1988.]

Feb. 16: SHUTTLE ESCAPE SYSTEMS

Two Shuttle astronaut escape systems remain to be tested by NASA,

according to Arnold D. Aldrich, director o£ the agency's Space

Transportation System Office. He said the choice was between a rocket

system which would remove astronauts one at 8 time through the hatch

and 8 pole that would extend out from the hatch and allow crew members

to slide out beneath the Shuttle. [See April 11 entry.] Capto

Frederick H. Hauck, Commander o£ the first post-Challenger mission, said

astronauts would probably prefer the po!e system, "because it does not

involve having explosives added to the cockpit." Both systems will b_

extensively tested in the next few weeks to determine i£ one will be

used when Discovery is launched in August. [Leafy, THE NEW YORK TINES,

p. 17, (National Edition), Feb. 17, 1988.]

Feb. 17= SUN COAST SERVICES CONTRACT

Sun Coast Services Inc. (Titusville, FL) was awarded a $2.5 million

concession agreement to provide food services to Kennedy Space Center.

The agreement runs through Feb. 15, 1991, and has three 3-year options°

[tKSC Concessionaire Chosen, u F_ORZDA TODAY, p. 8C, Feb. 18, 1988.]

February 22z HAWAII CHOOSES LAUNCH SITE

Hawaii's Department o£ Business and Economic Development released an

Arthur D. Little Inc. study showing Palim8 Point on the island of Hawaii

as the best possible launching site o£ seven which had been considered°

The Little study said that the site was the only one in the U. S. from

which both polar and equatorial launohlngs could take place. ["Science

Watch: Hawaii Chooses Spaceport Site," THE NEW YORK TIMES, p. 17, Feb.

23, 1988.]

FOURTH THIOKOL TEST PLANNED

The fourth o£ six planned firing tests for the Shuttle's solid rocket

booster nozzle-to-case Joint has been planned Ear Feb. 24, according

to Norton Thiokol Znc_ o££1oials. The test will evaluate deliberate_

£1awed insulation adhesive and a damaged O-ring gasket. Rocky Raab,

8
company spokesman, said the test "will allow engineers to evaluate the

fail-safe performance of the redesigned joint." NASA engineers also

confirmed today that a redesigned booster had been successfully testfired earlier this month. ["Thiokol Plans 4th Booster Test Wednesday,"

F_RXDA TODAY, p. 4A, Feb. 23, 1988.]

Februsry 23z LOOSE INSULATION FOUND

A piece of loose insulation found in a spare solid rocket booster will

not affect Discovery's August 4 launch, according to NASA officials.

The loose insulation was found recently at Morton Thiokol Inc.'s Utah

plant said Royce Mitchell, a NASA booster official. Though engineers

won't make a final determination for several days, the flaw is

presently attributed to the processing of that particular booster

section and not a more general problem which could affect the safety of

Discovery's boosters. [Fisher, THE OR_NE_ SEMTINEL, P. A-6, Feb. 24,

1988.]

February 24_ NEW CBS NEWS FACILITY

Startler Stsgg & Associates (Cape Canaveral, FL) was awarded a contract

for an unspecified amount to design m new facility for CBS News at the

Kennedy Space Center press site. The facility is expected to be

completed in time for the August 1988 launch of Discovery. ["SSA

Receives A Contract, _ F_RIDA TODAY, p. 2F, Feb. 25, 1988.]

FOURTH BOOSTER TEST/SUCCESS

:"Indications are that we had a good test," said Royce Mitchell of the

fourth redesigned solid rocket booster test which took place in Utah at

the Morton Thiokol Inc. facility. Mitchell, who heads NASA's redesign

team, also said, "We did not get any gas leakage (from the joint) to the

outside world." He said the object of the Just completed test was to

determine whether the revamped case-to-nozzle joint would work properly

even though engineers deliberately damaged it prior to the firing.

Final test results are expected in a few days. [Halvorson, FLORIDA

TODAYw p. 9A, Feb. 25, 1988.]

9
Mmrch

Harch lz KSC/BCC AGREEMENT W

Kennedy Space Center Director Forrest McCartney and Brevard Community

College President Maxwell King signed an agreementtoday to establish

an examination center to test entry-level Space Shuttle workers at the

community college. NASA spokesman Marvin Williams said the center would

ensure that entry-level technicians and inspectors would have the

qualifications needed to do Shuttle work. The model for the program

which is already underway is the Federal Aviation Administration's

licensing program for aircraft mechanics. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. IIA, March 2, 1988.]

Harch 4z BOOSTER ASSEMBLY BEGINS

Assembly began on one of two redesigned solid rocket boosters today at

Kennedy Space Center, officials said. Assembly of both boosters is

expected to be completed by the end of April and KSC workers should then

be able to roll Discovery out to the launch pad by May 24. KSC

spokesperson Lisa Malone said, "Basically we're getting ready to begin

stacking (booster segments) at the end o£ the month." [Halvorson,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, March 5, 1988.]

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REPORT

The National Research Council reported today that NASA has many groups

assigned to assess the safety of launching Shuttles, but its ellort_

are fragmented and lack objective measures for evaluating the hazards_

Alton D. Slay, chairmen of the committee, said, "We find absolutely no

show-stoppers, t In further remarks Slay said, "Space travel will always

entail risks - it cannot be reduced to zero. The key to minimizing

those risks is to identify the most likely hazards or failures and to

take steps to eliminate them, or control them if they cannot be

eliminated." [Leary, THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 7, March

5, 1988.]

Narch 7s NASA ROCKET PLANT

Within three weeks NASA is expected to decide whether to build an

automated, government-owned rocket plant worth 3,000 Jobs to Kennedy

Space Center or the other sites being considered. NASA's Spaceflight

chief Admiral Richard Truly sald that "locating a facility at Kennedy

Space Center is a very serious option." The impact of such a plant on

the environment and endangered species in the Merritt Island National

Wildlife Refuge and the cost of transporting rocket fuel-materials from

the West Coast may block KSC from being chosen. Other sites under

consideration include the National Space Technologies Lab (Bay St.

Louis, MS) and an abandoned nuclear facility at Yellow Creek in

northeast Mississippi. [Fisher, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. A-I & A-7,

March 8, 1988.]

V

10
SECURITY CONTRACT AWARDED

Specialty Maintenance & Construction Inc. (Lakeland, FL) was awarded an

$849,500 contract to build a new security patrol building at Kennedy

Space Center. The one-story, 10, O00-square-foot building will be

constructed in the LC-39 area at the corner of Schwartz and Contractor

roads. The contract requires that the work be completed within 150

days. ["Security Contract Awarded," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 16C, March 8,

1988.]

March lOs BOOSTER PARTS IN ACCIDENT

Three booster rocket segments en route from Morton Thiokol in Utah to

Kennedy Space Center were aboard a train that collided with a car in

Biloxi, MS.; two passengers in the car were killed. Thiokol spokesman

Rocky Raab said that the segments were believed to be undamaged but

would undergo careful tests at the Space center March 11. Commenting

on the fatal accident in Biloxl, Raab said, "It's unfortunate. It seems

we can't turn around without some news event happening." The train

crushed the car carrying Victor Carriers, 67, and his wife, Suzie, 59.

Russell Bardos, NASA's Shuttle propulsion director in Washington, said

that the accident might increase support for the idea of building a

booster plant near Kennedy Space Center's canals or in Mississippi to

lessen the risks of transporting the segments on often dangerous and

deteriorated rail lines. [Glisch, TH_ ORLANDO SEMTIH£L, pp. A-I & A8, March 11, 1988.]

March lls BOOSTER SEGMENTS ARRIVE

Booster segments for August's launch of Discovery arrived at Kennedy

Space Center this morning and will undergo a week of thorough testing

to assure that no damage was sustained when the train they were on was

involved in an accident in Biloxi, MS. Two persons died in their car

when it was struck by the train. After the crash, the train's crew gave

the segments a "visual inspection" and found no obvious damage. Public

information officer Pat Phillips said that the segments had been "fairly

well packaged and protected en route, w The segments will be unloaded

next week and inspected further, said Phillips; "we can go to x-rays if

necessary," she said. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, March 12, 1988.]

Narch 15s KSC INVITES EDUCATOR S

v

Educators across the country were invited to take advantage of

educational opportunities at Kennedy Space Center via satellite.

Raymond Corey, Chief of KSC's Education and Awareness Branch, issued

the invitation in a video conference broadcast live to schools

throughout the nation. "The management at Kennedy Space Center," Corey

.

ssid, "realizes that we are helping to educate the work force of the

future, Just as you educators are doing in your classrooms every day.

We want to support what you're doing, m KSC Launch Director Robert Sieck

and other Space center officials also took part in the video conference.

The broadcast conference was the fourth in a series designed to inform

teachers about NASA programs and was made available through the Westar4 satellite, launched aboard a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral Air

Force Station in February 1982. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A,

March 16, 1988.]

11
HmrQh 16: KSC TO HIRE I00 TECHNICIANS

Kennedy Space Center was given special permission from NASA headquarter_

to hire an additional 100 technicians for quality control and Shuttle

processing, according to a NASA spokesman. Gone Thomas, head of the

Office of Safety, Reliability, Maintainability and Quality Assurance,

said he hopes to hire an additional 20 to 30 employees with backgrounds

in aircraft maintenance and safety. Thomas indicated he thought the

hiring freeze might be lifted by April, but Hugh Harris, KSC spokesman,

said that no such date had been set. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5A_

March 17, 1988.]

Herch 21= BOOSTER TEST-FIRING

A deliberately damaged solid rocket motor held up to iiftoff pressures

in s test-firing today at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,

AL. "The initial indications are that all wen_ well," said NASA

spokesman Ed Medal of the test on a shortened version of the SRB motor.

IThe proof in the pudding will come when we take apart the motor and

inspect it. A The test-flrlng was the third in a series of six.

[Halvorson, FLORIDA _DAY, p. 4A, March 22, 1988.]

OASIS INSTALLATION IN DISCOVERY

Oasis instrumentation to record the environment experienced by Discovery

during the ST9-26 mission is undergoing installation and checkout in the

Orbiter's payload bay. OASIS is designed to collect and record a

variety of environmental measurements during various in-flight phme

of the Orbiter. The primary device is _a large tape recorder bein_

mounted on the aft port side of the Orbiter. The recorder can be

commanded from the ground to store information at a low, medium, or high

data rate. After Discovery's mission is over the tapes will be removed

for analysis. [Diller, NASAIKSC NEWS RELEASE NO. _H3-15, March 21,

1988.]

NEW SHUTTLE SENSORS INSTALLED AT KSC

A new system o£ instruments was installed aboard Discovery to measure

aerodynamic stresses on the Shuttle during its August flight. The OASIS

system consists mainly of a large tape recorder that will be used to

study the effects o£ temperature, pressure, vibration, sound,

acceleration, stress and strain on the Shuttle. The information is

expected to be useful in designing future Space Shuttles. The OASIS

system was designed by Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Co.

The system of 101 sensors and tape recorder will be tested during June

15's flight readiness firing o£ the Shuttle's main engines at LC 39B.

[Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, March 22, 1988.]

Harch 25= SPACEPORT FLORIDA/GOV. MARTINEZ

Florida Governor Bob Martinez came to Launch Complex 26 at Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station to begin his campaign for a "Spaceport

Florida" - a state sponsored commercial launch facility. "We are

embarking on a mission to build Spaceport Florida, America's firs _

private-sector highway to Space. Our goal is to launch one commercia=_.j

12
_.r _

v

mission each month from Spaceport Florida," he said. "At the current

rate of $45 million per launch, this would directly inject $540 million

per year into our state's economy." Martinez asserted that facilities

at CCAFS and Kennedy Space Center give Florida "several clear

advantages" over Hawaii and other states considering developing launch

facilities for the emerging commercial Space industry. [Halvorson,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, March 26, 1988.

Haroh 28z LAUNCH PREPARATIONS ON TIME

"We're well on our way with the test program," said John Thomas, chief

of NASA's booster redesign team. "I don't see anything" in the test

results so far that would preclude an August 4 launch of Discovery.

Nevertheless, three full-scale booster firings remain to be done.

Stacking of the booster segments began at Kennedy Space Center today

and that process now includes extra tests and measurements to prevent

problems. Thomas said, "We do have a very ambitious processing flow

down at the Cape, and we could always stub our toe." [Fisher, THE

ORLAND{) SENTINEL, p. A-3, March 29, 1988.]

<7 JOURNALIST MARY BUBB DIES r 67

Mary Bubb covered the American Space program since 1957 for a variety

of local publications in addition to Reuters, The Associated Press and

United Press International. She died in her sleep at her home in Cape

Canaveral today after several illnesses. Despite failing health, she

filed a story Friday (March 25) on Florida Governor Martinez's visit to

the Space Coast to unveil his plans for a commercial SpacePort. The

last launches she covered were of five Pershing missiles March 21 from

Cape Canaveral. Bubb, 67, is survived by sons Rodger and Dennis.

[Lafferty, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. D-1 & D-6, March 29, 1988.]

Hmrch 29z SLATTERY WINS QUALITY/SAFETY AWARD

Kenneth Slattery, an employee of Bendix Field Engineering Corp. employee

at NASA's Merritt Island Tracking Station, was selected as a Manned

Flight Awareness Honoree. The selection is considered NASA's highest

award to a contractor employee for commitment to quality and Safety and

was made by the Goddard Space Flight Center Manned Flight Awareness

Program (Greenbelt, MD). ["Space Firm Employee Honored," FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 2B, March 30, 1988.]

STRIKE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

Astronaut rescue teams, firefiohters and nurses at Kennedy Space Center

are threatening to strike when their contracts expire at midnight March

31. Union president Sid Hereford said no progress was being made in

talks between EG&G Florida Inc. and his union, the Transport Workers

Union Local 525. Hereford said, "We already have picket signs ready and

it looks like we're going to have to use them." EG&G spokeswoman Laurie

Statmore stated that "we're still talking, so the company is optimistic

that we'll be able to come to agreements.

13
But we do have a strike plan. We have looked into it and at this point

we feel we can fulfill all our requirements using management personnel."

[Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, March 30, 1988.]

TITUSVILLE'S AEROSPACE CONSTRUCTION

Lockheed Space Operations Co. and Grumman Technical Services Inc. will

both build major facilities near Titusville, FL, in late 1988. The

buildings will house hundreds of new employees, company officials said

today. Lockheed plans to erect a three-story, 88,000 square-foot

building next to its present plant, south of Titusville, according to

company spokesman John Williams. It will cost $3.5 million.

Grumman plans to move its headquarters into a one-story 40, O00-square

foot building constructed in the 371-acre Meadowridge development south

of Titusvill@. Ground-breaklng is scheduled for June 1; the

construction is expected to be completed by December, said Joel Taft,

Grumman spokesman. [Brown, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, March 30, 1988. ]

Herch 30_ EXTERNAL TANK ARRIVES

The external fuel tank for Atlantis, scheduled for the second-post

Challenger flight, arrived at Kennedy Space Center today. It was towed

into the turn basin near the Space center's Vehicle Assembly Building.

["Shuttle Fuel Tank Arrives," outline, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1B, March 31p

1988.]

March 3_ KSC DISCOVERS BOOSTER FLAW

Technicians a_ Kennedy Space center detected four flaws in a Shuttl_ _

booster rocket segment today. John Thomas, head of the Space center's

booster redesign program, described the flaws as minor but as "something

we'd Just as soon not have." He said the flaws should be capable of

repair at KSC.

Technicians found insulation inside the booster casing had separated,

or "debonded," from the bottom edge of the casing. Thomas said the

accident had "absolutely no correlation" with the accident that occurred

when a car crashed into the train carrying the segment in Biloxi, MS,

March 10. [Nmlvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, April 1, 1988. ]

Space CENTER STRIKE AVERTED

A walkout by astronaut-rescue teams and firefighters at Kennedy Space

Center was averted today by the tentative agreement to a three-year

contract between the Transit Workers Union Local 525 and EG&G Florida

Inc. KSC nurses also agreed tentatively to a new two-year agreement

also with EG&G Florida Inc. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A,

April 1, 1988.]

14
Aprll

_J Aprll Iz BOOSTERS HANDLE STRESS

The Shuttle's redesigned solid rocket boosters passed a structural load

test today at Marshall Space Flight Center, according to MSFC spokesman

Ed Medal. "This test demonstrated a capability greater than that test

prior to the first Shuttle launch," he said. ["Shuttle Booster

Apparently Can Take Stress, Test Shows," THE ORLANDO SEMTINEL, p. A-17,

April 3, 1988.]

April 3: FISHERMAN CATCHES FUEL TANK

Part of a solid-fuel rocket booster was brought into Port Canaveral

today as part of a local scallop fisherman's haul. The debris was

identified as part of a Delta rocket booster. Cape Canaveral Volunteer

Fire Department chief Dave Sargeant said the 1,000-pound piece could

have ignited if heated.

The 75-foot Triton II, operated by Canaveral Seafoods, netted the motor

about 5 p.m. on March 31 while scalloping 22 miles east of the port,

according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Dan Brosseau. A Patrick Air

Force Base spokesman identified the debris as a Castor 4 rocket motor

used primarily on Delta rockets. [Hammond, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 1B, April 4, 1988.]

<. NASA WANTS FEDERAL ARREST AUTHORITY

. 7 :, • • - • •

NASA expects Congress to act this week on its request to give ail NASA •

security guards federal arrest authority which would empower them to

use deadly force in the line of duty. Only 40 of Kennedy Space Center's

240 guards are deputized by Florida law enforcement agencies. NASA

General Counsel John O'Brien said, "The individuals involved would at

least be assured of some measure of additional legal protection if,

(deadly force) is necessary, w [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, P. IA, April

4, 1988.]

<=b NO DELAY DUE TO INSULATION

Insulation was found to have separated from the rocket casing on the

bottom edge of one of the four segments that make up the right solid

rocket booster. NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone said that "there was no

evidence the debonding extended beyond the edge. It can be repaired

here wlth no impact on the [launch] schedule." She said that similar

debonding problems had been found in the past and repair work had

proceeded in parallel with other work. The debonding problem was

discovered when technicians began to assemble the two boosters for

Discovery's expected August 4 launch. ["NASA: Insulation Woe Won't

Delay Shuttle Flight, w FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, April 4, 1988.]

Space CAMP OPENS IN TITUSVILLE

J

A hundred students and their parents were on hand south of Titusville

when the country's second Space camp opened after months of

15
preparations. The camp is located on Grlssom Parkway_ its Director

Deborah Barnhart said, "Everything has gone better than we could havp

expected. Here we are on opening day and the camp is mostly sold out._mlw

[Brown, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IB, April 4, 1988.]

April 4= DISCOVERY'S ENGINES INSPECTED

Engine pumps aboard the Discovery at Kennedy Space Center were removed

for inspection today. If the pumps have to be replaced, NASA may have

to delay the August 4 launch of the Shuttle. Jerry Berg, NASA

spokesman, said that engineers had recently discovered that critical

bolts inside high pressure oxidizer turbopumps on two engines had

shifted out of position during test-firings. KSC officials said the

inspection effectively used up the remaining "contingency" time built

into the processing schedule for Discovery. [Halvorson, FLORIDA _DAY,

p. 6A, April 5, 1988.]

KSC WORKER KILLED IN ACCIDENT

Lorie Laubenheimer, 29, a Kennedy Space Center worker was killed in a

car-bus accident on NASA Causeway. Five Spanish tourists who were a/so

on the bus were injured and treated at Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital

(Tltusvllle, FL). Laubenheimer, s Merrltt Island resident, had been

employed with EG&O Florida Inc., base operations contractor at Kennedy

Space Center, since October 1987.

The tour bus, operated by TW Services Inc., was traveling west on NASA

Causeway when the accident occurre d , according to NASA spokesman Hugh

Harris. Laubenheimer had been traveling south on C Avenue. The drive_

was not identified and no citations were issued. [Halvorson, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. IB, April 5, 1988.]

April 5= KSC UNION RATIFIES CONTRACT

Firefighters and rescue teams at Kennedy Space Center voted _or a labor

contract with BOC contractor EG&G Florida Inc. that includes a ten

percent increase in salaries over ten years and improved medical

benefits. Transport Workers Union Local 525 President William Pippin

said that 79 union members cast ballots. The new contract is

retroactive to April I and runs to April I, 1991. [Mittman, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. IB, April 6, 1988.]

April 6= PROBLEMS MAY FORCE LAUNCH DELAY

Kennedy Space Center's Deputy Director Tom Utsman continues to believe

that the August 4 launch date is achievable but that technical problems

"certainly are going to make that target [date] a small bull's eye."

Rollout to the launch pad has already been delayed Irom May 24 to June

I. NASA spokesman Hugh Harris said that officials had expected several

days of delay in the preparation for liftoff. "Although there are

problems, we haven't given up on early August," Harris said. ["Shuttle

Problems May Force Delays," THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p.

16, April 7, 1988.]

ORIGINAL PAGE IS

OF POOR QUALITY

!6
April ?= OFFICE ANNEX OPENED

Kennedy Space Center Director Forrest S. McCartney today opened a new

93 million office annex expected to house 167 employees who had been

displaced years ago from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the start o£

the Shuttle Program. The employees had worked in trailers and other

temporary facilities till the opening of the new building. Specialty

Maintenance and Construction Inc. (Lakeland, FL} built the new 34,000-

square foot, steel structure. Technicians, quality control inspectors

and management personnel are expected to start moving in soon. In

addition to offices, the building includes lockers, a lunch room and

conference rooms. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IOA,

April 8, 1988.]

MCCARTNEY INTERVIEW

•There is absolutely no pressure on me to try to reduce costs that would

impact the safety of the Space Shuttle," KSC Director Forrest S.

McCartney said in an interview today with the FLORIDA TODAY newspaper.

"If we look at the work that remains to be done and the rate at which

we have been accomplishing that work, we will have to increase our rate

to make the August 4 target date." [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA,

April 8, 1988.]

April 11= CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM/POLE

NASA selected a 9.8 ft. telescoping pole crew escape system for Space

Shuttles, enabling the astronauts to bali out of the vehicle Under

controlled conditions below an altitude of 20,000 feet. Modifications

to Discovery and fit checks for a prototype pole are expected to be

completed this week. Actual flight hardware will be installed in July.

[Scott, AVIATION WEF_K & Spsae TECHNOLOGY, p. 31, April 11, 1988.]

April 12: PATTERN OF UNBONDIN G ON SRB

Evaluation of the rubber insulation on the solid rocket booster segments

at Kennedy Space Center has shown a pattern of unbonding where the

insulation has not adhered to special adhesive on the metal casing; the

insulation is being re-glued. "The unhand situation is not serious,

said Morton Thiokol spokesman Rocky Rash. He said the unbonding is not

a new problem and Morton Thiokol remains confident that its repair

procedure will be effective. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, April 13,

1988.]

April 14: Space CONGRESS THANKS CITIES

City of/icial_ from Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, Florida, were

honored tonight for their efforts in aiding the Space

Congress the past 24 years. Spokeswoman Leslie Niehouse said that the

occasion was intended to express the appreciation of the Space Congress

for the communities' support "for all of these years." [Brown, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. IOA, April 15, 1988.]

_m..11

17
_, AUGUST 4 LAUNCH DATE HOLDS

NASA is sticking to its August 4 launch date after an all-day meetin_j

in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. WThe unanimous consensus of

the management council is that although there are no pressing technical

issues which seriously jeopardize our target of an August launch, a lot

o£ hard work remains to be done, w said Rear Admiral Richard Truly, NASA

Associate Administrator for Space Flight. uWe are optimistic about an

August launch date and intend to make another careful launch date

reassessment at our meeting in May. w [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IO-A,

April 15p 1988,]

April 15: THIRD BOOSTER FZRI,N_ SET

NASA scheduled a third full-scale test firing of its redesigned solid

rocket booster for April 20. It will be the first to occur at Morton

Thiokol's Wasatoh Operations Test Site in Brigham City, Utah. ["New

Booster Faces 3rd Test Firing Wednesday, m FLORIDA TODAY, p. 9A, April

16, 1988.]

April 29s WIND TOPPLES KSC TRAILER

Three painters were injured at Kennedy Space Center today when a violent

wind turned over their work trailer near Launch Complex 39B. "There had

to have been some strong winds, because (the squall) completely

destroyed the trailer, w said Doyle Love, project manager with contractor

01son Electric Co. (Daytona Beach, FL). The injured workers were

identified st Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital (Titusville, FL) as John

Silversp William Leber and David Brewer. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p_

IA, April 20, 1988.3

_- NEW ROCKET PLANT SITE

Kennedy Space Center was among the finalists for a government-owned,

contractor-operated facility for building Shuttle solid rocket boosters.

Competitors include an abandoned Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear

plant site at Yellow Creek, Mississippi and NASA's National Space

Technology Laboratories at Bay St. Louisp Mississippi. Melbourne

Congressmen Bill Nelson said that "Florida will have its fair shot. I

hsve already had discussions with Admiral (Richard) Truly about that°"

White House approval for NASA to build the plant came April 18."

[Lunner, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, April 20, 1988, and Fisher. THE ORLANDO

SENTINF..L., p. A-3, April 19, 1988.]

GARDNER QUESTIONS SECOND SPACEPORT PLAN

Rap. Winston WBud" Gardner (Titusville, FL) questioned the wisdom of

Governor Bob Martlnez's request for state money to develop a second

launch facility; *I know it may sound like blasphemy, but I think it is

hard to Justify spending S500, O00 on something like trying to build

another Space center in Brevard County in addition to the one we already

have. _ [Brown, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IB, April 20, 1988.]

* V

18
April 201 TEST-FIRING CONDUCTED WITH FLAWS

NASA said today that a redesigned solid rocket booster with purposely

added flaws in critical seals was test-fired at a Morton Thiokol Inc.

test site near Brigham City, Utah. The two-minute firing occurred with

small holes in seals between the rocket's sections to simulate

manufacturing flaws. According to preliminary test data, the SRB

project manager Royce Mitchell said "we had a very successful test. So

far, it looks excellent." [Leafy, THE MEW YORK TIMES, (National

Edition}, p. 10, April 21, 1988.]

DELTA ROCKET DEBRIS

Two pieces of Delta rocket debris that washed ashore in Cocoa Beach,

FL, were picked up by Kennedy Space Center officials, said Pat Phillips,

a NASA spokeswoman. The chunks were found behind the Aladdin Beach

Motel at SR 520 and SR AIA. One piece appeared to be part of a motor

casing from a Delta solid rocket booster. The other was about 2 feet

long and 16 inches wide, Phillips said. Both pieces were apparently

from a Delta rocket that was deliberately destroyed by range safety

officers in May 1986 after its main engine failed about 70 seconds into

flight. EWDelta Rocket Washes Up On Beach," FLORIDA TODAY, P. 1B, April

21, 1988.]

DISCOVERY TO CARRY WORKER AUTOGRAPHS

When Discovery launches later this year, the signatures of all 16,000

Kennedy Space Center's workers wil! ride into Space with the Orbiter.

The autograph book idea came from John Archibald, a management systems

analyst with Lockheed Space Operations Co. wit was kind of a funny

thing," Archibald said. " I went over to see the astronauts when they

were here, and (Discovery Commander} Rick Hauck mentioned that he wished

we could all be with them, that they could take everyone along with them

on the flight.

WAnd I thought, we can't go physically, but the next most personal thing

anybody has is their signature. And if we could all sign a log book

showing the astronauts that we were willing to take a part of ourselves

along with them, it would be a good morale booster for us and the crew."

The book will have two hundred signatures per page and bear the slogan

written by Archibaldz "The KSC team is with you from liftoff to

landing." Space Center Director Forrest S. McCartney called the

Archibald plan "a great idea. If you think enough of something to sign

your name on it, you think enough of it to make it go." [Halvorson,

F_RIDA TODAY, p. 4A, April 21, 1988. ]

E'PRIME & ECKLER FORM JOINT VENTURE

Ralph Eckler, Titusville manufacturer of automobile components, has

Joined with E'Prime AeroSpace Corp. to build, market and launch small

rockets for educational, scientific, commercial and military uses. The

new company will produce several sounding rocket classes, hsndling

payloads ranging from 30 to 250 pounds. [Carey, THE ORLAHDO SEMTIMEL,

p. C-I, April 21, 1988.]

19
April 21z NOZZLE PART INTACT

A critical new nozzle part has remained intact following yesterday'_iw

solid rocket booster test-firing, NASA officials said today. The part

- a carbon ring - had been of concern because a differently designed

ring had _ailed during the last booster test-firlng in December 1987.

[Fisher, THE ORLAMDO SEMTIMEL, p. A-12, April 22, 1988. ]

April 22= LAUNCH SITE MAY CLOSE

Safety concerns may force the closing of Discovery's launch site later

this year and deny access to the majority of Kennedy Space Center's

16,000 workers. NASA and the Air Force are considering closing the KSC

grounds to all but about 2,000 essential workers, according to Pub±ic

Affairs Director Charles Hollinshead, who added that though such a

closure was a possibility, "I doubt that it will happen." [Halvorson,

FLORZDA TODAY, p. IA, April 23, 1988.]

April 26= NEW LAUNCH DATE IN AUGUST

Complexities in the new booster assembly process have caused workers to

fall ten days behind and will require that NASA pick a new launch date,

perhaps August 13, according to Shuttle Program Director Arnold Aldrich.

Speaking of the assembly process, Aldrich said, "It's a lot more timeconsuming. There's a lot more steps, and because it's the first time

everyone is moving cautiously to be sure they completely understand the

procedure and do it wet1." He said that he remains confident that NASA

will launch the first post-Chal!enge r mission "sometime in August."

Arnold spoke at the 25th annual Space Congress in Cocoa Beach, F1orida:_

[G!isch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-3, April 27, 1988.]

April 27_ VAFB Shuttle SITE MOTHBALLED

The Vandenberg Air Force Base (CA) Shuttle launch facility will be

formally closed next year. The Pentagon will try to find other users

for its launch facilities. The Challenger explosion together with major

safety concerns about the launch site, forced the Air Force to put the

facility into Wcaretaker status." Safety concerns included bad weather,

a launch control building Just 1,200 feet from the pad, which could put

175 workers in danger in case of an accident, and a closed main engine

exhaust duct that could trap volatile gases and cause an explosion.

[Glisch, THE ORLANDO SEMTIMFJ., p. A-9, April 28, 1988.]

CERNAN: PROGRAM LACKS PURPOSE

Eugene Cernan, Commander of the Apollo 17 mission, told the 25th Space

Congress that NASA's Space activities have not focused on a common

objective since the Apollo days. "The Space Shuttle missions," he said,

"have been nothing but a series of events." Cernan went on to say that

NASA needed to gain more political support. "We do not need to be

ashamed of our accomplishments. NASA has been timid about marketing

itself." He suggested that the Space program needed to be elevated by

the President to a Cablnet-level department. Cernan also advocated the

idea of civilians in Space. "I believe very strongly that there is

_place in Space for everybody. Certainly it is not a joy ride. We a_=j

20
a long way from doing that." He said that the best morale booster for

education and motivator for students to be interested in Space would be

letting a teacher fly on a Shuttle mission. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. IA, April 28, 1988. ]

<7 KSC ROCKET FACTORY PROMOTED

Florida state employees spent the day in Washington promoting the idea

of a rocket factory at Kennedy Space Center. Other sites in the running

for the Sl.2 billion factory and its 1,000 permanent jobs are an

abandoned Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear power plant in Mississippi

and NASA's National Space Technology Laboratories at Bay St. Louis,

Mississippi. [Lunner, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, April 28, 1988.]

<7 MORGAN WINS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Stephen Morgan, Executive Director of the East Central Space Business

Roundtable, was awarded the Space Congress's annual achievement award

for his efforts promoting Space activities in Florida. Morgan was

responsible for forming the Florida Governor's Commission on Space which

recommended a study on the construction of a launch facility for private

industry. Morgan also helped establish the Space Research Institute at

the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, FL. [Mittman, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 4A, April 28, 1988.]

Aprll 28= ASTRONAUTS READY TO FLY

Astronaut office chief U. S. Navy Captain Daniel Brandenstein said that

the astronaut corps is ready and eager to fly; Brandenstein and fellow

astronaut Stephen Hawley spoke to the press at the 25th annual Space

Congress in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

"Over the past two years," Brandenstein said, "we have been working with

the Space team in NASA and the contractors trying to get the Shuttle

flying again. There have been o lot of changes and improvements made

and we feel confident that the August time frame looks very good. What

we have settled on is a significant improvement over what we had in the

past because we had nothing. In the current Shuttle we cannot put in

an escape system that is the answer to every and all contingency

situations."

"We are confident that the clearances are adequate," astronaut Hawley

said. "Obviously it would be a very bad day if we ever had to use a

system like that. The alternative that has been designed is a

practical, economical and feasible alternative. It would not be a

pleasant experience to have to us it, but if we got into that situation

we have confidence that it would work." [Mittmen, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A,

April 29, 1988.]

April 29= BEGGS AT Space CONGRESS

Former NASA Administrator James Beggs spoke to 460 persons at the annual

banquet of the Missile, Space and Range Pioneers which marked the final

event of the 25th Space Congress. He urged more emphasis and investment

in science and technology saying, "T_ invest is like putting money in

21
the bank. m He remarked that the Space program had been through a rough

period but will return with renewed vigor. Beggs served as NASA

Administrator _rom July 1981 till February 198G. [mPlace Emphasis o_

Technology, Beggs Urges, _ FLORZDA TODAY, p. 2A, April 30,-1988.]

V

22
Nay

UCF COMMENCEMENT: JOHN YOUNG

John Young today expressed the hope that he would fly again to reporters

prior to delivering a commencement address at the University of Central

Florida (Orlando, FL). He also expressed his belief that the Shuttle

Program is, finally, back on track. "There's a lot o£ pressure to get

it up on time, w he said, "but there's also an awful lot of pressure,

even more pressure, to get it right. As long as we pay more attention

to doing it right than doing it as fast as we can, we'll be able to

operate successfully. The key to the whole thing is people. If you've

got the right people in the right locations and the right jobs, you can

make sure everything's done right."

He praised the work being done at Kennedy Space Center and said,

speaking of Director Forrest McCartney, "I can't think of 8 better guy

to have in there than the general. I think the morale of the working

people over there has picked up tremendously and they can see the light

at the end of the tunnel (to) get Discovery out to the launch pad and

get things going again...So things are coming along just fine." "Young:

Pressure to Succeed Will Launch Space Shuttles," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A,

May 3, 1988.]

TPS FACILITY OPENED

Kennedy Space Center's new Thermal Protection System Facility opened

tQday with Director Forrest McCartney cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

The new building on which construction was begun in 1985 will eventually

replace Rockwell International"s tile processing operation in Downey,

CA. That manufacturing operation will be phased in by mid-1991.

Officials wanted the complicated process closer to home to reduce the

waiting period and costs for replacements. McCsrtney said, "It makes

sense from a time standpoint and from a dollars standpoint." Currently

about 80 Rockwell employees work in the building, but as the number o£

Shuttle flights increases, NASA officials estimated that the number of

employees would double. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A, May 3, 1988.]

Nay 3: SEPTEMBER DISCOVERY LAUNCH?

NASA Administrator 3ames C. Fletcher conceded today that Discovery's

launch could come as late as early September, though the Space agency

was "looking" at August 25. "Our expected plan is to fly in August,"

Fletcher told the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

"Whether it slops over into early September I think is not important.

We will £1y this summer." ['Space Shuttle May Not Fly Until Early

September," NEW YORK TINES (National Edition), p. 11, May 5, 1988.]

Hay 4: DRUG ABUSE/KSC

Rap. Bob Walker (R-PA) urged Congress to pass an amendment to penalize

NASA contractors if their workers were caught with drugs on the Job_

Walker claimed 10 to 23 percent of NASA's Shuttle workers used drugs

on the job. "That is certainly not a situation that we want to see

23
continue...We're dealing with human lives...with major expenditures of

money. It is time to make the work places drug-free," Walker said.

Rap. Blll Nelson (D-Melbourne, FL) said Walker's estimates were inflate_

and did not apply to Kennedy Space Center. "According to Gen. (Fattest)

McCartney they've got the situation well-policed," Nelson said. John

Williams, director of public affairs for Lockheed Space Operations Co.

in Titusville, said his company was unaware o£ the Walker proposal.

Hugh Harris, director of public affairs for KSC, said NASA has not

implemented a drug-testing policy. [Lunner and Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 1A, May 6, 1988.]

BUDGET IMPACT ON KSC

If NASA's proposed $11.5 billion budget received Congressional approval,

Kennedy Space Center would receive=

*$15 million to begin construction of a Space station processing

facility. The $67 million building would be built over three years°

Construction would start in 1989.

*$4.6 million to refurbish KSC's Shuttle launch pad 39A.

*$2.8 million to upgrade KSC's Orbiter Maintenance and Refurbishment

Facility.

*$2.3 million to modify a utility annex at LC 39. [Cole, FLORIDA

p. 4A, May 5, 1988.]

COMMERCIAL SPACEPORT RFP'S

The Florida Department of Commerce has listed requests for proposals to

contractors who would outline operational, economic and financial goals

for the proposed Spaceport Florida. In addition guidelines were sent

to more than 200 firms expressing interest in the project. Program

Manager Chris Shove expects 15 to 20 proposals to be submitted. The

state will review the applications, pare the list by June 6 and begin

oral interviews June 13. [Klotz, FLORIDA I_DDAY, p. 5A, May 5, 1988.]

LAUNCH PAD ESCAPE EXERCISES

Seven astronauts ran through a test o£ emergency crew escape methods on

a Shuttle launch pad today. NASA reported that the test was very

successful. Astronaut Kathryn Thornton said, "We felt it was a very

good test. I am very confident that if a disaster like this happened

we would get off the pad and be taken care of." Among the key changes

tested during the drill was a el.5 million upgrade to equipment that

included new oxygen masks, more fire detection sensors and seven escape

baskets wrapped in fireproofed blankets. As in previous tests, no

astronauts were allowed to ride in the slide-wire escape baskets to the

ground 1,200 feet away, even though the baskets have been part of the

Shuttle escape procedures since the beginning of the program. [Glisch,

THE ORLAHDO SEHTIHEL, p. A-12, May 5, 1988.]

24
7

J

flay 5: ROCKET JOINTS PASS TESTS

Engineers inspected both the aft and center joints between segments of

the solid fuel booster and found that both worked as designed during

the April 22 full-scale test firing, said Dove Mobley, NASA deputy

project manager for the redesign program. ["Booster Rocket Joints

Easily Pass Ist Qualifying Tests, n F_RIDA TODAY, p. 12A, May 6, 1988.]

VIEWING SITES AGREEMENT

NASA and the Air Force are working to ensure that VIPs and the media

will be able to observe Discovery's launch from Kennedy Space Center

and that the Space center's 16,000-member work force will not be denied

access to the center during launch operations. WI'm very optimistic

that we are going to solve this problem in the next week to 10 days,"

said William Sheehan, NASA's chief o£ communications. "The resolution

will be to leave everything the way it is. w He said NASA's own studies,

by contrast to ones done for the Air Force, indicate that there is

little chance people in the viewing areas would be hit with Shuttle

debris in the event military safety o_icers were forced to destroy a

Shuttle early in £1ight° [Nalvorson, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 12A, May 6, 1988.]

SRB ASSEMBLY/SAFETY PLANS

An explosion in the Henderson, Nevada, manufacturing plan where solid

rocket booster fuel is made with ammonium perchlorate heightened

concerns about safety st Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air

Force Station. According to Gene Thomas, _ Director o£ Safety,

Reliability and Quality Assurance at KSC, NASA ham taken every

precaution to avert such an explosion. In addition to the booster fuel,

NASA and the Air Force store other potentially dangerous products at

CCAFS facilities, including thousands o£ gallons of volatile liquid

rocket fuel.

Thomas said that during the assembly process, all but 12 to 20 essential

workers are evacuated from the assembly area o_ the VAB. Usually there

are several hundred people in the ares, he said. Smoking, welding or

any other activity that can create sparks or £1ames are prohibited

during assembly.

Brevard County safety officials say they still don't know what kinds of

hazardous materials NASA and the Air Force store at their facilities.

_We only have a general idea that there are incredibly dangerous fuels,

incredibly dangerous chemicals in use out there as with any industrial

area," said Fred Crounse, a county civil defense spokesman. [Lafferty,

THE OR_NDO SENTINF_, pp. A-I & A-4, May 6, 1988.]

Nay 6: DISASTER SIMULATIO_ DRILL/KSC

A simulated crash landing on Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle landing

facility featured the rescue o£ five would-be astronauts. The 66-minute

exercised was termed a success despite minor communications problems,

according to Ran Phelps, KSC Landing and Recovery Director. "All the

d_fferent organizations involved were quite happy with what we went

25
through, and based on that, we think we had o good test," he said. The

exercise was the second this week at the Space center; on November 4

astronauts and workers practiced escaping a launch tower during a mOCv

fire. (Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, May 7, 1988.]

Mmy 8z FIVE PROTESTERS ARRESTED/KSC

NASA security guards arrested five persons for trespassing on Kennedy

Space Center property after a Mother's Day mpeace" raLLy. Those

arrested were Peg McIntire, Dorothy Smith, WiLLs Eiam (who was arrested

in January 1987 at Patrick Air Force Base), Wendy Loomos and Karen

Marian. They were taken by bus to the Brevard County Jail in

Sharpes, FL, where they were held on trespassing charges. Bail was set

at S250; all were released May 9. [Bumpus-Hooper, THE ORLANDO

SENTZHEL, pp. B-1 & B'6, May 9, 1988, and Bumpus Hooper, THE ORLANDO

SENTZNE/.., p. D-l, May 10, 1988.]

Mmy 10: NASA SHOULD BUILD PLATFORMS

NASA should build several small unmanned Space platforms "as soon as

possible" as s bridge to a more elaborate Space station in the 1990's,

according to a report today by the National Academy of Sciences. The

report also caLLed for higher priority to be given to microgravity

experiments aboard the Space Shuttle. Paul W. Todd, an official of the

National Bureau of Standards, headed the 13-member panel which wrote the

55-page report. [Broad, THE NEW YORK TINES, (National Edition), p. 11,

May II, 1988.]

ROCKET TESTSUCCESSFUL

Royce Mitchell, NASA's project manager for the booster redes±gn program,

smid that the recent test-firing of a full-size booster rocket was Wthe

best so far m in qualifying the rocket for the launch o_ Discovery,

scheduled now for Late August-early September. Further test-firings are

scheduled for June and July, 1988. ["Booster Rocket Testing Successful,

NASA Says," THE NEW YORK TIN_, (National Edition), p. 13, May 11,

1988.]

May 13: SMITH SIGNS WITH JLC

Former Kennedy Space Center Director Richard G. Smith has joined the

JLC AeroSpace Corp. (Orlando, FL), an aerospace consulting company, as

a senior vice president. After a brief period with Astrotech

International Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA), Smith has been doing independent

consulting. His responsibilities with JLC will be in Space systems.

[Hinman, THE ORLANDO SENTINEl., p. B-I, May 14, 1988.)

May 15: SPACEPORT GETS WARHOL ART

A set of silk screens by the late pop artist Andy WarhoL was unveiled

today at a ceremony at Spaceport USA presided over by Kennedy Space

Center Director Forrest S. McCartney. The two prints depict ApoLlo

astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin standing on the surface of the moon and

V

26
Hay 16: TDRS UNLOADED AT KSC

A 5,000-pound Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) was unloaded at

Kennedy Space Center today. The TDRS will replace the one lost on

January 28, 1986, in the Challenger explosion. KSC spokesman George

Diller said, "Everybody is real pleased to have it here. It's another

milestone toward launch. Known officially as TDR9-3, the satellite

arrived at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) aboard a C-5 cargo plane

which had taken o££ from Los Angeles late Sunday night (May 15). When

launched from Discovery later this year, the TDRS-3 will join TDRS-I

which has experienced a failure in one of its antenna and has been only

partially operational since late 1986. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p.

IA, May 17, 1988.]

Nay 18: TRULY FLIES TO KSC

NASA'S Associate Administrator for Space Flight, Rear Admiral Richard

Truly, flew to Kennedy Space Center today to meet with Director Forrest

S. McCartney, Marshall Space Flight Center Director J. R. Thompson and

Johnson Space Center Director Aaron Cohen. They discussed the progress

being made in preparing Discovery for launch later this year. Aviation

Week & Space TechnoloQy reported this week that the new launch date will

be August 29. Other sources say the launch will occur the next day,

August 30. The SRB stacking is expected to be completed May 26; mating

of Discovery with its boosters and external tank is expected to be

completed in the VAB on June 8 and a test-firing o£ the main engines is

planned for July 17. [Halvorson, F_RZDA TODAY, p. 8A, May 19, 1988. ]

-.-4May 19z INDIAN CAMP GROUND EXCAVATED

An ancient Indian camp ground has been excavated at a site which may be

converted for use as a new VIP viewing area for Space Shuttle launches.

Ten men have dug up thousands o£ pottery shards, animal bones, tools and

the remnants of campfires and posts used for primitive homes. Most

items date from 500 B.C., though a few date from 4,000 to 6,000 B.C.

The items will be studied for three months then turned over to state

curators. Some o£ the artifacts will eventually be on display at

Spaceport USA and at the Brevard Historical Museum in Cocoa, Florida.

A Kennedy Space Center spokesman indicated that though there are at

least fifteen other archaeological sites none will be excavated unless

NASA needs to use the property for its purposes. [Lancaster, THE

ORLANDO S_TINEL, pp. D-I & D-6, May 5, 1988 and "Past May Meet Future

at KSC Dig Site," THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. D-8, May 20, 1988.]

Nay 25: NO JOINT MARS TRIP

NASA Administrator James Fletcher says the Space agency has no money to

pay for this country's participation in a joint mission to Mars with the

Soviet Union. The mission was recently proposed by General

Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev o£ the U.S.S.R. [Glisch, THE ORLANDO

SF_TINF_, p. A-3, May 26, 1988.]

27
Nay 26: DISCOVERY'S BOOSTERS ASSEMBLED

Workers at Kennedy Space Center today finished stacking the major

segments of the two solid rocket boosters which will help launc|_

Discovery later this year. The work began on March 28 and progressed

slowly in order to ensure that new field Joints and critical 0 ring

seals were not damaged in the stacking processes. Nose cones will be

put in place this weekend.

NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone said that the completed booster work "keeps

us on track for a late June rollout to the pad," although officials have

also said that milestone could slip into July because of lagging work

on the Shuttle. [Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-18, May 27, 1988.]

Nay 29: NEW LAUNCH RULES

Sweeping changes have been made to the launch rules under which

Discovery will be launched later this year. "Nobody is afraid to say

anything, be it grass roots or the management level," said Bob Slack,

Discovery's launch director_ "There is very open communication between

all levels of this program now. That's the major lesson learned [from

Challenger]. We're not going to let that happen again."

NASA re-examlned 2,500 Shuttle systems and created a special 20-person

launch team, led by veteran astronaut Robert Crippen, who will give the

final "go" after a series o£ meetings are held to discuss all aspects

of Shuttle safety. NASA's new safety boss George Rodney, a member of

Crippen's team, will hold separate talks with his experts before main

liftoff meetings to ensure all concerns are adequately discussed.

Nearly all key meetlngs with managers will be held "face-to-face" at

Kennedy Space Center for better communication. Shuttle systems must

pass a 2,500 item checklist which includes 283 items in the last 30

seconds. More readings on booster rockets and main engines are among

the new items.

Launch temperatures must be much warmer than prevailed when Challenger

was launched. Proposed rules say that liftoff is cancelled if the

temperature has not averaged between 40 to 50 degrees during the 24

hours prior to launch. Heaters wrapped around critical booster rocket

O-rings must be at a constant 85 degrees to keep them in proper working

condition.

There will be no launch if lightning strikes 10 miles from the pad; few,

if any, clouds may be over the launch site and the winds must be mild.

Safety chief George Rodney said, "the first launch is going to be tough.

I anticipate difficulty, but I believe we have done everything you can

think o£ it make the system as good as you can make it. [Glisch, THE

ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. A-1 & A-8, Hay 30, 1988.]

May 31: TDRS/IUS MATED

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) and its Inertial Upper

Stage Booster were mated today by workers at Kennedy Space Center. The

mated payload will be carried aboard Discovery when it is launched i

August. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, June I, 1988.3

28
.. BREVARD SPACE SCIENCE INSTITUTE

The Florida Senate approved the expenditure of $2.5 million annually

from Challenger license plate revenues in support of a Space science

institute in Brevard County. The institute will be operated by Florida

Institute of Technology and would be located near Kennedy Space Center.

[Willmoore, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, June I, 1988.]

29
June

Juno Iz PROTESTORS SEEK JURY TRIALS V

Five women arrested on charges o£ trespassing at Kennedy Space Center

last month have requested jury trials and asked that their trials be

consolidated to save money for Brevsrd County taxpayers, according to

defendant Wendy Loomss. All five women said they would represent

themselves. [Bumpus-Hooper, THE ORLAMDO SEMTIMEL, pp. B-1 & B-7, June

2, 1988.]

June 2, EDUCATIONAL VIDEO SHOT AT KSC

Kenneth Ahmie, a section chief in the design engineering office at

Kennedy Space Center, was featured in an educational video tape being

made out at Launch Pad 39B. *Our Native American Heritage," filmed by

Roy Williams for his company Instructo-Vision, shows 15 Native Americans

and non-lndian professionals talking about their careers in science,

engineering and medicine. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, June 3,

1988.]

June 6z THIOKOL LEAVING ...............

Morton Thiokol Inc. announced today that it will not bid for the

contract to build a new, advanced rocket motor for the Space

transportation system. Rather, it will leave the booster business when

the next generation o£ more powerful rockets comes on line in the 19908.

Edwin Garrison, Thiokol's group vice president for aerospace, said the

decision not to bid was based in part on the company's desire t_

concentrate more fully on the program to redesign the current generation

o£ booster rockets made by the company in its plant in Brigham City,

Utah. He added that the decision also would "materially benefit NASA's

key objectives and is in the best interest o£ America's Space program."

Thiokol spokesman Rocky Raab sald that the company remains interested

in bidding on other solid-fuel rockets, including those which might be

used on unmanned versions o£ the Shuttle. ["Thiokol: No Bid to Build

New Rocket," THE ORLAMDO SEHTIBEL, pp. A-1 & A-4, June 7, 1988.]

June 7z ROCKET FUE_ CRISIS

The lo88 o£ the Pacific Engineering and Production Company rocket fuel

plant in Henderson, Nevada, raised serious implications for the future

of the Space program in general and the Shuttle Program specifically.

The May 4 explosion reduced by half the American capacity for producing

the fuel, leaving only a single other producer - Kerr-McGee Chemical

Corporation, also o£ Henderson, Nevada. The Kerr-McGee plant has

suspended operations pending a safety inspection ordered by federal

officials. [Ironically, a Soviet rocket fuel plant also exploded May

12 in Psvlograd, 500 miles south o£ Moscow. Western analysts project

8 possible delay in Soviet solid-propellant missile programs o£ 3 to 6

months.]

Rocket fuel shortages are expected to become severe in 1989 and remain

serious into the 19908 and the launchings o£ both military rockets an_

30
Space Shuttles are likely to be impacted for the next two to three

years. O££ici81s said that it will probably take two years for new

manufacturing plants to be built and operating.

The Department o£ Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration have held meetings daily to set launch priorities and to

allocate the scarce ammonium perchlorate, the catalytic agent in solidfuel rockets. On June 8, the House Committee on Science, Space and

Technology opens an investigation into the fuel shortage.

The fuel shortage is not expected to affect plans for the August launch

o£ Discovery or the initial Titan 4 flights, according to Lieutenant

Colonel Rick Osborn, Air Force spokesman. He said there is enough fuel

on hand for five Shuttle launchings and four Titan 4 missions.

In addition to the Shuttles and Titan 4's, about 80 other military,

scientific and commercial programs also require the fuel in the United

States, as does the Arlene program o£ the European Space Agency. No

foreign producers make enough of the fuel to replenish the international

shortage, according to government officials. [Wilford, THE NEW YORK

TIME, (National Edition), pp. I & 9, June 8, 1988, and AYZATZOH WEEK

& Spice TECHHOL_Y, p. 15, May 23, 1988.]

SHUTTLE LANDING SIMULATED/KSC

Three astronauts successfully made a mock emergency landing at the

Shuttle landing facility at Kennedy Space Center to conclude a

comprehensive rehearsal for the launch of Discovery on August 31. The

launch team and mission control in Houston rehearsed the final three

hours o£ countdown to launch and 8 simulated launch failure culminating _

in the emergency landing at KSC. Robert L. Crippen, an astronaut who

is nov deputy director of Shuttle operations, described the rehearsal

as an Sexcellent exercise, w

Astronauts participating in the exercise at Kennedy Space Center were

Loren Shriver, James Weatherbee and Franklin Chang-Diaz. Observing at

Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, were Discovery Commander Frederick

H. Hauck and the four members o£ his crew. [WAstronauts Simulate

Emergency Shuttle Landing, _ THE HEY YORK TZHF..S (National Edition), p.

9, June 8, 1988.]

FLORIDA COMMERCIAL SPACEPORT

Florida's state legislature earmarked $2.5 million a year for a Space

research center to be located near Kennedy Space Center and included

SSO0, O00 in the state budget to study how to establish the nation's

first commercial Spaceport. [Willmoore, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, June

8, 1988.]

June 10_ DISCOVERY PLANS ON TRACK

Bob Sieck, Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Launch Director sald today

that when Discovery moves from the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) to

the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), it will be ready to fly. "The most

challenging task we have is the documentation that goes with

having the vehicle overhauled for the past two years." Astronaut Robert

31
Crippen, who along with Slack met with reporters today, said ,ha +

procedures followed by management and launch and flight support teams_

during a mock countdown June 7 have been fine tuned so team players

understand their responsibilities.

•There are no dramatic differences from what we have done in the past,"

Crippen said. "I£ there has been a change it is in the degree of

documentation about who will be responsible." Slack said a late-August

launch date wms optimistic and that "given where we are today, we have

a shot at it." [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, June II, 1988.]

3un9 11: ASTRONAUT CHARLES BOLDEN/TITUSVZLLE

Astronaut Charles Bolden, speaking to the Space Coast Chapter of the

National Technical Association's Space Camp Awards Ceremony in

Titusville, FL, said that the date o£ Discovery's launch is not as

important as understanding the risks and continuing to strive for Space

exploration. "It would be very easy for all of us connected with the

Space program to say, 'I'm not going to work over there tomorrow because

it's dangerous and we could hurt people and we might lose somebody

else.'" Bolden said. "But if you believe in what you are doing, it's

very important to stick to it."

mI'm confident," he said, "that we are doing the'right kinds of things

and we're not rushing. That's why I say we'll fly in August or

September. I thin when we fly is not as important as doing it and doing

it right, We're getting there." [White, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, June 12

1988.] ..... • V

June 12= GORDON HARRIS

Gordon Harris, former chief o£ public affairs at Kennedy Space Center

(1963-1924) died today at the home of his son David in Huntsville,

Alabama, after a long battle with lung cancer. Known as the "Voice of

NASA" during the 1960s, Harris became head of public affairs at the

Space center in 1963 following careers in Journalism and military public

affairs. Harris was to be buried June 16 in Nashville. He is survived

by his wife Bernice, sons David and Thomas, six grandchildren and three

great-grandchildren. A memorial service for Harris was scheduled in

Cocoa Beach, Florida, for June 28 at St. David's by the Sea Episcopal

Church. [Mittman, FLXIRIDA TODAY, p. 1A, June 14, 1988, and "Memorial

Service Set for Harris," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1B, June 27, 1988.]

SEPARATE TRIALS FOR PROTESTORS

Brevard County Judge Peter Haddad ruled today that the five women

arrested at a Kennedy Space Center protest demonstration in May must be

tried separately. The five women are Willa Elam, Wendy Loomas, Marjorie

McIntyre, Dorothy Smith and Karen Morian. Haddad also denied three

motions to dismiss the charges against the defendants who were charged

with trespassing. [Nagy, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1B, June 14, 1988.]

3une 14: BARBARA MORGAN VISITS BREVARD

Teacher-in-Space runner-up Barbara Morgan joined twenty other elementary

school teachers at a NASA-sponsored Space education workshop in Cocoa

32
Beach today. Morgan was Christa McAuliffe's backup during the

Challenger crew's training. Morgan indicated she might be on hand for

Discovery's launch if it does not conflict with her school duties. "I

remember when they launched the chimp into Space," Morgan said. "I just

remember reading about it in WEFJ(LY READER. I remember thinking, 'Why'd

they launch a chimp? They should have launched a kid. Kids are a lot

smarter than chimps.'" ["Teacher-in-Space Finalist Visits," FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 1A, June 15, 1988 and Klotz, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 12A, June 15,

1988.]

AUGUST LAUNCH POSSIBLE/MCCARTNEY

Kennedy Space Center Director Forrest McCartney asserted today that an

August launch for Discovery remained a possibility, but said that three

things must occur before that takes place: all documentation must be

completed; a complete analysis of the fourth SRB test [see below] must

be undertaken and a fifth test must be successful. McCartney said,

"We're now in the process of closing out the Orbiter and checking on the

documentation - some of which is two years old by now." [Klotz, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 12A, June 15, 1988.]

FOURTH SRB TEST

The fourth test of the Shuttle's solid rocket booster was an apparent

success, according to NASA and the SRB manufacturer Morton Thiokcl.

"All indications are we had an excellent test," said Royce Mitchell,

manager of NASA's solid rocket booster project. The test was conducted

in a new $22 million facility built by both NASA and Morton Thiokol.

Mitchell vent on to say that "the new facility worked great and the

motor performed very, very well." A fifth test is tentatively set for

late July, with a deliberately flawed booster that will push the rocket

motor to its limits, Morton Thiokoi officials said. [Mittman. FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 1A, June 15, 1988, Gurwell and Hoversten, USA TODAY, p. 3A,

June 15, 1988, and Fisher, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-3, June 15, 1988.]

CHARLES WALKER IN COCOA BEACH

Astronaut Charles Walker told a gathering of aerospace officials at a

Space station workshop in Cocoa Beach today that a successful flight by

Discovery will help the country "cleanse itself" from the trauma of the

Challenger tragedy and engender new support for Space exploration. "It

was much like somebody Just beginning to learn to ride a horse," said

Walker. "Remember, the Space Shuttle had only launched for five years,

only 24 flights. We were still relatively new at what was going on with

the Space Shuttle and the accident happened. If you fall off and don't

get back on and ride soon, you're not going to want to ride again.

You're going to be too afraid.

"We as a nation, are going to have to launch a Shuttle again, to get a

crew into Space and back successfully. When that happens at the end

of this summer, I think all of the sudden we will have cleansed

ourselves of the trauma of the accident and we'll say 'This is the way

it was. This is what's right. We can do this. There will be a lot

more very positive support for Space that will then spring forth again

from that event," Walker said.

33
"They've done plenty of things that would have been necessary anyway,"

said Walker of the recovery of the Shuttle system. "It's absolutely

going to be a safer, more efficient vehicle when it gets back in th_

air. It would have been better if we didn't have to wait this long,

but it's a complex system." Referring to the Space station, Walker

called it "a goal we can't keep at arm's length for the next eight

years. It has to [be] particularly pursued with a great deal of

dedication and discipline." [White, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 13A, June 15,

1988.]

June 15: SpacePORT FLORIDA STUDY PROPOSALS

Florida's Department of Commerce narrowed its list of Spaceport Florida

study proposals to four companies: Briel Rhame Poynter & Houser

Architects-Engineers Inc. (Melbourne, FL); Pan American World Services

(Cape Canaveral, FL); TranSpace Carriers (Lanham, MD); United Engineers

and Constructors Inc. (Denver, CO). [Klotz, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 6A, June 16, 1988.3

June 16: DRUG TESTS FOR KSC

Random drug testing of 500 Kennedy Space Center civil service workers

will begin late this year, according to Ray Sparnon, who directs NASA's

program for a drug-free workplace. The KSC Director, his deputy, the

launch director and top engineers, inspectors and security workers are

among 2,000 NASA workers across the country who have been selected for

testing because of their crucial positions.

NASA has also pledged to encourage its contractors voluntarily to begi_

programs because of the close working relationships between civil

service and contractor employees in the Space program, Sparnon said.

That program will not necessarily have to include drug testing. Both

Lockheed Space Operations Co. and EG&G Florida already have drug

programs that emphasize education, with assistance to employees having

drug problems. [Fisher, THE ORLANDO SENTINFJ., pp. A-1 & A-6, June 17,

1988.]

HARRINGTON SUCCEEDS GAY

James Harrington, deputy director for Space Shuttle operations at

Kennedy Space Center, has been named to replace that office's director,

Charles Gay, who recently retired. Harrington reports to Tom Utsman,

Director of Space Transportation System Management and Operations. The

new director has an electrical engineering degree _rom the University

of Miami; he joined KSC as a senior test supervisor in 1966 to work on

the Apollo lunar landing program. ['Harrington Named Operations

Director," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5A, June 17, 1988.]

June 20: DISCOVERY READY FOR ROLLOVER

A sign hanging between the OPF and the VAB read "0V-103 Come On Over,"

the day before Discovery rolled over to the Vehicle Assembly Building

for mating with its external tank and boosters. Weather was a concern

early and did cause a one day delay till June 21. [Mittman, FLORID"

TODAY, p. 1A, June 21, 1988.] V

34
-- PLAYALINDA ROAD CLEARS COMMITTEE

The House Appropriations Committee approved $6.6 million in funding for

construction of a new access road to Playalinda Beach north of

Titusville, FLp according to Melbourne Democrat Rap. Bill Nelson.

Construction o£ the road would shorten the amount o£ time that beach

access would be restricted due to the need to protect Shuttle launches.

[Horgan. FLORIDA TODAY, p. IB, June 21, 1988.]

June 21: RETOOLED DISCOVERY ROLLS TO VAB

Discovery, having spent 600 days undergoing modifications, finally

rolled over to the VAB at Kennedy Space Center where it will be mated

with its external tank and solid rocket boosters. Rollout to the launch

pad may occur late next week. Described as "squeaky clean" by Shuttle

processing chief John Talone, Discovery may still meet the late August

or early September launch target. Talone said, "We've done a lot o£

work - hard work. This was like a rebirth. This was like saying we're

back in business and we mean to stay in business.

KSC Director Forrest McCartney said, "More than anything else, it's a

testimony to the fact that people have worked hard to make this reality.

Everything we see says it was a very good job. I don't know of any

single thing about the'that Orbiter we're concerned about." More than

500 persons saw Discovery make the 25 minute trip from the Orbiter

processing facility to the VAB. [Gllsch, THE OR_MDO SENTINFJ., pp. AI & A-7, June 22, 1988.]

SHUTTLE DOCUMENTATION COMPLETED

The rollover of Discovery from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the

Vehicle Assembly Building was delayed till today due to the thousands

of processing documents which had to be completed. By June 20, workers

had reduced the number of pages to be completed to 178, from more than

1,000 pages I0 days ago, according to Frank Jones, lead engineer for the

thermal protection system. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, June 21,

1988.]

June 22z DISCOVERY'S STACKING DELAYED

A malfunctioning landing gear delayed the planned stacking o£ Discovery

with its booster and external tank today, NASA spokesmen said.

Engineers and technicians made repeated trips in and out o£ the landing

gear doors in an effort to get the gear to retract. When the problem

is resolved, Discovery will be hoisted by crane to a vertical position.

The process of hooking up the fuel lines and other equipment between the

vehicle and its boosters and tank takes about 20 hours. On June 24, a

five-day test of the connections will begin prior to the July I rollout

to the launch pad, a six-hour trip. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA,

June 23, 1988.]

June 23_ LANDING GEAR PROBLEM CORRECTED

Discovery's landing gear problem [see above] was resolved late tonight

and the landing gear doors were closed by workers in preparation for

35
stacking June 24. Mechanical systems worker Ken Fore said that the

problem does not affect astronauts' controls for releasing the landing

gears and does not pose a threat to astronaut or vehicle safety. The

system had been a backup in case the doors failed to open b_

gravitational pull during a normal approach to the runway, he said. A

similar problem had arisen in Columbia and Atlantis and never caused a

failure during landing. Resolving the problem took two days due to

delicate adjustments and repeated tests. Rollout is still expected for

July 1. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, June 24, 1988.]

June 24, DISCOVERY STACKED

For the first time in more than two years the VAB's 250-ton overhead

crane was used to hoist a Shuttle vertically for assembly with its

external tank and solid rocket boosters. That hoisting operation was

completed late in the evening and Discovery was prepared to undergo five

days of tests that will determine if all connections are working.

Rollout has been expected to occur July 1, but processing problems may

delay that event. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, June 25, 1988.]

3une 26z MERCURY ASTRONAUTS AT Space CAMP

Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and John Glenn and Betty Grissom (widow

of astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom) toured the temporary facilities of

the U. S. Space Camp in Titusville. The camp is sponsored by the

Mercury 7 Foundation which was set up in 1984 by the original Mercury

astronauts. The Foundation's goal is to elevate the standard of

education in America through efforts like Space Camp and give

scholarships to college and graduate school students who demonstratr

academic excellence, creativity and motivation. [White, FLORIDA TODAY_

p. IA, June 27, 1988.]

June 27z DISCOVERY CEREMONY ANNOUNCED

Kennedy Space Center plans a public ceremony to celebrate Discovery's

arrival at the launch pad on July 3. Center Director Forrest S.

McCartney will present Discovery Commander Frederick Hauck with more

than I00 pages of KSC employee signatures which will be carried aboard

the Shuttle when it is launched in early September. "It is really just

an occasion to say thank you to the people who have been working so hard

to get to roll out," said KSC spokesman Hugh Harris. The signatures

were the idea of Lockheed Space Operations Co. employee John W.

Archibald III, a management systems analyst. The public will be allowed

to drive by the pad between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. the morning of the

rollout. (Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, June 28, 1988.]

LAUNCH MANIFEST ANNOUNCED

The U. S. Department of Transportation announced the first "U. S.

Commercial Launch Manifest w today. The manifest lists 19 launches,

three fourth of which will take place from Cape Canaveral. "Our future

is as bright as it's ever been," said Don Maclean, a McDonnell Douglas

launch operations manager at the Cape. "We have added people - we now

have about 200. If all this materializes, the work force could increase

by 25 percent." [Lunner and Klotz, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A - 2A, June 28

1988.3

36
,7 I MILLION VISITORS FOR DISCOVERY LIFTOFF

7

A million visitors and journalists are expected to arrive in Brevard

County for the launch o£ Discovery in late August or early September.

To cope with the in£1ux of visitors, Brevard County Administrator Tom

Jenkins has formed a group of government officials and commercial

leaders who will brainstorm ways of coordinating services. The Space

Shuttle Launch Task Force will organize everything from camp ground

accommodations to convenience store hours and will work with Arnold

Richman, KSC Chief of Visitor Services. [George, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 16C,

June 28, 1988.]

June 28: DISCOVERY LAUNCH: SEPT. 4

NASA announced today that Discovery's liftoff will occur September 4.

Officials said that minor problems along with slow-moving work and new

safety procedures caused the delay. Rear Admiral Richard Truly,

Associate Administrator for Space£1ight, said that rollout may come July

3. Truly said, "Hard work by a lot of people is paying off and the

Shuttle Program is coming along nicely. "Still to come are a 20-second

firing of Discovery's three liquid-fuel main engines on the pad July 24

in an overall test of Shuttle systems and the final full-scale firing

of the Orbiter's redesigned solid rocket booster in Utah on July 25.

Major problems during either o£ these tests could delay launch

indefinitely. [Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-3, June 29, 1988, and

"NASA Delays Shuttle Launching for Third Time, Until September," THE NEW

YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 12, June 29, 1988.]

°June 30z DISCOVERY ROLLOUT DATE UNCERTAIN

The decision on when to roll Discovery out to the launch pad will be

based on the progress o£ the Shuttle interface test now underway. That

testing has usually been completed while the Shuttle is in the Vehicle

Assembly Building. Workers will be permitted to drive by the launch pad

the morning after rollout. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, June 30,

1988.]

TWO PROTESTORS CONVICTED

Protestors Wills Elam and Wendy Loomas were convicted today of

trespassing at Kennedy Space Center. State prosecutor James Carter

asked that the two be fined S25,000 as part of their sentence. That

amount, said Carter, was approximately what EG&G Florida Inc., security

contractor at KSC, expended to "protect the Space center from

demonstrators and to take pictures and prepare other material for the

charges." Carter went on to say, "Your honor, you've sentenced Ms. Elam

to six months in Jail before. I don't think she has learned from her

actions." [Bumpus-Hooper, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. B-I & B-5, July 1,

1988.]

37
JULY

July 1: JAIL FOR ELAM & LOOMAS

V

Protestors Wills Elam and Wendy Loomas were sentenced to Jail terms of

one year and nine months respectively. Brevard County Judge Peter

Haddad did not announce his decision on the prosecutor's recommendation

that Elam and Loomas pay S33,408 in restitution and S640 each in court

costs. Protestor Dorothy Smith, in a non-jury trial this morning, was

also convicted o£ trespassing and ordered to pay a $500 fine and spend

30 days in Jail. Smith refused to pay the fine. Brevard County

prosecutor Norm Wolfinger said, "They demonstrated a complete disregard

for the law. They could easily demonstrate their views without crossing

a security line. You can't criticize people for their views about

disarmament but that doesn't give them a license to pass on their views

to you with the accompanying expense to the public."

Protestor MarJorie McIntyre pleaded no contest to the charge of

trespassing and received a $500 fine. Karen Morian was convicted by the

Jury which took 16 minutes to render its verdict; she was sentenced to

six months in jail. [Sellers, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. D-1 & D-5, July

2, 1988, "Sth Woman Guilty o£ KSC Trespassing," THE OR_NDO SENTINEL,

p. B-2, July 7, 1988, and Brown, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1B, July 7, 1988.]

LAST TEST BEFORE ROLLOUT

Jim Hsrrington, Chief of Shuttle Processing, announced today that

Discovery will be rolled out to Pad 39B at 12:01 a.m. on the Fourth o:_

July. The last necessary tests were performedtoday; these were to _"

insure that Discovery's systems were connected properly to its twin

redesigned booster rockets and the external tank. The holiday rollout

will require the presence of between 500 and 1,000 Kennedy employees

with the remaining 15,000 having the weekend off. Kennedy workers will

also have the rare opportunity to drive by the launch pad with their

families after it reaches the pad.

The midnight rollout was scheduled to accommodate weather forecasts.

The whole ceremony will be illuminated by floodlights as Discovery

emerges from the Vehicle Assembly Building and heads for the pad.

Center Director Forrest S. McCartney will preside and present Discovery

crew member David Hilmers with a 107-page book signed by 15,240 Space

center employees. The book will accompany the five member crew into

Space. Besides Hilmers, the crew includes Commander Frederick Hauck,

Pilot Richard Covey and Mission Specialists John Lounge and George

Nelson. EOlisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-4, July 2, 1988, and

Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, July 2, 1988.]

EXTRA DAY AT PLAYALINDA

Calvin Butch, Kennedy Space Center's chie_ of security operations, gave

beachgoers an extra day at Playalinda Beach east o£ Titusville, Florida.

NASA bent its rules which call for closing access to the

beach one day be/ore rollout by allowing access till sundown July 3.

Butch said, "We trying to be a good neighbor." [La£ferty, THE ORLAND_

S_TIN_, p. A-4, July 2, 1988.]

38
July 4z DISCOVERY ROLLS OUT

Discovery rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at 12:50 a.m.

today amid the cheers of 2,000 workers and officials. Astronaut Robert

L. Crippen told the crowd, "This is a proud day. This is what I call

a happy Fourth of July." Discovery crew member David Hilmers said, "It

is the mark of a great nation, of its greatness, that it can rise again

from adversity. And with Discovery, rise again we shall. As the

applause faded, Hilmers added, "What more fitting present can we make

to our country than this, on the day of its birth. America, the dream

is still alive."

Center Director Forrest S. McCartney presented Hilmers with a 107-page

book bearing the autographs of 15,240 workers at Kennedy Space Center

which will be carried aboard Discovery. The cover of the book bore the

phrase, "with you from liftoff to landing." [See LAST TEST BEFORE

ROLLOUT, July I, 1988. ] Discovery was finally bolted down at 8:42 a.m.

today and from 8_00 a.m. through 11 a.m., badged employees and their

families were permitted to drive by the crawlerway to Launch Pad 39B to

view the Shuttle. Thousands of workers took advantage of the

opportunity. [Broad, THE MEW YORK TIMES, (National Edition), pp. 1 &

24, July 5, 1988.]

July 6_ DISCOVERY MISSION 'SAFEST EVER'

A NASA task force report says that the agency has experienced a

"positive change in attitude" and that the agency was to be commended

for building a new liftoff declsion-making team that provides solid

safety reviews and oversight. The committee also remarked on

"deficiencies in people, skills, management systems and independent

oversight functions." Louis Polaski, a committee member, said some of

these problems could be traced to budget constraints. "I think,"

Polaski said, "the next flight will be [the] safest flight ever. But

after that, we wonder if it will be [back to business as usual].

They're very thin in personnel. The program is stretched. They have a

good first team, but when somebody gets sick or leaves, there's a hole

and something could slip by." [Glisch, THE ORLANDO S£MTIHEL, pp. A-I

& A-4, July 6, 1988.]

BOLDEN RIDES BASKET ESCAPE SYSTEM

Astronaut Charles F. malden, Jr. twice rode a safety basket at 50 miles

an hour down a 1,200-foot slide wire pad escape system at Kennedy Space

Center. Two safety workers rode with him on the second trip. The test

was the first time the basket had been ridden by people, for all

previous tests had been run using sandbags and dummies for ballast.

After a simulated emergency was declared, Bolden, a Lieutenant Colonel

in the United States Marine Corps, went from the Discovery's cabin

level to the basket for the descent which was stopped by the system's

brakes. A net stretched across the basket's path served as a backup

stopping mechanism. Safety personnel George Hoggard and Albert

Bumgarden accompanied Bolden on the second test ride. ["Escape System

Is Tested," THE HEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 24, July 12,

1988.]

39
<> LAUNCH VIEWING SITE CONTRACT

Butler Construction Co. (Rockledge, FL) was awarded a $300,500 contrac _

to build the first phase of a Kennedy Space Center launch viewing sit_

for special guests and dignitaries. Construction will take place along

the Banana Creek about two miles north of the Vehicle Assembly Building.

[Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, July 7, 19880]

July 7z TDRS LOADED INTO CANISTER

The Tracking and Relay Satellite, identical to one lost on Challenger,

was loaded today into the payload canister/transport vehicle for the

trip to the pad following Discovery's flight readiness firing now set

for July 31. "We're ready to go. When we get the Orbiter all ready to

go, we'll be all set," said NASA mission engineer Mike Kienlen.

McDonnell Douglas spokeswoman Pat oliver said, "We've been preparing

for this moment for the lest 2 1/2 years° We're elated. It's been

great to have a payload in here again. Our people are feeling great

about it. It's been far too long." EWhite, F_RIDA TODAY, p. 2A, July

8, 1988.]

C> LOCKHEED'S WILDLIFE DONATION

Lockheed Space Operations Co. announced today that it will donate

$20,000 to the National Wildlife and Fish Foundation in order to learn

more about endangered species at Kennedy Space Center. Lockheed

President Doug Sargent and the company's vice president for

communications Hud Englehart, presented the first of four $5,000 checks

to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Tom O'Shea. Space Cente;

Director Forrest S. McCartney, who attended the KSC ceremony, saidV

•We've got 140,000 acres of what I call pristine wildlife refuge. This

is a perfect example of how you can have development of modern

technology as well as preservation of endangered animals." [White,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, July 8, 1988.]

July 8z COLUMBIA MOVES TO OPF

Columbia made the short trip to the Orbiter Processing Facility from

the Orbiter Maintenance and Refurbishment Facility after a three-day

delay due to inclement weather. The Orbiter had been stripped of its

engines, maneuvering systems, hatches and numerous tiles when it left

the OMRF at 10:30 a.m. for the thirty minute trip to the OPF, where more

advanced Shuttle processing will be undertaken. [Klotz, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 4A, July 9, 1988, and Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, July 7, 1988. ]

July 9z SRB JOINT ACCIDENT

Discovery's early September launch should not be impacted by today's

accident at the Morton Thiokol plant in Brigham City, Utah; workers

switched hoses and pumped air at too great pressure into cavities

between three O-rings in the booster's center Joint. The Space between

the primary and secondary O-rlngs was to have got 1,000 pounds per

square inch of pressure, and 100 pounds in the Space between the primary

and a safety O-ring added after the 1986 Challenger explosion.

[Hoversten & Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. I-A, July 12, 1988, Fisher, TH_

40
ORlaNDO SENTINEL, pp. A-1 & A-6, July 12, 1988, and Wilford,

YORKTIMES, (National Edition), pp. 21 & 24, July 12, 1988.]

July 11z Orbiter FUELING BEGINS

THE NEW

Workers wearing protective clothing began loading highly toxic

propellants into the Orbiter today; the task, which is expected to be

completed late July 12, involves loading monomethylhydrazine and

hydrogen tetroxide for use by the orbital maneuvering and reaction

control systems onboard the Orbiter. The external tank is expected to

be fueled July 22. [Mittman, FL_3RIDA TODAY, p. 4A, July 12, 1988.]

NASA STUDIES UNMANNED Shuttle LAUNCH

NASA is studying the possibility of launching Columbia without a crew

next year, using old, unmodified solid rocket motors to help alleviate

a potential shortage o_ ammonium perchlorate oxidizer. The short

duration mission would launch a Department of Defense satellite. Such

an automated mission would require a Shuttle modification to install a

braking parachute to assist in landing. [WNASA Studies Unmanned Space

Shuttle Missions, w AVIATION WEEK & Space TECHNOLOGY, p. 27, July II,

1988.]

July 15_ LEAK DETECTED IN DISCOVERY ENGINE

A pad technician detected the odor of nitrogen tetroxide, a component

of Discovery's fuel for orbital maneuvers, during launch preparations

today. The leak rate was reported to be 15 parts per million,

considered very minor, and later was reported to have dropped to 3 or

4 parts per million. That drop made difficult the detection of the

leak's source. Testing valves and sniffing devices were being used to

learn the source of the leak. When first detected, engineers believed

the leak to be located in one of three places_ a power valve, an

oxidizer tank filter or a Jet thruster. [mSpace Shuttle Steering Engine

Has a Leak; Source Is Sought, w THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition),

p. 10, July 16, 1988, Mittman and Banks, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 1A, July 16, 1988.]

-> PADS TRANSFERRED AT CAPE

NASA agreed today to transfer ownership of Launch Complex 17 and East

Coast Delta launch operations to the Air Force as part of the Space

agency's response to White House directions to get out of the unmanned

launch business. The agreement was signed by NASA Administrator James

Fletcher and Air Force Secretary Edward Aldridge, Jr. McDonnell Douglas

Astronautics Co. already has completed negotiations with the Air Force

and plans at least eight launches from Pad 17 between 1989 and 1992.

[Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, July 16, 1988.]

<> Space WEEK 1988

j

Brevard County marked both the 19th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission

(July 16) and the beginning of Space Week "88 with exhibitions at the

Miracle City Mall (Titusville, FL) and the Merritt Square Mall (Merritt

Island, FL). BCC Planetarium was the sight of showings for two films:

41
WOur Home in the Milky Way* and "The Space Shuttle"

Adventure. " [Queen, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, July 16, 1988. ]

GENERAL DYNAMICS AT PORT CANAVERAL

An American

V

General Dynamics Corp. plans to import and, perhaps, build satellites

at Port Canaveral, according to port officials and Cape Canaveral

city officials. The aerospace company has leased a 15,000-square-foot

warehouse at Port Canaveral and expects to benefit from a proposed

expansion of the port's duty-free trade zone. Thomas Brown, director

of Cape operations for General Dynamics denied, however, that the

warehouse had been rented to import satellites. He said further that

"we aren't importing anything. We have no plans to import anything.

We have no plans whatsoever related to that trade zone." Local business

persons speculated that General Dynamics may not yet want to reveal its

plans and has denied activity at the port because it is competing with

other aerospace companies for payload contracts. [George, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 12C, July 16, 1988.]

July IGz LEAK'S SOURCE FOUND

The source of a toxic gas leak was found in the upper portion of the

oxidizer tank in Discovery's reaction control system. Technicians

worked round the clock to determine whether the leak could be repaired

while Discovery is on the launch pad. A rollback from the pad could

mean a launch delay of one to two months, according to Charles

Hollinshead, director of public affairs at Kennedy Space Center. He

said, further, that engineers were assessing the possibility of removing

the engine pod on the launch pad, though it has never been attempte,_

before, [Cole, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A-2A, July 17, 1988, and Broad, THE _"

NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), pp. I & 12, July 17, 1988, Glisch,

THE ORLAND_ SENTIMF_, pp. A-1 & A-7, July 18, 1988.]

ALDRI N REVISITS PAD 39A

Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Apollo II crew member, revisited LC 39A today while

at Kennedy Space Center. Aldrin, Nell Armstrong and Michael Collins

began the first lunar landing mission from 39A on July 16, 1969. Pads

A & B have since been converted for use in the Shuttle Program. Aldrin

now heads a research and engineering consulting firm in Los Angeles, CA.

["39A Holds Memories for 'Buzz', m F_RIDA TODAY, p. 6A, July 18, 1988. ]

July 17s GO AHEAD FOR FRF

mEngineers have stabilized the leak and feel it is safe to proceed with

the flight readiness firing," said Chuck Hollinshead, director of public

affairs st Kennedy Space Center. The firing test is scheduled for July

25. Discussions about repairing the leak and avoiding a roll

back to the OPF continued. [Mittman and Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A2A, July 18, 1988.]

July 18z VIDEO CAMERA (BORESCOPE) LOCATES LEAK

Jack Harper used a Cobra borescope to locate the nitrogen tetroxide leak

in Discovery's steering system. Harper, a Lockheed engineer, operate_

42
the lO-foot-long, snakelike device for six hours July 16, according to

Les Schrontz, Director of Reliability and Quality Assurance for Lockheed

Space Operations Co.

Using the borescope, and a "sniffer," the leak was found in a seal in

a line that vents pressure from the tank when the oxidizer is loaded

into the tank. Schrontz said the leak appeared as intermittent brownish

smoke around the metal seal, about the size of an average fingertip.

wit is not a crack in a weld or on the llne," he said.

After finding the leak's source, workers drained the nitrogen tetroxide

from the line and filled it with helium to keep the oxidizer from

escaping. They are trying to find a way to repair the leak without

needing to roll back to the OPF. Harper said, "I came in (on Saturday)

and everybody thanked me, but they can keep the pay if we can Just keep

it on the pad and not roll back. All of us out here feel that way."

[Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4B, July 19, 1988.]

Space COMMISSION REPORT

Florida Governor Bob Martinez has received the final report of his

Commission on Space; it included 16 suggestions. Among the suggestions

were recommendationsl (1) that the state make a long-term commitment

to developing Space commerce; (2) that the state's public education

system be bolstered by Space curricula and programs for teaching

teachers about Space; (3) that Florida's higher-education system be

strengthened through more and better-coordlnated Space research and

academic programs; (4) to encourage the development of a commercial

Spaceport. [Ninman, CENTRAL FLORIDA BUSINESS (a section of THE ORLANDO

SENTINEL), p. 11, July 18-24, 1988.]

DISCOVERY'S LEAK: FIVE OPTIONS

NASA is considering five options with regard to the leak detected in

Discovery July 16 and three of them require rolling the Orbiter back to

its Kennedy Space Center hangar. The options include:

*Fixing the leak at the pad.

*Returning Discovery to the hangar and replacing its left-hand orbital

maneuvering system pod, the source of the leak.

*Returning to the hangar and taking the pod to the hypergolic

maintenance facility at KSC, where the steering systems are tested,

for repairs.

*Returning Discovery to its hangar and repairing the leak there.

*Flying without fixing the leak. "Right now, that isn't even being

discussed, to my knowledge," according to Bob Lang, KSC director of

safety and re$iability. That option has been considered seriously by

non-NASA experts. [Mi_tman and Banks, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A-2A, July

19, 1988, Gl_sch & Fisher, THE ORLANDO SEMTINEL, p. A-l, July 17,

1988.]

43
July 19: DECEMBER LEAK EVIDENCE?

Bob Sieck, Launch Operations Director at Kennedy Space Center, sai(

today that Wa pressure check made on the oxidizer tank in an engin_

compartment in late December and a second reading was taken about two

weeks later. There was a pressure drop of about 16 pounds per square

inch between the two points," he said. Although acknowledging that the

pressure drop might have alerted engineers, Sieck said there was no

conclusive evidence that workers acted improperly.

"We are reviewing all procedures and documentation and equipment

associated with that event," Sleek said. "We are looking at the people

who performed that test. These two data points may still have been

within specifications. And I wouldn't preclude the fact that we have

other data that says the integrity of the Joint was confirmed. Until

a final review it is pure speculation that a requirement was violated

and not reported," he said. ["NASA Aide Says Clue Might Have Pointed

to Leak, w THE NEW YORK TZHF_, (National Edition), p. 8, July 20, 1988,

Fisher, THE ORLAHDO SEHTINEL, pp. A-1 & A-7, July 20, 1988, Mittman,

FLO_ZDA TODAY, p. 6A, July 20, 1988.]

KSC TO HIRE 200 WORKERS

"Roughly about 200 people will be hired because of the tile situation

on Columbia," Thomas Utsman, Director o£ Shuttle Management and

Operations, said today. "We Just had more tile work than we anticipated

on Discovery and Atlantis." About 2,000 tiles need replacement on

Columbia, Discovery had 1,000 tiles replaced and Atlantis needs 550.

The money for the workers' salaries - _8.2 million - will come from th_

Shuttle Program Office budget in Washington, D. C. Among the 200 new

workers will be three dozen engineers, and tile workers and quality

control inspectors. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, July 20.]

July 20z INFORMATIONAL PICKETING BY TGS WORKERS

TGS Technology workers and sympathizers staged protests at Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station, Kennedy Space Center and at Patrick Air

Force Base to indicate their complaints against TGS Technology Inc. and

its parent company, Pan American World Services. The employees have

been without a contract for 3 1/2 years and are members of the

International Association o£ Theatrical Stage Employees union. [Klotz,

FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 8C & 7C, July 21, 1988.]

July 22: SHUTTLE LEAK SOLUTIONS

Engineers at Kennedy Space Center continued looking at a number of

possible fixes for Discovery's leak in its reaction control system.

One o£ the solutions requires using a thin tube with an expandable

balloon on the end to plug the leak in a manner similar to the way heart

surgeons perform angioplasties. Center Director Forrest S. McCartney

said,. "We've got people looking at the prudent and safe thing to do."

Engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, and at

Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, are also trying to come up with

ideas to repair Discovery. Engineers at Johnson, for instance, are

44
considering ways to enter the Shuttle's cargo bay and cutting holes

through the rear of the bay and the engine compartment to reach the

leak, then enshrouding it in some way.

At Marshall, engineers are building a mock-up of the "snake" to test

the angioplasty technique. Bob Schwinghamer, Director of Marshall's

Processing Laboratory, said two heads were being developed for the

snake. "The snake with the balloon on the end would have to run through

this tortuous path like an angioplasty procedure. The balloon would be

filled with an epoxy, and when it reached the leak it would be expanded.

Plugging it up would not interfere with any of the normal operations.

It wouldn't compromise anything. It would be 6 inches long instead of

28 feet." Engineers hoped to settle on a solution by this weekend.

["Balloon on Thin Tube Is Seen As Solution to Shuttle's Leak," THE NEW

YORK TIMF_ (National Edition), p. 24, July 22, 1988, Banks, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. IA, July 22, 1988, Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-It, July

23, 1988, Wilford, THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 7, July 23,

1988.]

LAUNCH PAD DELAYS

Preparation work at the launch pad is still incomplete and that may

delay the flight readiness firing, according to a Kennedy Space Center

spokeswoman. Managers were undecided about whether to delay the firing

for 24 hours. Workers are checking mechanical and electronic

connections and making sure no leaks exist, among other things.

Delaying the test would mean a practice dry run with all launch control

personnel would start Saturday morning (July 23) rather than today.

Managers have also not decided when to begin loading liquid hydrogen and

liquid oxygen into the external tank; the operation is usually scheduled

72 hours before the FRF. [Mittman, FL_JRZDA TODAY, p. 7A, July 22, 1988,

Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A-2Ap July 23, 1988.]

JulF 22z WORKERS TREAT KSC COMPUTER VIRUS

NASA has just finished repairing damage caused by a computer virus which

can automatically duplicate and embed itself within a computer's

operating instructions. It was eradicated before it could cause serious

harm, according to NASA spokesman Charles Redmond. "Some people did

lose documents, but they were reconstructed. Everything was

recoverable." Purging and restarting NASA's 80 infected systems took

about five days, he said. There had been no reports of the virus at

Kennedy Space Center. [Klotz, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, July 23, 1988.]

July 24z KSC READIES FOR FRF

Before the test firing can take place, Kennedy Space Center workers must

complete a practice countdown that started yesterday and ends today.

They must also complete tests on the external fuel tank. The tank will

be filled during the practice, which begins tonight; then it will be

drained again. A 72-hour countdown must also be begun leading to

ignition of the three main engines.

Concerning the flight readiness firing, Launch Director Bob Sieck said,

"In terms of risks or concerns, about the only thing would be if a valve

45
would get stuck either open or closed and it would give you trouble

(safely shutting down the system) because you are fully loaded with

liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and you want to get all of that ou_

of the system and purged. That is really the only risk from a danger

standpoint.

mWe have thought of every contingency that can go wrong," Sieck said,

Wand developed procedures and, in some cases, software to accommodate

them. w Analysis of test data should take about two days, he said.

"There will be a real time data analysis available within minutes. We

will have a pretty good feel on the performance of the system. It will

be a very quick look, enough to tell everybody we think it was a really

good firing, with the caveat that every piece of data has not been

totally analyzed." [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, July 24, 1988,

"Practice Countdown Continues for Test of Discovery at KSC," FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 2A, July 25, 1988.]

July 25: LOCKHEED JOB OPENINGS

Lockheed Space Operations Co. has begun interviewing prospective

employees for some 200 Jobs it needs to fill. Most in demand are

technicians to work on Atlantis's and Columbia's heat-resistant tiles.

About 20 engineers and 50 inspectors are also wanted, according to

Lockheed spokesman Stuart Shadbolt. NASA plans to spend about $8

million for the additional employees, according to Space center

spokesman Dick Young. ["Lockheed to Fill 200 Jobs," FLORXDA TODAY, p.

16C, July 26, 1988. ]

ASTRONAUT HALL OF FAME V

An Astronaut Hall of Fame, endorsed by the Mercury 7 Foundation, will

be built on an 18-acre site in the Vector Space development park

southwest of NASA Causeway, the highway leading to Kennedy Space Center.

It will be housed in a 25,000-square-foot building expected to serve as

the permanent home of Space Camp Florida.

The U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame evolved from discussions four years

ago when six of the original Mercury astronauts and the widow -Betty

Grissom - of the seventh formed the Mercury 7 foundation to promote

excellence in education, said Alan Shepard, president of the non-profit

organization. "We hod been thinking about something we could do with

some of the mementos that we had collected personally that really didn't

belong in the Smithsonian or any of the other formal museums across the

country."

When it first opens, the Hall of Fame will feature only items belonging

to America's first astronaut corps, such as photos, log books and other

memorabilia. Shepard predicted artifacts gathered by later astronauts

will be added as the facility becomes better known as a tourist

attraction. [Brown, FLORXDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, July 26, 1988.]

July26z FEDERALLY EMPLOYED WOMEN HONORS

The Space Coast Chapter of Federally Employed Women (FEW) presentea

three awards in ceremonies at the Cocoa Beach Hilton today. Tina

46
J

V

Phillips was honored as "Member of the Year" and retired Air Force Lt.

Gen. Forrest S. McCartney (KSC Director) was presented the Distinguished

Service Award and a $1,500 scholarship was given to Maggie Omega

Cameron. ["Chapter Honors Three at Ceremony," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2D, July

27, 1988.]

NO BOOSTER PLANT FOR BREVARD

NASA decided to build its proposed solid rocket booster factory in

northeast Mississippi - Yellow Creek - at an abandoned nuclear facility,

rather than in Brevord County, FL. Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce

president Joe Catrambone said, "We had hoped for it, but we were very

much concerned about the environment. We're very careful and cautious

about that. Fortunately, I think we're in a position to pick and

choose" what companies to go after. NASA said the Mississippi site was

chosen because it would cost between $50 to $100 million less to build

a plant there and the site is the least environmentally sensitive.

Roads and other important features are also already in place. [Fisher,

THE ORLANDO SEHTIMEL, p. A-4, July 27, 1988, Lunner and Klotz, FLORIDA

TODAY, pp. 1A-2A, July 27, 1988.]

July 28= BREVARD GETS ROCKWELL DIVISION

Brevard will be home this fall to the Rockwell International Corp.

division that makes spore Shuttle parts. The company will relocate

workers, spare parts and the computers which track the parts to Rockwell

offices at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, said Janet Dean, an

official with Rockwe!i's Space Transportation Systems Division in

Downey, CA. "We want to be able to do the work more quickly and at a

lower cost for the customer [NASA]," said Dean. The exact relocation

date depends on the date of Discovery's launch, she said. [George,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 16C, July 29, 1988. ]

<=b NASA'S WEATHER FORECASTING

A National Research Council report said that NASA's weather forecasting

capabilities were "poorly orgsnized" during launches and landings and

this put Shuttles at risk. The report recommended that NASA:

*Equip planes to measure cloud electricity, wind velocity and

turbulence.

*Install radars and ocean platforms to detect sudden changes in wind.

*Build more lightning-detection systems.

*Use satellites to analyze weather.

Charles Hosler, Penn State meteorologist and NRC panel chairman, said

NASA for years gave • low priority to forecasting, despite launching

from a thunderstorm-prone area. "They'd had so many glitches with the

Shuttle they didn't worry about weather," he said. The report went on

to say: "The Space program has been relatively lucky with respect to

weather hazards. In view of our recent temperature effects on O-rings

and triggered lightning strikes, our run of good luck may have ended."

47
John Ernst, Director of NASA's Weather Support Office, said, "The report

identified some areas that needed attention. We've had a Jump start on

some of those. It shows we're on the right track. " [Hoversten, US

TODAY, P. 3A, July 28, 1988, Fisher, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-3, Jul_

28, 1988, Hoverstenp FLORZDA TODAY, p. IA, July 28, 1988, Klotz, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 6A, July 28, 1988. ]

July 29z DISCOVERY'S TEST-FIRING DELAYED t AGAIN

The test-firing of Discovery's main engines has been delayed till August

4 because of problems with sensors and an oxygen pump during fueling

operations today. NASA spokesman Karl Kristofferson attributed the

problems in part to the lack of use of the ground support equipment

during the 2 I/2 year layoff since the Challenger accident in January

1986. "! know if you leave your car sitting in the garage for a few

weeks without starting it, funny things happen," he said. One of the

oxygen pumps didn't work at slip the other was working erratically."

Technicians worked to fix what appeared to be "an electrical problem."

Pat Phillips, NASA spokeswoman said, "We ran a test on those pumps last

week and they worked perfectly."

Pending the outcome of an investigation of the problems with ground

support equipment, NASA said that the countdown demonstration test would

not resume any earlier than July 31. That delay helped push the FRY

back to August 4. "Any time you have to stop, it frustrates you," said

Sterling Walker, Chief of Mechanical Systems at Kennedy Space Center.

Repair of the leaking hydrogen line at the pad was expected to take 15

hours. . _

NASA engineers have recommended cutting a hoie in Discovery's cargo ba_

to gain access and fix the leak in the reaction control system which was

discovered July 14. Once they cut through they would encase the leak

in a clamshell-like device filled with a sealant. Other alternative

solutions remain under consideration.

"I don't think anybody has a handle on when it will launch until they

decide what they are going to do to fix the leak," Kristofferson said.

[Mittman, FL_IDA TODAY, p. 6A, July 26, 1988, Wilford, THE NEW YORK

TZNES (National Edition), p. 9, July 28, 1988, Banks, FLORIDA TODAY, p.

IA, July 29, 1988, White, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, July 30, 1988,

Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTIN_, p. A-12, July 30, 1988, Wilford, THE NEW

YORK TINES, (National Edition), pp. I & 8, July 30, 1988.]

July 31: CAUTION GUIDES LAUNCH PLANS

•We want to fly, and we're going to fly," said James F. Herrington,

Director of Shuttle Operations at Kennedy Space Center. "But we're not

going to fly until we're ready, and the key word is ready." The Shuttle

Program's Deputy Director, Robert L. Crlppen, has said, "You'll probably

see more 'holds' at T minus 9 than you've seen in your entire life."

"I think we've established an atmosphere through the program that

facilitates communications," Crippen added, "People talk openly about

engineering problems. I hear about them every day, everything from

plugs and tires to the leaking thrusters. We've debated lots of

problems. I do not know of anybody that has anything that's a pctentia_

for big concern, m

48
Dick Young, KSC spokesman, said "I don't remember any of this

[extraordinary caution] in Apollo. We said we were going to the moon

and we went. Of course, the Shuttle is a more complex machine."

[Wilford, THE NEW YORK TIMES, (National Edition}, pp. 1 & 14, August 1,

1988.]

3uXy 31z LEAKt PUMP FIXED

The countdown resumed for Discovery's flight readiness firing after

engineers repaired a hydrogen leak and a troublesome oxygen pump. When

the FRF is completed, engineers must still cope with a small gas leak

in the reaction control system. ["Countdown On - Leak, Pump Fixed," THE

ORLAHDG SENTINEL, p. A-3, August 1, 1988.]

49
August

August lz COUNTDOWN TEST COMPLETED

V

Kennedy Space Center workers completed a wet countdown test today;

problems encountered with ground support equipment caused the test to

run for a week rather than the usual two days. NASA spokesman Karl

Kristo£ferson said, "Tests...are geared to check out the ground

equipment, procedures and flight hardware. Problems are expected, but

these tests help engineers locate problem areas and determine where

improvements should be made before we get into a launch situation, w

Workers will begin inspecting Discovery August 2; troubleshooting will

continue for a minimum o£ 16 hours. Shuttle Launch Director Robert

Slack said that the tentative target for the flight readiness firing o£

Discovery's main engines remains 7:30 a.m. August 4. Robert L. Crippen,

Deputy Director of Shuttle Operations, said, "The launch team did a

superb Job on the countdown demonstration test and accomplished most of

the objectives, w The problem leak in the reaction control system will

not be repaired till after the FRF.

The week-long test went as followsl

-11:33 p.m. July 24: Test begins.

*3:30 p.m. July 25: Test goes on hold. Workers needed more time to

prepare the Shuttle's main engines for s later test, the flight

readiness firing, now scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

-3:30 p.m. July 26: Test begins again, after workers fixed several _

problems including tears in plastic bags that insulate the liquid

hydrogen lines.

*Wednesday: Test halted again because of s faulty valve in s line

that feeds liquid oxygen to a system that generates electricity for

the Orbiter.

*II a.m. Thursday: Test begins again. At 6:55 p.m. workers begin to

fill the external tank with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. A

leak in s liquid hydrogen line was discovered late Thursday or esrly

Friday. And a problem developed with s pump in the liquid oxygen

storage tank.

*Friday and Saturday:

the problems.

Test is on hold all day as workers tried to fix

*Noon Sunday: The countdown starts again. A second leak was

discovered in the liquid hydrogen line late Sunday night. Although

workers stopped loading liquid hydrogen the countdown test continued.

-6:50 s.m. Monday [Aug. I]: Test ends, although not all parts were

complete because of leak problems. [Bsnke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A,

August 2, 1988, and Wilford, THE NEW YORK TXN_ (National Edition), p0

48, August 2, 1988.]

50
j

Augus% 2z AUGUST 4 FOR FRF

Discovery's main engines will fire for 19.6 seconds starting at 7:30

a.m. August 4. nThis is probably the most critical operation we perform

here on the ground at Kennedy. This is a shakedown of the entire

system," said Bob Sieck, Shuttle Launch Director. Tested in

the firing will be the main engines, the redesigned boosters, the launch

software, ground support equipment, communications links and the launch

team itself. Technicians will be particularly interested to watch the

booster Joints as Discovery strains. That same bending motion was a

contributor to the Challenger Joint leakage and the new joints have been

designed to hold more tightly together as the booster moves.

NASA also announced that the leak in Discovery's reaction control system

will be repaired on the pad by cutting a small hole in the upper right

rear corner o£ the cargo bay and plugging the leak with a clamshell

device and use of a sealant. (The sealant is the same type used to

repair leaks in lines subjected to high pressures or temperatures in the

petro-chemical and nuclear power industries.) Officials also said that

if the fix fails, Discovery will have to be rolled back to a hangar for

repairs and that would mean weeks of delay.

A final full-scale booster firing takes place later this month in Utah

and is the last critical test of hardware prior to Discovery's launch

in late September. [Fisher, THE ORLAM_3 SEMTIMEL, pp. A-1 & A-6, August

3, 1988.]

SHUTTLE REPAIRS _

Kennedy Space Center workers continue to look for the source of the leak

in the hydrogen line used to £ili the external tank. The leak is

believed by NASA managers to be located in the tail service mast that

holds lines leading from the storage tank into the Shuttle. A test has

been initiated to see whether indeed the leak ks related to the low

temperatures.

The repair in the reaction control system is expected to take one to

two weeks, according to Karl Kristofferson, NASA spokesman. The

clamshell device option was selected over the balloon device (designed

to work like an angioplasty procedure in a human heart) because the

former was further along in development and testing. That testing will

continue for another week before the repair is attempted in case there

are difficulties with the device. [Beecken and Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY,

pp. 1A-2A, August 3, 1988.]

August 3z PRESS SITE CREW DOUBLES FOR LAUNCH

To meet the expected throng of assembled Journalists on hand for the

launch of Discovery, the 12-member KSC public affairs staff will double

with the addition of temporary employees from other centers and help

from NASA retirees. The FRF will be viewed by between 300 and 500

Journalists and about a hundred community leaders. "A lot o£ our people

currently on board have never covered a Shuttle mission before," said

NASA spokesman Dick Young. "This gives us a useful opportunity to bring

them up to speed and let them see how we do things." [Klotz, FLORIDA

TODAY, pc 2A, August 4, 1988.]

51
Auoust 4= FRF FIZZLES

When computers showed that a fuel valve on one of Discovery's msi_

engines didn't close fast enough, the FRF came to a halt two seconds

before ignition. Engineers could not say immediately whether the valve

itself was at fault or whether the sensor which monitored the valve's

activity was not operating correctly. Joseph Lombardo, NASA's Main

Engine Chief at Marshall Space Flight Center said, "I'll tell you up

front we don't have the answers right now, but we're trying to recover."

If the valve is at fault it will be replaced; if the sensor was at

fault, software may be rewritten to revise operational parameters. If

the one-inch-wide valve has to be replaced, the FRF could be delayed as

much as a week. Lombardo said that a spare valve unit is available and

that there would be no problem in changing out the troublesome one in

engine 2. It is the replacement and testing that would cause the delay

of up to a week.

At the point where the test shut down, the valve was to have been open

no more than 20 percent; computers showed it 24 percent open. Lombardo

said it was not likely that the rules would be changed to allow

proceeding with ignition if the valve is more than 20 percent open. "I

think our test philosophy is still sound," he said. It marked the third

such engine shutdown in the Shuttle Program; the first time was in

August 1984 for Discovery's first flight and the second was a July 1985

flight of Challenger. There had been no previous shutdowns during

launch pad engine tests since 1981.

The earliest date for a rescheduled FRF is Sunday, August 7; engineer_

need at least 72 hours to make any repairs and give workers some time

offp according to Discovery's Ground-Processing Director, John Talone.

"People have been working pretty rough, pretty hard. And there are some

disappointments, as you can see," Talone said. "There's a certain

amount of frustration because we thrive on getting things done and done

completely." Talone also reaffirmed the possibility of a September

launch.

Discovery's STS-26 mission Commander Capt. Frederick H. Hauck said in

a statement released to the press: "Although we were disappointed

today's test did not go full term, we were impressed with the

professional manner in which the launch team responded to the situation.

We maintain high confidence we'll get a good mission off in the near

future." [Glisch, THE ORL_MDO SEMTIMF_, pp. A-1 & A-15, August 5, 1988,

Mittman, Halvorson, Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A-2A,

August 5, 1988, Wilford, THE MEM YORK TIMES, (National Edition), p. I0,

August 5, 1988.]

SHARP STUDENTS AT KSC

Eleven Brevard County students participated in Kennedy Space Center's

Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program (SHARP). The eleven

were: Devin MacKenzie (Rockledge High School), Michelle Fanton (Eau

Gallie High School), Susan Fosnct and Temiko Graves (Astronaut High

School), Travers Johnson, Katerlna Lent, Denise Lewis (Merritt

Island High School), Tony Martin, Michelle Mazion, April Turne=,,M

(Titusville High School) and Melissa Thorn (Melbourne High School).

52
Participants must have good grades and an interest in math, science or

engineering to be considered for the program. Students work 40 hours

a week for eight weeks and earn about $1,100. NASA installations

throughout the United States participate in the program. ["SHARP

Students Earn KSC Experience," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2B, August 5, 1988. ]

<, FUEL LINE VALVE TO BE REPLACED

NASA decided today to replace a hydrogen fuel line valve that stopped

yesterday's test-firing of Discovery's main engines. The repair will

take approximately three days, Associate Administrator for Space flight

Richard Truly said, "We are opting for a procedure which will give us

additional confidence to move forward to the flight readiness firing."

[Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, August 6, 1988, Glisch, THE ORLANDO

SENTINEL, P. A-3, August 6, 1988, Wilford, THE HEW YORK TIMES (National

Edition), p. 6, August 6, 1988. ]

August 7z FAULTY VALVE REPLACED

A one-inch hydrogen valve and the sensor that indicates whether it is

open or shut, was replaced today inside Discovery's reaction control

system compartment. Kennedy SpaceLCenter spokeswoman Lisa Malone said

that "Everything is going perfectly so far. We might set a new date

for the test firing tomorrow, if everything continues to go well." Tests

on the replacement valve remain to be done. ["Shuttle's Faulty Valve

Replaced," THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 7, August 8, 1988.]

August 8z BOOSTER TEST/AUGUST 18

Morton Thiokol announced today that it will conduct the last of five

full-scale test-firings of the redesigned solid rocket booster on August

18 at 3 p.m. at the company's plant in Brigham City, Utah. That would

mark the last major test prior to the resumption of Shuttle flights.

[Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, August 9, 1988.]

August 9z FRF COUNTDOWN RESUMES

The countdown for the five-time postponed flight readiness firing

resumed tonight at Kennedy Space Center; the firing is scheduled to

occur at 7:30 a.m. August 10. Though tests indicated that the most

recent delay had been caused by a faulty sensor for a valve, the entire

valve and sensor unit was replaced prior to beginning the countdown.

Shuttle managers also decided to alter the computer instructions so that

a similar sensor malfunction would not interrupt the FRF. After the

test, engineers will make a final decision on how to fix the leak in the

reaction control system on board Discovery. [Wilford, THE NEW YORK

TINF_S,(National Edition), p. 8, August 10, 1988 and Mittman, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 1A, August 10, 1988, Fisher, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-3,

August 9, 1988.]

August 10: ENGINES PERFORM FLAWLESSLY

NASA said Discovery's main engines performed flawlessly during the 20-

second flight readiness firing that took place yesterday at 7:30 a.m.

It was the first test in three years of an Orbiter's main engines and

53
the ground and launch support equipment. The first engine to fire ran

21.6 seconds, as planned, and the last one fired 19 seconds. All three

were shut down simultaneously."We remlly had a super test,- sai_

astronaut Robert Crippen, Chief of Discovery's Launch Approval Team.

"There were a lot of objectives, but the final thing we were after was

a total test of the system. We proved it works and it works well."

Crippen also said he thought the chances of launching in late September

still remained, though other NASA officials say the launch will slip

till October.

Thomas Utsman, Director of Shuttle Operations and Deputy Director of

Kennedy Space Center, said the test showed that Discovery was "a very

good bird." Utsman said, "It was a very smooth countdown to launch and

a very successful operation. We had some minor problems as we do in any

count." After the external tank was loaded, sensors detected what may

have been a slight nitrogen leak in the area where a pipe runs from the

external tank to the Orbiter, presumably coming from the nearby aft

fuselage. The leak was detected about three hours before ignition, but

was not considered reason to halt FRF preparations. Utsman said that

engineers didn't understand the problem, if there was one, and would

examine the area in the next few days.

In addition to the nitrogen leek, Utsman indicated that pumps on the

ground support equipment for liquid oxygen were not functioning

properly, but engineers collected enough data to pinpoint the problem°

He said, further, that a launch processing system console broke down,

but s backup computer was brought on line to handle the work load.

Talmadge Webb, director of Launch Control Center Operations, after th_

FRF remarked that the recently replaced Valve worked properly. Kenned_

Space Center Director Fattest S. McCartney said, "I can't say enough

about how smoothly everything went. This is a key test to get back to

flying."

NASA Administrator James Fletcher said, "Super job, super team. I can't

begin to say how well everything has been going. I know this past week

was a disappointment, but that is why we have the flight-readiness

firing to pick up any problems." Launch Director Bob Slack said, "We

should be looking to launch countdown with a very high degree of

confidence." Norm Carlson, NASA Test Director, said of the firing,

"There's no doubt about it. Morale has improved 100 percent in the last

eight hours. It's great to finally get this part of it behind us."

A week from now, KSC workers will attempt to repair the leak in the

orbital maneuvering system (OMS). They will cut through two bulkheads

at t_e rear of the Shuttle about a foot from the site of the leaking

tube. Then they will insert a clamshell-device and clamp it over the

faulty section and pump a sealant inside the clamp. "We feel quite

comfortable that will seal the leak," according to Utsman. [Glisch,

THE ORLANDO SEMTIHEL, pp. A-1 & A-8, August 11, 1988, Mittman and

Banks, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, August 11, 1988, Wilford, THE NEW YORK

TIMES (National Edition), p. 13, August 11, 1988, White, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 2A, August 11, 1988.]

V

54
August 11= ENGINES INSPECTED

Workers returned to the launch pad today to inspect Discovery's engines

following yesterday's test firing. KSC spokeswoman Lisa Malone said,

"Engineers have said this is the cleanest flight-readiness firing we

have had. [Workers] will look for anything that might have changed since

the flight-readiness firing," she added. [See August 12 item.] She

also said that the repair of the leak in the reaction control system

will begin August 17 and that the repairs should take about a week.

However, because the repair Job can continue while other work is done,

a day-for-day delay in launch is not expected, according to Gary

Coultas, Assistant Manager of the Orbiter Projects Office at Johnson

Space Center in Houston, Texas. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, August

12, 1988, Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-4, August 12, 1988, Banke,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, August 11, 1988.]

BREVARD GETS SPACEHAB INC. FACILITY

Spacehab Inc., which has Just signed a $170 million agreement with NASA

for the Shuttle to fly its research laboratory on six missions, will

open a payload processing facility in Brevard County before the first

flight in 1991. Spacehab Inc. was founded five years ago and recently

announced that former NASA Administrator James Beggs had been made

chairman of the company. Spacehab intends to build a facility to

prepare payloads for flight near Kennedy Space Center. [Hinman, THE

ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. A-1 & A-6, August 12, 1988.]

AUgust - 12= ACCESS PLATFORM REALIGNED

The mid-body umbilical unit on the access platform was found to be

misaligned following the successful flight readiness firing August 10.

The problem was corrected in time to receive Discovery's payload.

[Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, August 13, 1988.]

Augus_ 15= TDRS PAYLOAD TO PAD

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-3) was delivered to

Discovery on the pad early this morning. The three and one-half hour

trip began at midnight. It will be kept in a payload changeout room

while engineers fix a leak in Discovery's reaction control system.

TDRS-3 will be deployed on the first day of Discovery's mission and will

join TDRS-I which was launched from Challenger in 1983. [Bellido,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, August 15, 1988, White, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A,

August 14, 1988.]

LIMITS ON GUESTS t JOURNALISTS

The number of Journalists and guests allowed to view the launch of

Discovery from special VIP and Press Site areas may be limited due to

new evidence of the possible dangers of debris falling from a Shuttle

explosion. Viewing sites may be moved farther from the launch pad,

according to s senior NASA official. Journalists viewing from the

present press site may have to "accept the risk" of being hit by debris,

said the official. It is not yet known how current planning may affect

those persons with car passes. Jim Funkhoueer, Director of the Public

55
Services Division at NASA Headquarters, said that once a decision has

been made, NASA will distribute car passes and special invitations to

those who can be accommodated. [Fisher, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. A-I

and A-8, August 16, 1988. ]

SHUTTLE RESCUE DRILLS

A military contingent of 156 persons took part in a one-day exercise

practicing rescue operations in the waters off Cape Canaveral, FL. "The

validation exercise was a complete success. This gives us confidence

that we will be able to support an astronaut bailout if necessary," said

Co1. George Phillips, Rescue Director. The military participants were

joined by twenty NASA observers as well as members of the Drug

Enforcement Agency who patrolled the area in high-speed boats.

[Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 8A, August 16, 1988, "Crews Rehearse

Astronaut Rescue," THE HEW YORK TINES (National Edition), p. 22, August

16, 1988.]

TDRS LOADING DELAYED

Discovery's TDRS-3 payload (also known as TDRS-C) is at the launch pad

but will not be loaded until the nitrogen tetroxide leak in the reaction

control system is repaired. Engineers tentatively plan to test and

verify the satellite's electronic systems with ground control stations

on September 4, according to Kennedy SpaceCenter spokesman George

Diller. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 8A, August 16, 1988.]

LEAK REPAIR CREW ARRIVES

A crew of 12 veteran technicians arrived at Kennedy Space Center toda_iy

from Rockwell International in California. They brought with them tool v

boxes and detailed blue prints to enable them to fix the leak in the

reaction control system on Discovery. The site of the problem is a

half-inch deep inside a compartment which holds one of the Orbiter's

maneuvering engines. To reach it the technicians will "climb

scaffolding and crawl on their stomachs to cut two holes about 15 inches

in diameter in the upper right corner of Discovery's rear cargo bay

bulkhead, using a special router. An attached plastic bag will catch

metal filings from the cutting operation and help prevent contamination

of the cargo bay .... Two more holes will be sliced through the top of the

compartment, a11owing technicians to reach through with both arms and

use a device like a clamshell and a sealant to plug the leak. Remotecontrol cameras and mirrors wlll help the workers see. Engineers

finally will run pressure checks to determine if the leak is jammed

shut. n [Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-7, August 17, 1988.]

Augus% 18z BOOSTER TEST AN A÷

NASA's final o_ficl81 test of Morton Thiokol Inc.'s redesigned solid

rocket booster was proclaimed a complete success today, though there

will be several more weeks of Shuttle checks and management reviews

before s date is set for Discovery's liftoff. Engineers were so anxious

for the test results that they ran up to the booster while it was still

being sprayed with water to cool it and wound up getting drenched

themselves. "This is extremely good news," said Royce Mitchell, NASA's

56
Booster Manager. _It's a super day for the Space program and 8 good

feeling overall. We've got pressure where we wanted to get it, and we

did not get pressure where we did not want to get it. w Bob Slack,

Launch Director at Kennedy Space Center, said that _it performed as

planned for the full duration as far as we could see. Given the builtin flaws, we would expect engineering's inspection will bear that out."

At Kennedy Space Center, technicians from California's Rockwell

International plant made more progress in their repair work on the leak

in Discovery's reaction control system. They made preparations tonight

to clamp shut the leak with a clamshell-like device full of se01snt used

in nuclear power plants. The leak was expected to be plugged by August

19. [Groer and Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. A-I & A-20, August

19, 1988, Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A-2A, August 19, 1988, Banke,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, August 19, 1988, Leery, The New York Times

(National Edition), p. 7, August 19, 1988.]

LIGHTNING BLIMP

Kennedy Space Center's continuing weather research was enhanced today

by the launching of a tethered blimp that will help study lightning.

Paul Goetsch, Director o£ the Lightning Study Program, said the blimp

was built originally for U. S. Customs Service's drug interdiction

program. The blimp is owned and operated by LTA International

(Melbourne, FL). It is 85 feet long and 25 feet in diameter; it

contains 20,000 cubic feet of helium. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A,

August 19, 1988.]

%_/Augus% 19z LEAK PLUGGED

The leak in Discovery's reaction control system was plugged today,

according to Kennedy Space Center spokesman Hugh Harris; testing to make

sure the repair was effective will begin next week. NASA spokesman Karl

Kristofferson said that initial data indicated the seal was working and

that it would be monitored for several days. If all tests are

successful and the results of the August 18 test-firing of the solid

rocket booster in Utah remain positive, then Discovery may yet be

launched in September. [Mittman, F_IDA TODAY, p. 6A, August 20, 1988,

WGas Leak in Space Shuttle Is Repaired on Launching Pad, m THE NEW YORK

TIMES (Notionol Edition), p. 7, August 20, 1988.]

August 22: E'PRIME AEROSPACE LAUNCH

E'Prime AeroSpace (Titusville, FL) will launch the first privately owned

rocket from Cape Canaverol no earlier than October 6, depending on when

Discovery is launched. Jim Mize11, Chief of Operations for E'Prime,

said its LOFT-I vehicle will carry four experiments to an altitude of

four miles where they'll drop by parachute for recovery in the Atlantic

Ocean. The payloads are from the University of Alabama in Huntsville;

Weber State College of Ogden, Utah; Brookwood High School of Snellville,

Georgia; and Utah State University in Logan, Utah. [Mittman, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 2A, August 23, 1988.]

57
August 25: BOOSTER WILL PERFORM SAFELY

"All the data is indicating that we had s very good [final SRB] tes_

and the hardware that's been disassembled to date looks great." said Ed--

Medal, NASA spokesman for Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,

Alabama. "Upon inspecting it, it showed that everything worked as

predicted and expected. We did get gas pressure to the primary O-ring,

but that O-ring held tight and did not allow it to blow by. In fact,

it didn't even show any heat damage."

"It was as near perfect a test as you can imagine," said Morton Thiokol

spokesman, Rocky Raab. Announcement of a late September launch date for

Discovery could come August 26. There will be a sixth test firing in

December; it will be performed in a facility which simulates the same

stresses the booster experiences at ignition, at liftoff and during

flight.

At Kennedy Space Center, all non-essential workers were cleared from

launch pad 39B today while hazardous fuel was loaded into Discovery°

Additionally, workers continued to prepare Discovery to accept its TDRS

payload on August 29. [White, F_RZDA TODAY, p. 1A, August 26, 1988,

"Critical Rocket Test Is Lauded by Maker As Virtually Perfect," NEW YORK

TZNF.S, p. 9, August 31, 1988.3

SPACEPORT USA ART COLLECTION

Galaxy Center, at Spaceport USA, currently houses the largest collection

of Space art in the country _ including the 70-piece exhibit "The Artist

and the Space Shuttleo" The entire collection includes about 170 works_

[Klotz, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, August 25, 1988.]

August 26: TGS CONTRACT SETTLEMENT

Union employees of TGS Technology Inc. have a new contract after three

and one-half years of working without one. Dick Fague, a member of the

bargaining committee, said the 125 workers from locals 666 and 780 of

the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees had ratified

the three-year contract at a tonight's meeting. Robert Forster,

President of Technology Inc., said he was pleased that the workers had

approved the agreement which resulted from concessions by both labor and

management. "Basically, we wanted labor peace for the upcoming Shuttle

launch and thought it would be in the best interests of NASA and the Air

Force to have a settlement," he said. [Carey, THE ORLANDG SENTINEL, pp.

B-1 & B-6, August 27, 1988, Klotz, FLORZDA TODAY, p. 12C, August 27,

1988.]

CUTS IN O-RINGS FOUND

Federal authorities are investigating suspicious cuts found in some Oring seals intended for use in Shuttle solid rocket boosters. The rings

were detected by visual inspection, x-ray and laser measurements before

they ever left HydroPak Inc.'s manufacturing plant in West Jordan, Utah.

James Dockstader, Vice President for Operations at HydroPak, termed the

cuts as very obvious and appeared to be deliberate. He said, furtherthat no damaged seals had been sent to the SRB manufacturer, Morton

58
_-J <7

Thiokol Inc. [BofSey, THE NEW YORK TXHES (National Edition), p. S,

August 27, 1988.]

ASTRONAUT GEMAR AT LA CITA

Astronaut Sam Gemar told the Sertoma Club in Titusville, FL, that the

United States must maintain its preeminence in Space and that the

country might already have lost its lead. wl try to encourage people

to let their government leaders know where they stand on Space, whether

it's pro or con, w he said. Gemar, a Captain in the U. S. Army, Joined

NASA as an astronaut in 1985 and completed his training in July 1986.

["America's Space Lead Vital, Astronaut Says," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2B,

August 26, 1988.]

August 28= SPACE COAST WEATHER & DISCOVERY

Discovery was prepared to meet the possibility o5 harsh weather

resulting from a tropical depression that might hit the Space Coast

today. "Right now, we're taking precautions. They've walked down the

whole pad looking for any debris or anything loose so they can secure

it or remove it beSore the storm hits," according to Kennedy Space

Center spokesman Karl Kristo££erson. He also said that should winds

reach 50 mph, NASA management would have to decide whether to move

Discovery back to the VAB. The poorly defined storm did not, in fact,

hit the Space Coast. [White, FLORXDA TODAY, p. 1A, August 28, 1988.]

August 29: LAUNCH DATE SET IN TWO WEEKS

NASA intends to wait till after the Sept. 13 and 14 flight readiness

review before setting a new launch date for Discovery, according to NASA

spokesman Jim Cast. Win the meantime we are still looking at the last

week in September w for a launch, said NASA's National Space

Transportation System Director Arnold Aldrich. Karl Kristofferson, KSC

spokesman, said that wl think it probably has to do with the hydrogen

leak they are trying to resolve, w The flight readiness firing [FRF]

data showed small amounts o5 hydrogen gas in an area near 5uel lines

leading to the Orbiter. Discovery's primary payload, a Tracking and

Relay Data Satellite similar to one destroyed on Challenger in 1986, was

successfully loaded into the Orbiter's payload bay at Kennedy Space

Center. The ten-hour operations involved 50 workers. [Mittman, FLORZDA

TODAY, p. IA, August 30, 1988.]

August 31= 330 NEW JOBS AT KSC

Kennedy Space Center will hire 330 additional persons in September,

officials said today. Among the new hires will be 235 engineers, 34

quality assurance inspectors, 23 administrators, and 39 clerical

workers. When all the positions are filled, NASA will have

approximately 2,500 employees at Kennedy Space Center by the end o5 the

1988-1989 fiscal year. CKlotz, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Sept. 1, 1988.]

<7 NEW PAD AT CAPE

McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. is considering plans to build a new

launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. wit's really, truly,

59
a maybe. I'm Just not confident, especially with the cutbacks we're all

having at the Department of Defense, _ said Lyle Holloway, Director of

McDonnell Douglas's Florida Test Center. [George, F'I..ORIDA TODAY,

V

V

6O
September

September 3: DELAYS IN PAYLOAD TESTS

Workers had difficulty beginning a test of Discovery's TDRS payload's

electrical connections today. "It's been slow," said Kennedy Space

Center spokesman George Diller. "We had hoped to start earlier but we

had some communications problems we had to work around." [White,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, Sept. 4, 1988.]

_ptem_r 5z WORKERS GET LABOR DAY OFF

No work was planned for today, but testing and practice sessions will

continue throughout the week while Discovery's crew is at Kennedy Space

Center. Sunday night a test was completed which showed that the TDRS

payload's electrical connections were "plugged in correctly," according

to KSC spokesman Dick Young. ["Shuttle Workers Get Holiday Off,"

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A, Sept. 5, 1988.]

Septem_r G: DISCOVERY CREW ARRIVES AT KSC

Discovery's five crew members - Commander Rick Hauck, Pilot Richard

Covey, and Mission Specialists Dsvid Hilmers, Mike Lounge and George

•Pinky" Nelson - arrived st Kennedy Space Center to take part in a

series o£ £insl prelaunch tests, including a major countdown rehearsal

and emergency crew escape drills. Said Hauck, wlt's really hard to

believe that, at least on the calendar, we could be less than three

weeks from launch. We are and We're ready, n ,-

The crew spoke briefly to the press shortly after landing their T-38

training jets on the Shuttle landing facility at KSC. Pilot Richard

Covey said that "unlike a lot of other folks who come to Florida, we

did not come to buy lottery tickets." The crew expressed its

appreciation to KSC workers for preparing the Orbiter for the four-day

mission. "We are looking forward to borrowing their Spaceship for a

week, " said Mission Specialist Nelson. [Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL,

p. A-9, Sept. 2, 1988, Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Sept. 7, 1988,

and "Shuttle Crew to Rehearse Countdown," USA TODAY, p. 3A, Sept. 7,

1988, Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Sept. 8, 1988.]

_ptewd_er 8 : CREW PRACTICES COUNTDOWN

Discovery's crew completed a practice countdown today at Kennedy Space

Center in preparation for their late September launch. "You really get

the feeling this train is about to leave the station and we're ready to

get on board," commented Mission Specialist Mike Lounge. Unlike

previous crews which wore shirt-sleeve coveralls, Discovery's crew

practiced in bright orange pressurized flight suits. Commander Rick

Hsuck said, "The suits are not comfortable and are not built for

comfort. You just cannot expect to be comfortable strapped on your back

for three or four hours. You put up with it." The new suits are

required should the crew have to bail out in the early minutes after

launch. Other crew gear for this flight includes a parachute, oxygen

tank, life raft and survival supplies, all of which are strapped onto

the suits Just prior to entering the crew cabin.

61
The crew clambered aboard the Shuttle at 7:30 a.m. and emerged three

hours later. The test encountered minor delays due to the lengthened

suiting up procedure and a communication problem with ground suppor+

equipment. [Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-6, Sept. 9, 1988 an_jW

Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Sept. 9, 1988, "Cumbersome Flight Suits

Cut Launch 'Window' 1/2 Hour," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Sept. 24, 1988. ]

September 12: FEWER JOURNALIST TO VIEW LAUNCH

NASA and the U. S. Air Force announced today that because of safety

concerns, some Journalists will not be allowed to watch Discovery's

launch from the Space center's press site. The excluded journalists

will be moved to a public causeway seven miles from the launch site.

Boaters will also be prohibited from entering the Banana River north of

the Merritt Island Barge Canal.

NASA's statement said, "All credentialed media will be able to work from

the LC-39 press site except for the hours just before launch and the

launch itself. During that period, media with an immediate need for the

facilities at the press site will be allowed, and all others will view

the launch from the causeway which will be equipped with countdown

clock, audio commentary and video monitors. [Mittman and Hammond,

FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A-2A, Sept. 13, 1988, Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A,

Sept. 14, 1988, Gllsch, THE ORLAHD_ SENTINEL, pp. A-1 & A-6, Sept. 13,

1988.]

=

CANDIDATES AT LAUNCH?

Republican presidential nominee George Bush may attend the launch o_

Discovery later this month, according to campaign aide Brett Wacker_

Democrat nominee Michael Dukakis has not indicated whether he will

attend. ["Special VIP," FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Sept. 13, 1988.]

Septem_r 13: DISCOVERY CLEARED FOR LAUNCH

An expert panel of the National Research Council overseeing the redesign

of the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters said today that there were no

safety concerns which would prevent Discovery from being launched. The

report was considered especially important because flaws in the SRBs

were blamed _or the Challenger accident on January 28, 1986. [Wilford,

THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 15, Sept. 14, 1988, Mittman,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A, Sept. 14, 1988.]

NEW SHUTTLE LEAK

A new hydrogen leak discovered in the Shuttle's main propulsion system

was the object of an intense search today, according to Kennedy Space

Center spokeswoman Lisa Malone. "We do not know where it is, but we

have to find it and fix it before proceeding with the helium signature

leak check of the main propulsion system and main engines," she said.

Besides working to discover the source of the leak, workers finished

installing two of the Shuttle's three gaseous oxygen flow control

valve poppets which had been removed last week when metal debris was

found on them. During the FRF, two of the valves did not close as

quickly as anticipated. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Sept. 14

1988.]

62
Septe_r 15: HYDROGEN LEAK FOUND r STOPPED

_J

Kennedy Space Center workers stopped two small hydrogen leaks detected

last week by operating two valves, according to KSC spokesman George

Diller. "We are still looking at data, but it appears we have isolated

the problem and we have confidence it is not going to be an obstacle

leading to launch preparation," he said. Further leak tests were to be

conducted later tonight. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, pc 8A, Sept. 16,

1988.3

<> GILBERT SUSPENDS JSC OPERATIONS

Hurricane Gilbert disrupted work at Johnson Space Center in Houston

today as it bore down on the Texas coastline, thirty miles away. The

center's 9,000 employees were granted administrative leave to look after

their families and property. The presence of the hurricane kept NASA

from releasing the long-awaited launch date for Discovery. [Banke,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Sept. 16, 1988, Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, pc 1A,

Sept. 15, 1988, Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-15, Sept. 15, 1988.]

September 16: DISCOVERY FLIES ON 29TH

NASA announced today that Discovery will be launched September 29 from

Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center. The time of launch is set for 9:59

a.m. ; there is a three-hour launch window. The announcement came at

NASA headquarters following a meeting between Administrator James

Fletcher and Associate Administrator for Space Flight Rear Admiral

Richard Truly. ["Sept. 29 Launching Date Set for Redesigned Space

Shuttle,"THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 5, Sept. 17, 1988,

"Discovery Launch Set.," THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-l, Sept. 17, 1988,

and Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, pp_ 1A-2A, Sept. 17, 1988. ]

September 19: NO LEAKS IN DISCOVERY

Tests run over the weekend showed that there were no significant leaks

in Discovery's main propulsion system, said a Kennedy Space Center

spokeswoman. A small hydrogen leak had been noted 10 days ago, but said

Lisa Malone, "The tests went very well. It looks as though the leak is

within specifications and everything is fine."

A gyroscope, one of five on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite now

on board Discovery, was found to be out of alignment. The unit housing

the gyroscope was removed today and returned to the manufacturer -

Hamilton Standard (Parmington, Connecticut) - for analysis. KSC

spokesman George Diller said the move would not delay KSC's work

schedule or the Sept. 29 launch of Discovery. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 1A, Sept. 20, 1988.]

Septe_r 21: NASA WATCHES HURRICANE HELENE

It is too early to know what impact, if any, Hurricane Helena might have

on Discovery's launch scheduled for September 29. NASA spokesman Karl

Kristofferson said, "They're not really concerned about it but if it

[the launch] gets five days away and somebody says it's coming,

they'll get very concerned." Helena is presently more than 2,700 miles

63
from Florida and gathering strength. To guard against damage from the

high winds of s hurricane, NASA's emergency plan calls for a rollback

of the Shuttle prior to winds reaching 48 mph to prevent damage to th?

Orbiter. The decision could also be to keep the Orbiter on the pad_#_

enclosed by the rotating service structure and weather protection doors.

[Glisch and Bell, THE ORLANEND SENTINEL, pp. A-I & A-12, Sept. 22, 1988.]

<> SHUTTLE GETS NEW VALVE PART

An actuator that opens and closes an oxygen valve was removed from

Discovery September 20 and returned to its manufacturer - Rocketdyne -

according to Kennedy Space Center spokesman George Diller. A

replacement was installed today and will be tested September 22. NASA

said that the changeout will not affect the launch date.

Workers also closed out the aft compartment for flight, installed heat

shields around the main engines, washed down the surface of the mobile

launch platform and prepared to wash down the launch pad surface and

the flame trench, performed a simulated countdown of the TDRS booster

rocket, and completed a test of TDRS ground support stations to ensure

control centers around the country can communicate with each other.

[Banks, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Sept. 22, 1988.]

<> PRQTEST,QRS AVOID PAYING RESTITUTION

Four protestors convicted of trespass on NASA property will not have to

pay approximately $11,000 in court costs and restitution. Restitution

was not required when State Attorney James Carter could not produce a

key witness and court costs, according to Judge Peter Haddad, werr

obviated by his sentence of extended Jail time. [Kohlman, FLORID_

TODAY, p. 1A, Sept. 22, 1988. ]

September 22s DISCOVERY'S RINGS ARE OKAY

An outdated piece of hardware inadvertently used in the final test of

the redesigned Shuttle booster rocket was not installed in those

boosters now attached to Discovery. Paperwork and x-rays were reexamined; the x-rays themselves were enhanced by computer and this

confirmed that the booster parts are the newer model. NASA spokesman

Ed Medal said, "Everything we've seen indicates the redesigned rings

are in (Discovery's} boosters."

Workers also completed installing the heat shields surround the main

engines and made a final inspection of the thermal blankets on the

cargo bay doors. The batteries on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite

were charged and more testing was to be done of the inertial upper stage

booster rocket. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Sept. 23, 1988, "NASA

Reports Shuttle Rocket Has New Rings," THE NEW YORK TIMES (National

Edition), p. 11, Sept. 23, 1988.]

September 24: GREEN RIBBON ON LAUNCH PAD FENCE

Brevard County's Chambers of Commerce today placed a large green ribbon

on the fence surrounding Discovery at launch complex 39B. The ribbon

is symbolic of the support shown throughout the county for the launc

V

64
and is the largest of thousands displayed in Brevard. Receiving the

ribbon was Deputy Director Thomas Utsman, who said, "It's hard to

realize after 2 1/2 years of hard, hard work that we're only six days

from £1ying and everything is still green for us. We really appreciate

the fact that the community is getting behind us. I think you'll see

a sea of green come Thursday." The green ribbon was the idea of Faye

Savasta of Rockledge, FL. (White, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Sept. 24,

1988.]

_ptember 25: DISCOVERY SET FOR COUNTDOWN

NASA proceeded without a hitch toward starting Discovery's countdown to

launch today. A small crew of pad workers installed explosive devices

on Discovery's payload - the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) -

which will be used to separate the satellite from its booster after it

is deployed. KSC spokesman George Diller said, "We don't see anything

now that would preclude us from picking up the count." Nevertheless,

launch officials are continuing to keep a close watch on Hurricane

Helene. [Halvorson, F_RIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Sept. 25, 1988.2

COUNTDOWN SCHEDULE

The major steps after the countdown clock is started include the

following:

*T-minus 27 hours: An eight-hour built-in hold begins. During the

hold, final work will be done on Discovery's primary payload.

*T-minus 19 hoUrs: A second eight'hour hold begins. By this time,

workers are ready to roll back the Shuttle's service structure.

*T-minus 11 hours: A built-in hold of 19 hours and 39 minutes begins.

When the clock begins againt the rotating service structure is

removed for the last time.

*T-minus 3 hours; A two-hour hold begins. The external fuel tank is

loaded with its 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

Shortly after the T-minus-3 mark, the astronauts are scheduled to

leave their crew quarters for the trip to the pad.

*T-minus 20 minutes:

are verified for use.

they are ready.

A 10-minute hold begins. All computer programs

Launch team members signal the launch director

*T-minus 9 minutes: The final lO-minute hold takes place. During

this time the final launch approval is given after a check of all

program, mission and operational elements.

*T-mlnus 7 minutes, 30 seconds:

into the Shuttle is moved.

The access arm astronauts use to get

*T-minus 31 seconds: The ground computers order the Shuttle's

computers to finish the countdown.

*T-minus G. 6 seconds:

thrust.

The main engines start and build up to full

65
*T-minus O: The solid rocket boosters are fired and the Shuttle lifts

off. [Banke, FLORZDA TODAY, p. 3B, Sept. 25, 1988.]

CROWD ESTIMATES FOR LAUNCH V

Crowd estimates for the launch of Discovery on Sept. 29, range from

500,000 to 3 million, though most estimate something around I million.

That estimate could go higher, however, if NASA encounters a delay till

the week-end when people are off work and children are out of school.

"I don't think the people in this community can fully understand or

grasp what we're going to go through, and what I'm talking about just

getting to work in the morning," said Titusville Mayor Truman

Scsrborough. [Lafferty. THE ORLANDO SEHTZNEL, p. A-16, Sept. 25,

1988.]

HOSPITALS ON FULL ALERT

Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital (Titusville, FL) is the primary medical

facility for Shuttle crews ; the hospital has background information on

each crew member. If the astronauts need care not available at Jess

Parrish, they will be stabilized and moved, probably to Shands Hospital

(Gsinesviile, FL) though Florida Hospital (Orlando, FL) and Holmes

Regional Medical Center (Melbourne, FL) are ready for potential use in

an emergency. [Banke, F_RZD& TODAY, p. lIB, Sept. 26, 1988.]

September 26: COUNTDOWN CLOCK STARTS

The countdown to launch of Discovery started this morning at 8 a.m., a

delay of about eight hours because engineers fell behind while doinc

final safety checks on the Orbiter. According to NASA spokeswoman Lis_

Malone, the delay will not affect the expect 9:59 a.m. launch time

because extra time had been built into the count. Hurricane Helene,

still out in the Pacific Ocean, is no longer considered a threat to the

launch. CGiisch, THE ORLANDO SENTZNEL, p. A-5,

Sept. 26, 1988.]

LAUNCH WEATHER GUIDELINES

NASA changed its weather criteria following both the Challenger accident

and the loss to lightning of an Atlas-Centaur in 1987. Some of the

restrictions which must be adhered to now include:

*Lightning - There can be no lightning within I0 miles of the launch

pad 30 minutes before launch. Additionally, the potential for

lightning also must be within certain guidelines when measured five

miles away from the pad 15 minutes before liftoff.

_Precipitation - The countdown will stop if there is rain at the

launch pad or in a Shuttle's flight path.

*Clouds - There are a series of guidelines that specify the various

types of clouds - ones with the potential for creating lightning -

the Shuttle cannot fly through. The Shuttle will not launch if the

potential for lightning is present.

66
*Wind - Wind cannot be greater than 28 mph or, if it is blowing

generally from the south, no greater than 19 mph. A launch cannot

occur within 30 minutes of excessive winds at high altitudes.

*Temperature - Before the external tank can be loaded, the average

temperature for the preceding 24-hour period must be above 41 degrees;

the countdown will be halted if the temperature is above 99 degrees or

the temperature is less than 37 degrees with a wind greater than 6 mph

or a temperature less than 47 degrees with a wind less than 6 mph.

[Banke, *F_RIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Sept. 26, 1988, Broad, THE MEW YORK

TIMES (National Edition), p. 16, Sept. 28, 1988, Broad, THE NEW YORK

TIMES (National Edition), p. 12, Sept. 29, 1988. ]

DISCOVERY CREW ARRIVES

Discovery's five astronauts arrived at Kennedy Space Center today as

the Shuttle went through the early stages of its countdown just a few

miles away. The crew, which will spend the next few days relaxing and

attending briefings, was clearly eager to resume manned Spaceflight

after nearly three years. "The Mission Control team is ready. I know

the launch control team here in Florida is ready, the bird is ready and

we're ready. I'll tell you, we're excited. We can't wait to do this.

This is a tribute to the tens o£ thousands of people that have put in

an awful lot of work over the past _ 1/2 years to get us to this point,"

said Commander Rick Hauck.

Discovery's countdown continued without problems after starting at 8

a.m., about eight hours later than planned so engineers could finish

safety checks on the Spacecraft. The delay won't affect the Shuttle's

launch time because NASA had deliberately added about a day of extra

contingency time in the countdown to allow for minor problems. Checks

on the main engines and electrical systems continued. Tomorrow workers

will begin loading the Shuttle's fuel cell storage tanks with liquid

oxygen. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Sept. 26, 1988, Wilford, THE NEW

YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 15, Sept. 26, 1988, Glisch, THE

ORLAMDO SEMTIMEL, p. A-4, Sept. 27, 1988, Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, pp.

1A-2A, Sept. 27, 1988, Wilford, THE MEW YORK TIMES (National Edition),

p. 24, Sept. 27, 1988.]

Septes_r 27z LAST-MINUTE PROBLEMS

Test results from the inertial upper stage - the booster rocket set to

deliver the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite [TDRS] to orbit - will be

analyzed to see whether a cut in an O-ring found on another such IUS

exists on the one now in Discovery's payload bay. "We're concerned

because we want to take every step, uncover every stone to make sure

we've done everything humanly possible to check any discrepancy we get,"

said Parker Counts, Chief of the Upper-Stage Office at Marshall Space

Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.

Engineers also were studying an abrasion in the nozzle of one of

Discovery's front orbital steering system engines. The head of NASA's

launch approval team, astronaut Bob Crippen, said the abrasion was not

thought serious. "In general," he said, "the picture is very good for

going flying," with the only weather concern the possibility that low67
level winds will exceed NASA's new, stricter liftoff limits. [Broad,

THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), pp. 1 & 15, Sept. 26, 1988,

Wilford, THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition)¢ pp. I &13, Wilford, TH_

NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 13, Sept. 28, 1988, Glisch &

Fisher, THE _LANDO SENTINEL, pp. A-I & A-14, Sept. 28, 1988, Halvorson,

FLORIDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, Sept. 28, 1988.]

PRESS CONTINGENT HUGE

Extensive preparations have been made to accommodate the press here at

Kennedy Space Center for the launch of Discovery September 29. "We had

2,700 press people for Apollo 11 and the first Shuttle launch, and this

has the promise of being much larger," commented KSC spokesman Dick

Young. Two-story studios for launch and prelaunch broadcasts have been

made ready for network anchormen Bernard Shaw [CNN], Tom Brokaw [NBC],

Peter Jennings [ABC] and Dan Rather [CBS]. The work of preparing these

studios has occupied 315 people from the networks and they will have to

begin packing up within minutes after the launch coverage is completed

due to demands on the time of people and equipment in this presidential

election year. [Cohen, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4B, Sept. 28, 1988, Gerard,

THE NEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 13, Sept. 28, 1988.]

Soptomber 28; RECOVERY SHIPS TAKE POSITIONS

The solid rocket booster [SRB] recovery ships Liberty Star and Freedom

Star leave Port Canaveral today to take up their positions 150 miles

out in the Atlan%ic ocean toaWait Discovery's launch. A policy change

since the Challenger accident requires that launch be delayed if the

seas are too rough to accommodate recovery of the boosters. In charg_

of retrieving the boosters is Anker Rasmussen, Manager of Marine

Operations. The ships' schedule follows:

*About 2 p.m. today, the ships depart through Port Canaveral.

*Two hours later, the ships reach their destination and can remain

there up to 20 days.

*About seven minutes after launch, the two boosters will splash down

in the Atlantic.

*After parachute lines are attached aboard, four divers will enter the

water and plug the open end of the booster, which is about I00 feet

under water.

*Water will be pumped out of the booster till it moves from a vertical

position bobbing in the water to a horizontal one which is more

manageable.

*Eight hours after launch, the recovery ships will be ready to tow the

boosters back to Port Canaveral.

*About 34 hours after launch, the two ships will enter the port,

passing by Jetty Park (in Cape Canaveral, FL).

*About 38 hours after launch, the ships and boosters return to thei_,p

slips at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 4B, Sept. 28, 1988.]

68
\

<7 PORTABLE TOILETS FOR KSC

Comfort House Inc. (Winter Park, FL) will be providing 160 portable

toilets to Kennedy Space Center for the launch of Discovery. The

company has provided toilets for each of the previous 24 Shuttle

launches. Jean Jonas, Comfort House spokeswoman, said, "We're just so

excited we can take part." [Nagy, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4B, Sept. 28,

1988.]

VIPS EXPECTED FOR LAUNCH

NASA expects some 2,000 celebrities and government officials to attend

tomorrow's launch. The guest list includes the following persons:

Dsryl Hannah, John Travolta, John Denver, astronauts B. J. Weitz (Deputy

Director o£ Johnson Space Center), Charlie Bolden (Pilot o£ STS-61C),

Gene Cernan, Dr. Mae Jemison, Sultan AI Saud (Saudi Arabia and payload

specialist on STS-51G), and former payload specialist Charles Walker.

Dan Brandenstein (who will £1y NASA's launch day weather plane) and 250

extended family members o£ the STS-25 crew.

Other confirmed VIPs include Florida Gov. Bob Martinez, NASA

Administrator James Fletcher, Deputy Administrator Dale Myers, Associate

Deputy Administrator Willis Shapley, U. S. Senators John Glenn, Jake

Garn, Albert Gore, Bob Graham, Charles Grassley, Robert Kasten and

Daniel Evans. Florida Congressmen Bill Nelson, Dan Mica and Larry Smith

are also expected to attend. [Clark, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5B, Sept. 28,

1988.]

,September 28: ATLANTIS WAITS IN WINGS

The Space Shuttle Atlantis continues to undergo preparations for its

Department o£ Defense mission. Atlantis is in the Orbiter Processing

Facility for routine work and may be moved to the Vehicle Assembly

Building as early as Oct. 7, according to Kennedy Space Center

spokeswoman Lisa Malone. The crew will include Commander Robert Gibson,

Pilot Guy Gardner, and Mission Specialists Richard Mullane, Jerry Ross

and William Shepherd. ["Atlantis Waits in Wings for Flight, " FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 6B, Sept. 29, 1988.]

September 29= DISCOVERY SET FOR LAUNCH

All systems are go for the first Shuttle mission since the Challenger

accident on January 28, 1986. "It's been a long 2 1/2 years to get to

this point," said Rear Admiral Richard Truly, NASA's Associate

Administrator for Space flight. "The Space Shuttle is ready to £1y.

The payload - the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite - is ready to fly,"

he said. Barring bad weather or last-minute equipment problems,

Discovery should lift o££ between 9:59 a.m. and 12:29 p.m. "We're not

going to bend the weather rules one iota," Truly said. wI£ we don't

make the weather criteria, we're not going to launch." Fueling began

today at 1:40 a.m.

Two small problems that cropped up during a flight review Sept. 27 were

assessed, and neither stand in the way of the launch. A small cut was

discovered Sept. 26 in an O-ring seal in the igniter of an upper-stage

69
booster that will be used on a February Shuttle flight. The quarterinch long flaw is in the same type of upper stage that will be used to

deploy Discovery's TDRS payload. The second problem was a small scratcJ___F

in a thruster rocket in Discovery's Reaction Control System, whic_

steers the Orbiter. [Halvorson and Bsnke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Sept.

29, _ 1988, Fisher & Glisch, THE ORLAN_ SENTINEL, pp. A-I-A-12, Sept. 29,

1988, Wilford, THE NEW YORK TINES (National Edition), pp. I & 12, Sept.

29, 1988.]

Septes_r 29: DISCOVERY MAKES THRILLING LIFTOFF

Nearly three years of frustration ended for NASA and its contractors

when Discovery li_ted off LC 39B st II:37 a.m. today. "Wow! That

really was something, W NASA Administrator James Fletcher told the launch

firing room team, who had erupted in cheers st every milestone Discovery

reached before the Shuttle reached a safe orbit. Fletcher commented

further, WAll I can say is the nation owes you a lot. This is the first

of a new era" for the manned Space program.

Liftoff came an hour and 40 minutes late because of upper-level wind

conditions, which eventually required a waiver of NASA's newly tightened

launch rules° The weather problem ironically, involved conditions "too

good for liftoff." Winds at 40,000 feet were blowing st only about II

mph out of the northeast. Discovery's computers were programmed to

handle winds at a seasonal norm of 28 to 34 mph, out of the west. The

winds had been watched all through the night and, said KSC's Deputy

Director Tom Utsman, finally it was determined that the Orbiter could

safely launch. Contributing to their decision was the fact that the

winds had become more stable and changed directions. _ "It did requir_

a waiver, but it was thoroughly researched," said Utsman. "It was not

a result of a judgment, but the result of a refined engineering

analysis."

The launch was anything but routine in that the firing room team cheered

as each critical milestone in the liftoff was achieved - especially the

successful separation of the solid boosters. The launch drew some

250,000 people to Brevard County, far below initial projections of a

million or more. No major traffic or crowd control problems were

reported. There was a brief commotion when a wayward small private

plane flew into NASA's launch airspace and dangerously close to the

launch pad. It circled the VAB twice before heading out to the launch

pad at 2,100 feet, according to Air Force officials. The plane was

intercepted by a NASA helicopter and ordered to land at

nearby Space Center Executive Airport. Federal Aviation Administration

spokesman Randy Myers, said the flight would be investigated and that

the pilot - who was not identified - might lose his license.

Some video taped replays of the launch showed an odd-looking flame at

the base of the left booster rocket shortly after launch, but NASA

technicians who viewed the tapes said it was not abnormal. Morton

Thiokol vice president Allan McDonald said that the first telemetry data

showed that the boosters fired properly. They will undergo inspection

at Kennedy Space Center beginning September 30. [Broad, THE NEW YORK

TINES (National Edition)THE NEW YORK TINES (National Edition), p. I0,

Sept. 30, 1988, Fisher, Glisch & Lafferty, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp.

70
& 26, Sept. 30, 1988, Fisher, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-30, Sept. 30,

1988, Halvorson, Banke, Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2S, Sept. 30, 1988,

"Liftoff! Transcript of Discovery's Flight, " FLORIDA TODAY, p. 8S,

Sept. 30, 1988, Nagy, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 9S, Sept. 30, 1988, Wilford, THE

NEW YORK TIHF_ (National Edition), pp. 1 & I0, Sept. 30, 1988, "Shuttle

Mission 26 Launched: Astronauts Return to Space As Discovery Soars Into

Orbit, " AVIATION WEEK & Space TECHNOLOGY, pp. 16-18, Oct. 3, 1988. ]

WFTV HELICOPTER AT KSC

Orlando television station WFTV's helicopter made an emergency landing

at KSC after Discovery's liftoff. It landed a mile north of the NASA

Causeway and about five feet west of the Indian River shoreline. WFTV

news director Chris Schmidt said that the helicopter was returning to

the station's Orlando newsroom when the Pilot was forced to land the

vehicle. "I think for some reason they had an engine failure, so they

auto-rotated and set it down on NASA property. A representative of

Bulldog Airlines, employer of the Pilot, said that "It was a

precautionary landing, that's all. (The Pilot) did a good job of

getting it down. If it had gone any further, it would have been

serious. He did an excellent Job and we're real proud of him."

Mechanics worked on the helicopter for four hours after its landing and

subsequently flew it back to Orlando. [Jones, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 9S,

Sept. 30, 1988.]

NO PROBLEMS AT PAD

Just after Discovery's launch, pad workers at LC 39B began preparing the

pad for Atlantis, tentatively scheduled for rollout in mid-October,

"There's only s couple of weeks until the next bird comes out, so

there's an emphasis on getting this pad ready," said Bill Warren, NASA

Site Director. Larry Schultz, Chief of NASA's Launch Structures

Section, said, "The pad looks excellent after the launch - minimum

damage to any of the systems." [Lafferty, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A30, Sept. 30, 1988.]

SQptember 30_ LAUNCH DECISION CORRECT

Discovery's launch yesterday was, in part, the result of a waiver signed

by Robert Crippen, which allowed the Orbiter to fly into winds far less

volatile than predicted. Forecasters had suggested that winds at 20,000

to 30,000 feet would be up to I00 mph; weather balloons found winds of

only I0 to 25 mph. The pro_blem: Discovery's computers had been

programmed to compensate for 100 mph, therefore Crippen's waiver was

required.

"It was a very small matter," Joseph Sutter, a member of the AeroSpace

Safety Advisory Panel that oversees NASA, said today. "With all the

scrutiny NASA is under, they aren't going to make any mistakes. I don't

think it's the same old arrogant, sloppy NASA that existed leading up

to Challenger." [White and Beecken, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA,

71
October

Octo_r I: " BOOSTERS RETURN TO PORT CANAVERAL

Other than some discoloration and blackening caused by the flames of

liftoff, the two solid rocket boosters which lofted Discovery to its

mission showed little obvious damage. They were given an "A-doubleplus" by Rocky Raab, spokesman for Morton Thiokol Inc. which built the

rockets. Raab said he'd seen no evidence that the joints were leaking.

On October 3, workers will remove any remaining explosive chemicals from

the rockets. "Then it takes more than three days to strip the thermal

protection materials on the joint and the motor," Raab said. He went

on to say that the first Joint should be removed in about two weeks.

"The booster parts go to USBI; all the motor parts go back to Utah,"

Raab said. Morton Thiokol Inc.'s main manufacturing plant is in Brigham

City, Utah. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Oct. I, 1988, Lafferty and

Glisch, THE ORLAND_ SENTINEL, p. A-12, Oct. 2, 1988, Lafferty, THE

ORLANI_ SENTINEL, p. A-4, Oct. 3, 1988.]

READYING ATLANTIS FOR LAUNCH

Shortly after the successful launch of Discovery, workers began to ready

pad 39B for Atlantis'ss mid-November mission. Workers washed the area

affected by Discovery's engine blast and replaced some damaged lights;

otherwise pad damage was described by NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone as

minimal. The crawler-transporter was returned to the pad to pick up the

mobile launch platform for delivery to the Vehicle Assembly Building

October 3 and stored there for Discovery's next mission, STS-29, early

next year. The solid rocket boosters for that mission will be assembler_ m

atop the platform in the third week of October. V

Tanker trucks containing liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen will arrive

at Kennedy Space Center this week to refill storage tanks depleted by

the Discovery launch. Discovery is expected back aboard its 747 carrier

plane - in a one-day flight - on October 8. Atlantis is expected to be

roiled over from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the VAB no earlier

than Oct. 14. Leak checks and work on the Atlantis's TPS continued

today in the OPF. Columbia remains in an OPF hangar and had its side

crew hatch installed and will be moved to another hangar shortly to

accommodate the returned Discovery. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Oct.

I, 1988, Lafferty, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-17, Oct. 4, 1988.]

CONGRESS APPROVES BEACH ROAD

Construction for a new road to Playalinda Beach could begin next year

because Congress has appropriated $6.6 million for its design and

construction. [Hammond and White, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2B, Oct. 2, 1988. ]

October 3: DISCOVERY LANDS AT EDWARDS

Discovery's mission, which began at Kennedy Space Center Sept. 29, came

to a successful conclusion with a perfect landing in the desert

at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Touchdown came at 12:37 EDT and

the crew was greeted by Mission Control which told the men, "Welcome

back, Discovery - a great ending to a new beginning." Vice Presiden

v

72
George Bush greeted the astronauts as they emerged from Discovery.

[Fisher, THE ORLAH_ SENTZN_L, pp. A-I & A-17, Oct° 4, 1988.]

E'PRIME SCRUBS COMMERCIAL LAUNCH

E'Prime AeroSpace Corp. (Titusville, FL) has postponed its Oct. 6 launch

of a sounding rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, according

to both company and Air Force officials. The scrubbing was caused by

hardware and paperwork problems. E'Prime will pay the Air Force about

S24,400 for the use of a launch pad and minimal support crew for two

launches. ["Titusville Firm Scrubs Launch," FLORZDA TODAY, p. 2B, Oct.

4, 1988.]

ATLANTIS LAUNCH DATE OPTIMISTIC

The November 17 launch date for Atlantis is "optimistic, w according to

Conrad Nagel who is in charge of prelaunch operations. He said the date

is "under review" and hopes to launch before Thanksgiving, November 24.

One thing slowing work is the shortage of experienced workers, he said.

WRight now we have a lot of people who have come on board in the last

two to three years. Those people are gaining experience with each day

that passes. And as we have experienced people, we are going to see

some of our manpower problems go away." Another problem is the

completion of the post-Challenger modifications being made on both

Atlantis and Columbia, in addition to the ones made on Discovery. "Once

we complete these," said Nagel, Wand get into what I call a more routine

flow of the Orbiters through the processing...we're going to see less

pressure in terms of having experienced resources available to do

Orbiter processing."

Finally, Nagel said, "We've got a very tight schedule and we're going

to work that schedule. And right now I think that the fact we got a

good flight off on Discovery would lead us to be very optimistic about

the schedule we have between now and next summer." The following

missions have these tentative dates_

*Discovery, Feb. 18, 1989

*Atlantis, April 28, 1989

*Columbia, July I, 1989

*Discovery, Aug. I0, 1989

*Atlantis, Oct. 12, 1989

*Columbia, Nov. 13, 1989

*Discovery, Dec. 11, 1989

*Atlantis, Feb. 1, 1990

[Banke, FLORID& TODAY, p. 3B, Oct. 4, 1988.]

October 4-. DISCOVERY SUSTAINS LITTLE DAMAGE

NASA announced today that Discovery came through its mission in

excellent shape and suffered only slight damage to a few of its heat

-resistant tiles - the thermal protection system. "The vehicle looks

beautiful," said John Talone, Director of Shuttle Processing. "It looks

as good, or better, [than] any vehicle we've ever brought in here. It's

clean as can be." Inspectors found only slight damage under the right

73
wing where six tiles were "gouged" about 1 and 1/4 inches deep. Talone

suspected that the damage might have occurred during liftoff by flying

debris, perhaps from the external tank or from cork wrapped around the

booster joints for extra weather protection. Film will be analyzed tt_

see whether any debris can be spotted hitting the Shuttle. Talone also

said that the Shuttle's brakes performed well. "In the past we've seen

cracks or something" after touchdown, he said. "We've seen nothing.

They look good in every way." [Glisch. THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, pp. A-I

& A-4, Oct. 5, 1988, Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Oct. 5, 1988,

Wilford, THE MEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p. 54, Oct. 5, 1988.]

<7 EXPERTS TO CHECK BOOSTERS

Myron Uman, Director of the National Research Council group that

oversees the booster program, said today that the boosters appear in

good shape following the STS-26 mission. "Divers went into the water

and looked around and didn't find any evidence of flame on the outside,"

he said° "They pulled them out of the water and everything looked

good. w After the panel sifts through the booster inspection data, it

will issue a report no later than mid-November, Uman said.

Meanwhile, Martin Marietta AeroSpace has evaluated the external fuel

tank that it manufactures for the Shuttle Program. The tank separated

from Discovery as expected nearly nine minutes after liftoff, vented

its remaining liquid oxygen through three valves, causing the tank to

tumble as it fell into the Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii - right on

target. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5A, Oct. 5, 1988.]

Oc%ober 5z DISCOVERY TO RETURN

V

Discovery is set to return to Kennedy Space Center no earlier than Oct.

8 and perhaps not till Oct. 9, depending on the weather. Atlantis is

scheduled to be moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building Oct. 15 for

mating with its solid rocket boosters, according to KSC spokesman George

Diller. Next week, technicians will work on Atlantis's heat-resistant

tiles and check the Orbiter's main propulsion system. Columbia will be

moved from its present hangar in the Orbiter Processing Facility to make

room for Discovery. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 8A, Oct. 6, 1988.]

October 7 : COLUMBIA MOVES OVER

Columbia was moved from its hangar in the Orbiter Processing

Facility to another hangar to make room for the returning Discovery. The

trip of several hundred feet took about 20 minutes from the OPF to the

Orbiter Maintenance and Refurbishment Facility. DuringColumbia's

three-month stay in the OPF, technicians modified its electrical

systems, ran electricity through its systems and serviced its plumbing.

They also reinstalled some equipment removed when the Orbiter was put

in storage two years ago. Several missing systems still must be

returned to the Columbia which is scheduled to carry a military payload

to Space July 1, 1989. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Oct. 8, 1988.]

October 8 + DISCOVERY RETURNS HOME

Discovery returned to Kennedy Space Center today at 7:04 p.m. after

day-long trip from California. About 6,000 Space center workers and V

74
_J

their families were on hand for the arrival.

issued to allow access to the area.

Special car passes were

Returning with the Shuttle and its carrier was a KC-135 aircraft. This

plane is ordinarily used to produce brief periods of weightlessness by

flying giant arcs in the sky. Today, however, it served as Discovery's

"pathfinder," flying about 30 minutes ahead of the carrier to check for

turbulence and precipitation which could damage the returning Shuttle.

Weather conditions at KSC were constantly monitored throughout the

flight. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, Oct. 9, 1988.]

<, ATLANTIS BEARS MILITARY PAYLOAD

Atlantis is scheduled to carry an unidentified military payload when it

is launched in November. The five crew members are all military

personnel: Navy Commander Robert Gibson, Commander, third mission; Air

Force Lt. Col. Guy Gardner, Pilot, first mission; Air Force Col. Richard

Mullane, Mission Specialist, second mission; Air Force Lt. Col. Jerry

Ross, Mission Specialist, second mission; Navy Commander William

Shepherd, Mission Specialist, first mission. This will be the first of

12 military missions scheduled over the next five years. Conrad Nagel,

who is in charge of processing Atlantis, said, "Like most DOD missions,

we're not going to talk about anything associated with the payload or

payload area that might be classified." Because this flight is a

classified mission, said Nagel, "we have had to limit access in most

areas of the vehicle" and this has slowed processing work. [Mittman,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Oct. 9, 1988, Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5A, Oct.

9, 1988.]

MAGELLAN ARRIVES AT KSC

The Venus probe Magellan arrived today at Kennedy Space Center in a

special truck called the Payload Environmental Transport System

(PETS). The Spacecraft will be launched next year from Atlantis and is

one of a series of important science payloads NASA will launch to the

planets in the coming years. "We want to learn about the origin and

evolution of the solar system, how the planets came into being and why

they are so different," said Magellan Project Manager John Gerpheide of

the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p.

SA, Oct. 9, 1988, and Banke, "Special Truck Hauled Magellan," FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 5A, Oct. 9, 1988.]

October lOz BOOSTERS IN GOOD CONDITION

Discovery's boosters came through the launch on Sept. 29 in good

condition according to initial reports from NASA. "Everything is

very, very good," said Ed Medal, spokesman for Marshall Space Flight

Center. "The three field joints on the right-hand motor have been

disassembled and they are the same as those on the left-hand motor; no

gas reached any of the O-rings." [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Oct.

11, 1988, _8 O-Rings Joints Fine, NASA Says," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A, Oct.

13, 1988, "No Damage Is Found on Shuttle Rocket Seals," THE HEW YORK

TIMES (National Edition), p. 23, Oct. 11, 1988.]

75
ENGINEERS FIX SENSOR

Engineers have fixed the sensor that caused computers to halt a critical

flight readiness firing August 4. Rocketdyne spokesman Iohn Plowden

said that materials in the sensor that measure the movement of a liquid

hydrogen valve was affected by super-cold temperatures and the magnetic

properties of the material were subtly altered. That caused the sensor

to read improperly. The problem was fixed by changing the criteria that

outlines what condition the vehicle must be in to launch. Atlantis will

fly under the same hardware conditions as Discovery did, but

modifications will be made for Discovery's next launch. [Bsnke, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 4A, Oct. 11, 1988, "Report on Shuttle Booster - Left O-Rings

Make An A," THE ORLANDO SEHTINEL, p. A-l, Oct. 11, 1988.]

October 11: ATLANTIS'S ROLLOVER DELAYED

Atlantis will rollover from the OPF to the Vehicle Assembly Building no

earlier than October 21 because more work needs to be done on the

Orbiter. NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone said, "This schedule is tight.

We are continually assessing the work schedules as we always do." Work

needs to be completed on the thermal protection system, or heatresistant tiles. The payload bay needs to be cleaned and checked. The

payload bay doors have to be closed. The landing gear has to be checked

and a lea k check of the entire system has yet to be completed. When

Atlantis finally does rollover to the VAB, it will join its external

fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. No date has been given for the

rollout to launch pad 39B. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A, Oct. 12,

1988.] V

October 12_ E'PRIME LAUNCH SET

E'Prime AeroSpace Co. plans to launch its LOFT-I rocket on Oct. 27.

The company has an agreement to use Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Facilities to launch a small, suborbital rocket. The payload, which

will be carried up to 20,000 feet and then dropped by parachute into

the ocean for recovery, includes four experiments and manufacturing

materials for a Rhode Island firm planning to market "Space dolls."

["E'Prime Launch Set for Oct. 27," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5A, Oct. 13, 1988. ]

October 17 z ACTUATOR PROBLEM DELAYS ATLANTIS

A problem with the actuator on Atlantis's left wing has prevented the

move of the Orbiter from the OPF to the Vehicle Assembly Building until

Oct. 23. The actuator moves a 12-foot- long flap which helps steer the

Shuttle during the gliding portion of its flight before landing. It

failed to work properly last weekend during routine testing. It will

be replaced tonight, using a spare part already in stock at Kennedy

Space Center, according to KSC spokeswoman Lisa Malone. The hydraulic

lines will be filled and serviced Oct. 19 and a complete test of the

actuator's ability to move the wing flap will be conducted later in the

week.

Work also is continuing on the heat resistant tiles and other system_

are undergoing checks. Despite the hitches, Malone said, "We're stil_

76
targeting for November." A firm date may not be set till after the

flight readiness review is completed in November, according to NASA

Headquarters spokeswoman Sarah Keegan. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA,

Oct. 18, 1988, "Atlantis Wing Part Replaced," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 7A, Oct.

19, 1988.]

FIRE HITS VENUS PROBE/MAGELLAN

The Venus probe Magellan was slightly damaged by an electrical fire

tonight about 11 p.m., when battery cables were improperly inserted,

according to NASA officials. "It doesn't appear to be a major problem,"

said John Conway, KSC Payloads Director, who added that a closer

examination may yet reveal something more significant. Technicians

worried especially about a Spacecraft signal processor which might have

been affected.

"The overwhelming evidence says all the damage was within the battery

container itself," said Vince Wirth, Magellan Test and Integration

Manager. "The only thing we have to live with is the dirt and the soot

and the grease and grime that were deposited on the structure." The

battery that was ruined was used only on the ground; those included for

flight will be installed closer to launch time.

Magellan's April 28, 1989, launch date may not be postponed if no

serious damage was sustained. After the accident, the Space agency

began to assemble an accident investigation team to determine the

accident's cause and, perhaps, recommend procedure changes. [Fisher,

THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A- 3, Oct. 19, 1988, Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p.

1A, Oct. 19, 1988.]

October 191 Space CONFERENCE AT KSC

An update of the Shuttle Program was presented by Launch Director Bob

Sieck at the conclusion of a two-day conference at Kennedy Space Center

about the U. S. civilian and military activities in Brevard County. The

conference started yesterday at Patrick Air Force Base with a classified

seminar. The event is directed by the National Security Industrial

Association Space Committee. ["Civilian, Military Space Conference Ends

Today," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 7A, Oct. 19, 1988.]

DISCOVERY'S MAIN ENGINE LEAKED

NASA confirmed today that one of Discovery's three main engines leaked

during flight. The leak occurred in the line between the combustion

chamber and the nozzle, according to NASA spokeswoman Sarah Keegan.

Officials don't know whether the leak indicates a generic failure of

the main engine system or whether Discovery's engine could be fixed or

replaced, Keegan said. The impact on a flight would depend on when the

failure took place, she said. The leak had been observed on other

flights as well and should not affect the late November launch of

Atlantis, officials said. Atlantis will be rolled over to the VAB on

Oct. 23 where technicians will inspect an engine aboard the Orbiter to

ensure that none of its parts are warped. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA,

Oct. 20, 1988, Fisher, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-3,

Oct. 21, 1988.]

77
<> ARREST POWER FOR GUARDS

Federal arrest authority may be given to Kennedy Space Center securit_

guards if the Senate approves the NASA Authorization Bill for 1989_

Presently, KSC guards may carry firearms but have no arrest authority.

"They technically have no more arrest authority than private citizens,"

said KSC Security Chief Gary Wistrand. Forty of the 300 guards at the

Space center are deputized. Wistrand said the new language in the Space

Act will give NASA security guards more flexibility in protecting the

Shuttle fleet and related facilities. It will also reduce liability in

situations where deadly force must be used to protect NASA facilities,

he said. (Halvorscn, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Oct. 20, 1988.]

<7 MAGELLAN CLEANUP BEGINS

Workers started cleaning the Magellan Spacecraft after an investigation

board released the Venus probe from impoundment tonight. Members of the

Magellan Electrical Mishap Investigation Board examined the Spacecraft

in the payload facility where the accident occurred. They did not see

any damage to the Spacecraft beyond what was announced Oct. 18 - soot

and grime that must be cleaned before Magellan can be loaded into

Atlantis for its April mission. ["Cleanup of Magellan Begins," FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 4A, Oct. 20, 1988.]

October 20: LAUNCH LATE IN NOVEMBER

Atlantis may be launched in the last seven days of November, according

to NASA managers. A firm date is not expected till a review session

scheduled for Nov. 9 and 10 is completed. Meanwhile, A_iantis remain_

in the Orbiter Processing Facility awaiting a move to the Vehicle

Assembly Building. "We're going to roll as soon as we are ready," said

spokeswoman Lisa Malone. "If we're ready before midnight Saturday, we

will go. m Once Atlantis is hoisted vertically onto the mobile launch

platform, technicians will examine part of one of its main engines.

That part, a plate inside a chamber where liquid oxygen is burned, may

have been warped by uncontrolled explosions of leftover gases following

a test firing of that engine at Stennis Space Center (Bay St. Louis,

MS). A similar even occurred during a test of an engine scheduled for

use in Columbia and led managers to call for an inspection of Atlantis's

engine. (Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Oct. 21, 1988.]

October 22 ATLANTIS ROLLS OVER TO VAB

Under armed guard, Atlantis rolled over from the Orbiter Processing

Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building beginning at 10:32 p.m.

today; the trip took 43 minutes. Conrad Nagel, Shuttle Processing

Director, said, "I'm really excited, I'll tell you." Equally

enthusiastic was Anthony Alindayo, quality assurance employee with

Rockwell International Corp., who said, "This is just super. It's just

exciting to see the Spaceship rolling out and know that we're going out

to the pad. We're going to see a launch here in about four or live

weeks." [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Oct. 23, 1988.]

78
October 23 z NASA QUALITY DAY

Tuesday (October 25) has been set aside as "NASA Quality Day" to

reaffirm the agency's dedication to excellence and recognizes NASA's

reliance on the creative contributions of its work force. George

Rodney, NASA Associate Administrator for Safety, Reliability,

Maintainability, and Quality Assurance, and other top NASA managers from

NASA centers will present programs on the agency's quality and

productivity improvement program activities via satellite to NASA Space

centers. "The occasion of NASA's 30th anniversary provides the

opportunity to reflect on our past achievements and to rededicate

ourselves to excellence for the future," said James Fletcher, NASA

Administrator. "Our enthusiasm to accept complex challenges and our

ability to work together to overcome difficult obstacles will fuel our

ongoing quest for excellence." ["'NASA Quality Day' Reaffirms

Commitment," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 34, Oct. 24, 1988.]

ATLANTIS JOINED TO ET

Atlantis has been hoisted into an vertical position and the attachment

of its external tank has begun. Tests to verify connections will be

conducted when the Shuttle is attached to the external tank and the

solid rocket boosters, according to NASA officials. Rollout to the

launch pad is scheduled for this weekend. Prior to rollout, however,

workers must inspect one of Atlantis's main engines for possible damage

during tests at Stennis Space Center (Bay St. Louis, MS). That

inspection could take a week but other work can proceed simultaneously.

[Bellido, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Oct. 24, 1988.]

o

_-/ October 25z DISCOVERY CREW RETURNS

Several thousand Kennedy Space Center workers turned out to see the crew

of Discovery as it returned to the Space center in keeping with the

tradition of American manned Space flight. Mission Specialist George

"Pinky" Nelson told the assembled workers: "When we lift off, what's

really pushing that thing up is all your good feelings and all the good

work that you have done. It's the best ride in the world, and there is

not a better way to get out of Florida." Pilot Richard Covey said, "If

there's a heartbeat to America's Space program, it's right here."

The crew and Center Director Forrest McCartney exchanged traditional

gifts and mementoes of the historic mission during the ceremony.

Director McCartney gave the crew framed photos of the liftoff taken by

a remote-operated camera near the launch pad. Commander Frederick

"Rick" Hauck reciprocated by giving the Director a collage of launch

and crew photos which included a crew patch and American flag that flew

in Space. Launch Director Robert Sieck and U. S. Rep. Bill Nelson also

spoke at the ceremony. [Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A-2A, Oct. 26, 1988,

and see also: Jones, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5A, Oct. 25, 1988, and

Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, Oct. 25, 1988.]

October 26z ENGINE PART PASSES INSPECTION

Kennedy Space Center technicians inspected a suspect plate inside one

of Atlantis's three main engines Oct. 25 and declared today that "as

79
far as we can tell, the plate looks fine," according to NASA spokesman

Jerry Berg. "The inspectors didn't get any indication of deformation."

Rollout to the launch pad will come no earlier than 12:01 a.m. October

31. In the VAB, workers continued stacking segments of solid rocke_,_

boosters for Discovery's next mission, now scheduled for February 19.

Workers in the OPF prepared to remove two of Discovery's main engines

for post-flight inspection; the third engine will be shipped to its

California manufacturer, Rocketdyne, for repairs to the main engine

combustion chamber, which developed a leak during the STS-26 mission.

[Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Oct. 27, 1988.]

October 27: ATLANTIS POWERED UP

<7

Early this morning, Kennedy Space Center workers powered up the Shuttle

Atlantis for a series of tests before it is rolled out to Launch Complex

39B. The powering up began at 6 a.m. as part of a series of tests to

insure that all connections between the Shuttle and the mobile launch

platform are working properly. The tests are the last obstacle to

overcome prior to rollout, according to KSC spokeswoman Lisa Malone.

Playalinda Beach will remain closed to the public till after the launch

next month. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Oct. 28, 1988.]

KSC WORKERS IN MUSCLE EXPERIMENT

Under the direction of Dr. Paul Buchanan, Director of Kennedy Space

Center's Biomedical Operation and Research Office, 37 space center

workers are subjecting themselves to 16 weeks of specially designed

exercises on Nautilus leg extension machines. They are required to

exercise three times a week for a varied amount of time. In addition.

all participants are allowing doctors to remove small cores of muscl_

fibers from their thighs to study muscle growth. The four-month regimen

is part of an effort to counter bone and muscle loss on IQng-duration

manned missions in Space.

_Even with up to 2 I/2 hours a day with more or less conventional

exercise methods you do not stop muscle atrophy," said Buchanan, an

aerospace medicine specialist. "None of the methods (including a

stationary bicycle) have worked very well. We have managed to preserve

cardiovascular function, but we still have a I0 to 15 percent loss of

muscle mass in the lower extremities and back." The study is not

designed particularly for Shuttle astronauts whose missions are of

relatively short duration. "Ten days in Space does not make that much

difference," Buchanan said. "There are some losses, but you come back

very quickly." [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Oct. 28, 1988.]

October 29= ATLANTIS ROLLOUT DELAYED

Atlantis's rollout to the pad has been delayed for one day to

November 2; the delay was due to the need to reconnect a loose wire in

a fuel line system. The military mission's launch date will be

announced but only the launch window will be released to the press.

["NASA Delays Atlantis's Trip to Launch Pad," THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p.

A-IO, Oct. 30, 1988, Mittman, PLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Oct. 30, 1988.]

80
October 30: KSC BREAKS OVERTIME RULES

Overtime work rules were broken 2,000 times by Kennedy Space Center

officials in the three months leading up to the launch of Discovery on

Sept. 29. That accumulated overtime either equaled or closely

approached pre-Challenger levels, especially in critical work areas such

as the Orbiter Processing Facility, the Vehicle Assembly Building and

Launch Pad 39B. Top Space center officials said, however, that the

amount of overtime was acceptable.

"Twenty percent overtime...is about a 48-hour work week. That's six

days a week, eight hours a day and that's not our of bounds for the kind

of work that we do around here," said Bob Sieck, KSC Launch Director.

[Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Oct. 31, 1988.]

,> DR. MAE JEMISON IN TITUSVILLE

Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison was in Titusville today at Jess Parrish

Memorial Hospital to sign autographs and chat with people during the

hospital's open house in celebration of its 30th anniversary. "Waiting

is probably the hardest part of my job, but I still have an awful lot

to learn about how the Space Shuttle operates and everything I am doing

right now is very interesting," said Jemison, who is one of

ten medical doctors who are also astronauts. [Brown, FLORIDA TODAY, p.

IA, Oct. 31, 1.988.]

October 31: ATLANTIS READY TO ROLLOUT

T_e Atlantis was ready to be roiled out to LC 39B after a three-±rich

piece of wire inadvertently lodged between the Orbiter and its

external tank was removed today. NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone said

Kennedy Space Center technicians pulled the elusive wire from between

a nut and a washer on the lower left side of the fuel tank, where it

had been detected Oct. 29. Extra time was allotted for removal of the

wire because it was trapped within one of the critical connecting points

between the Shuttle and the external tank. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY,

p. IA, Nov. I, 1988. ]

81
November

November 2: ATLANTIS REACHES PAD 39B

V

Atlantis pulled to a stop on Launch Complex 39B early this morning as

NASA officials said that liftoff could come either Nov. 28 or 29. "What

we're looking at is late November, and if we make that I think everyone

will be extremely pleased," said Conrad Nagel, who is responsible for

preparing Atlantis for launch. "We've got a pretty good chance right

now. R Launch is set for between 6:32 and 9:32 a.m. for the secret

Defense Department mission.

Workers powered up the Orbiter late tonight to insure that all

electrical connections between the Orbiter and the pad were working

properly. Nagel said that no technical problems now stood in the way

of the late November launch, nWe're essentially clean going out of the

barn. Right now, I would say Atlantis is ready to fly," Nagel said.

The processing schedule for this flight began in March 1987.

[Halvorson, FI_RXDA TODAY, p. IA, Nov. 2, 1988 Banke and Halvorson,

FLORXDA TODAY, p. 1A, Nov. 3, 1988, _Dawn Over Atlantis, _ THE ORLANDO

SENTINEL, (cutline) p. A-I, Nov. 3, 1988.]

Novembmr 4s SPACE CONGRESS SELECTS THEME

mSpace - A New Generation" has been selected as the theme for next

April's 26th annual Space Congress to be held in Cocoa Beach. The theme

focuses on the emergence of a new era that includes an increased

emphasis on planning, the return to flight of the Space Shuttle and the

commercialization on'expendable launch vehicles like the Atlas, Delt_ _

and Titan rockets. James Fletcher, NASA Administrator, is expected t_

speak at the annual banquet and Rap. Bill Nelson will present the

Congress's opening address. ["Space Congress Selects Theme _or April

Session, w FLORIDA TODAY, p. IOA, Nov. S, 1988.]

MCCARTNEY SPEAKS AT PATRICK O CLUB

Kennedy Space Center Director Forrest S. McCartney spoke today to an

audience of alumni of Embry-Riddle University (Daytona Beach, FL) at

the Officer's Club o_ Patrick Air Force Base. McCartney told the newly

formed alumni chapter that wit was a very devastating thing when we lost

the Challenger. It took us 32 months to get back on our feet. But we

as Americans must expect that there's no way we can take the risk out

of this business. Challenger was a terrible mishap. It was certainly

a very sobering experience that set back the Space program. But we're

back flying again. The program is stronger than ever. The people are

the bestteam, the best motivated ever. The program is back in good

shape, w He told the alumni group that since Challenger, the technicians

at KSC have received more training, the Shuttle has been redesigned for

safety and launches are scheduled almost every month of next year to

bring the program back up to speed. [Porto, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IOA, Nov.

5, 1988.]

November 7s NASA STUDIES MARSH FIRES

NASA researchers conducted a controlled burn of marshlands two miles

82
west of the Shuttle landing facility today in an effort to learn how

continued destruction of tropical rain forests will affect global

weather, according to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge spokesman Dorn

Whitmore. The researchers, who surveyed the fires from a helicopter,

took air samples from plumes of smoke rising from the fires. The

samples will help scientists study ways that Earth's ozone layer is

being influenced by vast amounts o£ smoke generated from Wslash burning"

techniques used to clear large portions of tropical rain forests, said

Whitmore. He also said that another 10,000 acres will be burned during

the winter months. Each section of the refuge is burned about once

every four years. [Brown, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2B, Nov. 8, 1988.]

November 8= Atlantis's APU'S PAST TEST

Atlantis's three auxiliary power units passed the last tests in

preparation for a late November launch. The Rotating Service Structure

around the Shuttle was moved away from the Orbiter for the tests to be

conducted. A simulated countdown will begin at 7:40 a.m. Nov. 13 and

culminate at 11 a.m. Nov. 14. The Atlantis's crew is expected to arrive

Nov. 12. Columbia was scheduled to be moved from the Orbiter

Maintenance and Refurbishment Facility early Nov. 9 to the hangar

Atlantis had occupied in the Orbiter Processing Facility. On the return

of Atlantis following STS-27, Columbia will be returned to the OMRF.

[Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Nov. 8, 1988, Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p.

IIA, Nov. 9, 1988]

Novem_r 9s WORKER CLEARED IN MAGELLAN FIRE

The Magellsn Electrical"Mishap Investigation Board cleared a Kennedy

Space Center worker o£ responsibility for the October fire aboard the

Magellan Spacecraft. The review board said that the worker was

"following the written procedures correctly" when he plugged an

electrical line into the wrong socket o£ a battery being used to test

systems on board the Spacecraft, said Jon Busse, chairman of the panel.

The board went on to say that the procedures did not allow for easy

access to the battery socket which was not visible to the worker so that

he was able only to partially connect the plug. "It's an extremely

difficult procedure," Busse said. The board recommended that NASA and

contractor officials revise procedures to provide easier access and

greater visibility of the battery and its connectors. KSC spokesman

George Diller said that because a spare test battery was available the

damaged one - valued at $87,000 - will not be replaced. [Halvorson,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A, Oct. 29, 1988, Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 13A,

Nov. I0, 1988, Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-6, Nov. I0, 1988. ]

November 10: ATLANTIS LAUNCH DATE DISCUSSED

NASA managers and contractor representatives met today with Kennedy

Space Center Director Forrest McCartney to discuss the work schedule

for Atlantis and whether launch teams are ready for the STS-27

mission. Launch Processing Director Conrad Nagel said the launch will

come no earlier than Nov. 30. He said that replacing a malfunctioning

valve on one of the Orbiter's auxiliary power units might add an extra

day to the schedule. Workers have to drain the hydrazine from the unit,

replace the valve and then verify that all systems are working properly

83
before reloading the toxic fuel. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 12A, Nov.

11, 1988, "Atlantis Preparations On Schedule, n FLORZDA TODAY, p. 13A,

Nov. 10, 1988.]

V

ROCKWELL ADDS 250 JOBS

The transfer of Rockwell International Corp.'s Shuttle logistic

operations from Southern California to Brevard County in 1989 will mean

up to 250 new jobs for area workers. The additional jobs will involve

purchasing and inventory management. NASA has awarded a three-year,

$419.2 million contract extension to Rockwe!! for logistics operations,

including the purchase and repair of Shuttle Orbiter components and

ground support equipment. The logistics support contract will boost

Rockwell's employment at Kennedy Space Center to 750. [Hinman, THE

ORLANDO SF_TZNEL, p. B-I, Nov. II, 1988.]

November 11: E'PRZME LAUNCH SET

E'Prime AeroSpace Corp. (Titusville, FL) plans to launch its IO-foot

LOFT-I rocket at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 17, according to company spokesman Jim

Mizell. That launch plan was confirmed by Air Force spokesman Col. Ron

Rand; the liftoff will take place from launch complex 47 at Cape

Canaveral Air Force Station. The rocket will carry a 30-pound payload

containing four experiments. E'Prime will pay the Air Force $24,000

for use of the launch facilities and a minimal support crew for two

launches and had to take out a $I million liability insurance policy to

cover any potential damage to Air Force property. [Halvorson, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. IA, Nov. 12, 1988, Hinman, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. C-1 & C6, Nov. 12, 198_.]

November 12: ATLANTIS CREW AT KSC

V

The STS-27 crew of Atlantis arrived at Kennedy Space Center today to

take part in training and s countdown test. Commander Robert Gibson

told reporters that, wit's going to be a busy couple days." When asked

about the launch date for the mission Gibson replied, "We're still

marching toward the 28th, but there's a possibility o£ a couple days the

other side of that." Gibson and Pilot Guy Gardner have scheduled

practice landing approaches on the Shuttle landing facility in jets

equipped to handle like a Shuttle. ["Atlantis Crew Comes to Cape for

Training," THE ORL_N_ SENTZNEL, p. A-1S, Nov. 13, 1988/]

November 13: ATLANTIS CREW TESTS PROCEDURES

The five astronauts who make up Atlantis's crew for the expected Nov.

28 launch took part in a two-day countdown simulation at Kennedy Space

Center this week-end. On board the Shuttle the crew will test

communications and run through checklists and other launch-day

procedures. The crew arrived Nov. 12 from Johnson Space Center for

three days o£ training for the secret Department of Defense mission.

The crew is made up of Commander Robert Gibson, Pilot Guy Gardner and

Mission Specialists Mike Mullane, Jerry Ross and William Shepherd. "I

wish it was launch day," said Commander Gibson. "I hope we can save

some o£ this weather for the next couple of weeks." The astronauts

attended briefings and took part in limited tests of the

84
crew escape system at the launch pad. ["Shuttle Crew Gets Ready for

Dry Run," THE ORLANDO SENTXNE/., p. A-3, Nov. 14, 1988, Klotz, FLORXDA

TODAY, p. 4A, Nov. 14, 1988.]

BREVARD HOSTS AEROSPACE WORKERS

NASA is bringing 250 outstanding aerospace workers to Brevard County as

part of its Manned Flight Awareness Honoree program, according to Ray

Corey, NASA's Director of Education and Awareness at Kennedy Space

Center. "These are individuals who have done outstanding work during

the period in which the judging occurred. They are 811 aeroSpace

worker, either civil service or contractor. It's honoring these folks

for having done exceptional work in whatever their expertise is for

preparing manned-flight launches," Corey said. The workers will tour

KSC and be welcomed by county chamber of commerce officials who will

give them a cocktail party Nov. 15 in Cocoa Beach; the next day they

will meet with some astronauts before they leave Nov. 17 or 18. [Jones,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2B, Nov. 14, 1988. ]

November X4: ATLANTIS CREW FINISHES TESTS

Normally open broadcast channels were blacked out and commentary by

public affairs officials was strictly limited as the crew of Atlantis

finished its final tests before launch day at the end of the month.

After the tests were concluded, Public Affairs spokesman Hugh Harris

said the exercise "really went well" and said that the only troubles

were with communication circuits linking the crew with the Launch

Control Center. The all-mi!itsry crew returned to Johnson Space Center . . .

later in the day. [Glisch, TH_ ORLANDO SENTXNEL, p. A-3, Nov. 15, 1988,

"Countdown Test for Shuttle Called Successful, _ THE NEW YORK TIMES

(National Edition), p. 16, Nov. 15, 1988.]

November XS: FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW BEGINS

The flight readiness review for the STS-27 mission begins today at

Kennedy Space Center; following the review, a firm launch date for the

mission will be announced. Atlsntis's Launch Processing Director Conrad

Nagel said that the Orbiter will have to be launched by Dec. 15 if it

is to put the Magellan probe into orbit and on its way to Venus next

April. If the launch date slips further, the Shuttle manifest would

have to be changed for Discovery to launch Magellan. [Banke, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 8A, Nov. 15, 1988.]

NASA TO AWARD LOCAL COMPUTER CONTRACT

NASA will award a major computer contract July l that could bring

hundreds o£ new jobs to Brevard County. The project, which will be

based at Kennedy Space Center, involves the review of components to be

installed in the Space station and an upgrade of key equipment that

monitors systems on Shuttles prior to launch, said KSC Contracting

Officer Linda Pickett. Competing for the lucrative contract are Harris

Corp., Lockheed Space Operations Co. and Martin Marietta Communication

and Information Systems. [Brown, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 8A, Nov. 15, 1988.]

85
Novem_r 16: ATLANTIS TO GO DEC. 1

NASA today announced Dec. I as the official launch day for Atlantis.

After a lengthy review at Kennedy Space Center, Rear Admiral Richar_

Truly, NASA Associate Administrator for Space flight, issued a

statement: "I've just finished hearing a comprehensive assessment of

flight readiness from both government and contractor representatives of

all Shuttle elements and systems. I am pleased to report that the Space

Shuttle Atlantis is as ready to fly as Discovery was at this same point

before its STS 26 mission last September." [Mittman, FI_RZDA TODAY, p.

1A, Nov. 17, 1988, Glisch, THE ORI_MDO SENTZMEL, p. A-8, Nov. 17, 1988.]

Noveml_r !7: E'PRIME FIRST COMMERCIAL LAUNCHER

E'Prime AeroSpace Corp. today became the first company to launch a

commercial payload from U. S. government facilities at 7:45 a.m. when

it sent its LOFT-1 rocket off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to

an altitude of 14,000 feet. The two-minute mission was not without

problems: the rocket's main parachute failed to open and two of its

experiments failed. "The next launch will be all successful. You have

to have failures to turn into successes, w said E'Prime President Bob

Davis. [Halvorson and Banke, FLORXDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, Nov. 18, 1988,

and see articles: Halvorson, FLORZDA TODAY, p. lA, Nov. 17, 1988, and

Klotm, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Nov. 17, 1988.]

MovembQr XS: FUEL LEAK TESTS CONTINUE

Atlantis will continue to undergo testing this weekend by launch pad

crews, including checks for fuel leaks in the steering equipment

Kennedy Space Center spokesman Dick Young said that launch preparation_

continue on schedule for a Dec. i liftoff. Because STS-27 is to be a

Department of Defense mission, the exact time of the launch will not be

announced. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Nov. 19, 1988.2

,7 REAGAN SIGNS NASA BUDGET

President Reagan today signed legislation authorizing $11.2 billion for

NASA and recreating the National Space Council which had been dissolved

after the Nixon presidency. The legislation includes $900 million for

the Space Station. ["Reagan Signs _II.2 Billion NASA Budget," FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 4A, Nov. 19, 1988.]

CIVIL SERVICE z CONTRACTOR AWARDS

Kennedy Space Center officials honored 60 civil service and contractor

employees this week during a special two-day NASA Manned Space Flight

Awareness Program in Cocoa Beach, FL. "These individuals were

selected for their professional dedication and outstanding achievement"

in support of the Manned Space Flight Program," said Raymond Corey,

KSC's Chief of Education and Awareness. Civil service employees honored

were: Lois Cox, Polly Gardiner, Josh Travis, Phil Hooper, Ralph Beeson,

Dennis Mstthews, Mary Brewer, Barbara Dully, Pamela Bookman, Martha

Teague, Richard Hartung, Sarah Archibald and Air Force Major Victor

Segall.

V

86
Contractor employees honored were Arthur Taylor, Boeing AeroSpace

Operations; E. Ann Kreuzinger and J. Lamar Davis, Computer Sciences

Corporation; Duane MacEntee, George McCcnn, Stephen McGcvern, Robert

Ullius, W. H. McDaniel, T. Louise Gerlach, EG&G Florida, Inc.; David

Reed, Honeywell Federal Systems; H. W. "Wes" Woodside Jr., IBM

Corporation; Joseph Thomas and Ronald Feidhauser, BAMSI, Inc.; Roy

Burton, Grumman Technical Services; and Ronald Jones, Rocketdyne; Mary

Baxter, Patricia Daniels, Rodney Davis, Ronald Fussell, David Gardner

and Warren Wenner II, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co. ; Stephen Holmes

and Karen Moarie, Rockwell International Corp.; Gordon Morton, Wiltech

Corp.; Jay Bonsdio, Joan Bray, Kathy Csrleton, Tim Hales and Roland

LeBon, USBI; Gary Hill, Eagle-Pitcher Industries; Clark Hurd, MortonThiokol, Inc.; Thomas Landers, Martin Marietta Manned Space Systems;

Kellee Ash, Charles Bass, Michael Ettleman, Rick Flanagan, Mark Gaedcke,

Ralph Gregory, John Janokaitis, Jackie Johnson, Patricia Leslie, Robert

Neal, Lee Potter, Pete Scobby, J. Allyn Smith and Henry "Tom" Studstill,

Lockheed Space Operations Co., and Wayne Kidd, senior manufacturing

engineer with Harris Corporation's Government Systems Sector. [Mittman,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2B, Nov. 19, 1988.]

November 20: LAUNCH PREPARATIONS SMOOTH

No technical problems complicated the preparations for the upcoming

launch of Atlantis. "Everything is going routine," said KSC spokesman

Karl Kristofferson. Two tests were completed over the weekend: a check

of the Shuttle's navigational equipment and a leak check in the orbital

maneuvering system. Also during the weekend, the Shuttle's internal

tanks were filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxyge n to provid e

electrical power for Atlantis and the auxiliary power units were

serviced. [Liden, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 8A, Nov. 21, 1988.]

November 2Z: ATLANTIS PREP WORK CONTINUES

While Kennedy Space Center officials keep a weather eye on Tropical

Storm Keith, preparations for the launch of Atlantis continue. "We are

keeping up with it at this time," according to Center spokeswoman Lisa

Malone. "It is really too early to tell what the storm will do. We are

not making any preparations to bolt anything down, but we do have

contingency plans to secure everything at the pad that might blow

around." Meanwhile work continued: the orbital maneuvering and

reaction control systems' tanks were pressurized to bring them to flight

pressure; the fuel cell storage tanks will be purged Nov. 22 in

preparation for loading liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. [Mittman,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Nov. 22, 1988.]

Novmml_pr 22: KSC WATCHES KEITH

Tropical Storm Keith continues to merit attention from Kennedy Space

Center officials as the storm heads across Florida bringing heavy rains

and winds. KSC spokesman Karl Kristofferson said, "We do not expect

winds at more than 30 knots (35 mph). We are under no alert at this

point and there are no plans to roll the vehicle back. We will keep

looking at the storm's path, but right now it appears to be more of a

rain threat rather than a wind threat." [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A,

Nov. 23, 1988.]

87
November 23: ATLANTIS DRENCHED BY STORM

Part of Atlantis was drenched by tropical storm Keith and workers spent

part of the day drying it off. Nearly six inches of rain and winds up

to 54 mph hit the Space center during the storm. To dry the Shuttle,

launch pad workers blew air into Atlantis's rear compartment, which

houses the engines, steering systems and fuel tanks. "Most of the water

drained out and nothing was affected," said Lisa Malone, KSC

spokeswoman. Power to the Shuttle was turned off while 16,000 KSC

employees observed the Thanksgiving Day holiday. [Banks and Mittman,

FLORZDA TODAY, p. 4A, Nov. 24, 1988.]

F.I.T. BOARD ELECTS MCCARTNEY MEMBER

The board of trustees of the Florida Institute of Technology has elected

Kennedy Space Center Director Forrest McCartney to its 22-member

governing body for a three-year term. F.I.T. President Lynn Weaver

said, "Z am very pleased with Gen. McCartney's election to the board of

trustees. He has been at the forefront in the development of technology

in the Space industry. His unique background makes him ideally suited

to work with the board to strengthen the institution." [Mittman,

F_RIDA TODAY, p. 4B, Nov. 24, 1988.]

SATELLITE PROCESSOR AT PORT

L

Eastern American Teak Corp. has received permission from the Canaveral

Port Authority to lease i8.7 acres for a satellite processing facility.

"This is an investment deserving of being in Brevard," said Gene Smith,_

President of Eastern American Task. wlf_we are going to stay up front

(in Space), we are going to have to compete on a world basis." The

company plans to employ 80 persons at first and as many as 600 when

launches are being prepared for. The Florida Department of

Environmental Regulation must still approve the project. [Harris,

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4B, Nov. 24, 1988.]

Noves_xer 25: FUEL ISOLATION VALVE REPLACED

Kennedy Space Center launch preparation workers tested Atlantis's

auxiliary power units and found that a fuel isolation valve did not work

properly; it was replaced. Small ordnance devices are to be installed

today. Two external tank filling tests that were done before

Challenger's launch will not be repeated before Atlantis lifts off°

mThere is no program requirement or concern with the fact that we are

not doing a test for Atlantis, w said Conrad Nagel, Shuttle

Processing Director. "That's not to say we can't have problems .... But

I believe that our procedures are in better shape as a result of

Discovery, and that our hardware is in better shape on the ground side°

I really think we have a good shot at getting o_f Thursday (Dec. I)."

[Banks, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Nov. 2G, 1988.]

November 26_ WORK ON SCHEDULE DESPITE WINDS

Despite winds approaching 29 mph at times today, workers continued tprepare Atlantis for the beginning of the countdown Nov. 28. "The wind_-J

are more of a nuisance factor than anything else, " said Kennedy Space

88
Center spokesman Karl Kristofferson. The winds delay the lifting of the

crew escape pole 147 feet from the pad to the Orbiter's escape hatch.

Workers did connect ordnance devices used to separate components of the

Shuttle from each other and work was completed on the rear engine

compartment, though inspections remain to be done. [Banke, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. IA, Nov. 27, 1988.]

November 28= ATLANTIS CREW ARRIVAL

<>

<>

The five astronauts who make up the crew of Atlantis arrived at Kennedy

Space Center at 3:00 p.m. aboard their T-37 jets. Commander Robert

"Hoot" Gibson told reporters on arrival that "We're looking forward very

eagerly to getting back into Space again. We believe that we're ready

to go. The crew is excited about the mission and we're anxious to be

under way. " The crew will be in isolation for the next two days to

avoid exposure to any viruses or illnesses. Mission Specialist Richard

Mullane wore a surgical mask while talking to members of his family.

The crew also includes Pilot Guy Gardner and Mission Specialists Jerry

Ross and William Shepherd.

<>

Air Force forecasters were predicting northerly winds gusting to about

28 mph at launch time; launch temperatures should be in the low 50's

with a chance of showers. "Because of winds, there's a 70 percent

chance the launch criteria will be broken," according to Capt. Ken

Warren, Air Force spokesman. WRight now, it's not looking too good."

[Halvorson and Banke, FLDRIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Nov. 29, 1988, Glisch, THE

ORLANDO SENTZNEL, p. A-3, Nov. 29, 1988.]

FEWER JOURNALISTS FOR ATLANTIS

Fewer than 1,100 journalists are expected to attend the launch of

Atlantis; all of these will be able to view the launch from the press

dome. "Right now, we have no plans to set up an alternative press

site," said spokeswoman Lisa Malone. For the Discovery launch Kennedy

Space Center hosted 2,400 journalists, photographers and media support

personnel. None of the four major networks is expected to send a news

anchor; all but NBC will send correspondents. [Halvorson and Banke,

FI_RIDA TODAY, p. 4B, Nov. 29, 1988, and Klotz, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4B,

Nov. 29, 1988.]

TDRS ARRIVES AT KSC

A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) arrived today at 9:00 a.m.

at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The $100 million

satellite is the third member of a trio of orbiting communication

satellites and is scheduled to be deployed from Discovery during its

Feb. 18 mission. The satellite, manufactured by TRW Space & Defense in

Redondo Beach, CA, arrived aboard a military aircraft. ["Tracking

Satellite Expected at KSC," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4B, Nov. 30, 1988,

"Satellite Arrives at KSC," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, Dec. I, 1988. ]

1989 FLIGHT SCHEDULE

The following is a list of 1989 missions featuring Orbiter and type of

mission;

89
Feb. 18:

28: Atlantis, launch Magellan probe to Venus

Columbia, Department of Defense

Discovery, Department of Defense

Atlantis, launch Galileo probe to Jupiter

Columbia, deploy Hughes satellite

Discovery, deploy Hubble Space Telescope

Discovery, deploy NASA communications satellite April

July I:

Aug. 10:

Oct. 12_

Nov. 13:

Dec. 11:

V

9O
Decelber

_embQr I_ COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH CONTINUES

Despite high winds and rain, the countdown for launch of Atlantis

continued today at Kennedy Space Center. Meteorologists at the Space

center had little encouraging to say about weather prospects for launch

day. Capt. Tom Strange, Air Force meteorologist at the Space center,

offered, "The best I can say is, it's kind of a wait-and-see situation."

NASA managers meeting at KSC decided to continue the countdown and hope

for a break in the weather. Aside from weather concerns, the only worry

was a couple of broken bolts on a panel on the nose of Atlantis. The

panel covers an area where workers can get to the forward steering

rockets for maintenance. When the device was being installed, two of

the bolts were loose and could not be tightened. On Nov. 30,

technicians glued the malfunctioning bolts and managers said the problem

was not serious. [Wilford, THE MEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p.

13, Nov. 13, 1988, Wilford, THE MEW YORK TIMES (National Edition), p.

10, Dec. 1, 1988, Glisch, THE ORLAN_ SENTINEL, pp. A-1 & A-12, Dec. I,

1988, Halvorson and Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Dec. I, 1988. ]

GOVERNORS ARRIVE FOR LAUNCH

Seven state governors are expected to attend the launch of Atlantis

tomorrow. They ares Gov. Gerald Baliles (VA); Gov. William Donald

Schaefer (MD); Gov. Richard Celeste (OH); Gov. Edward DePrete (RI); Gov.

Carroll Campbell (SC); Gov. John McKernan, Jr. (M) and Gov. Robert Orr

(IN). Also expected 'to attend are Sen. John Rockefeller (WV), Air

Force Secretary Edward "Pete"Aldridge and astronaut Jon McBride. ["7

Governors Arrive for Launch," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, Dec. i, 1988. ]

D_em_r 2z ATLANTIS LAUNCHED

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched this morning at 9:30z34 a.m., with

only 90 seconds left in the launch window; the liftoff was delayed for

three hours by high winds. "This sets the stage for a very ambitious

flight list we have coming up," said Kennedy Space Center spokesman Dick

Young. "It is another major step toward a big year in science." NASA

Administrator James Fletcher said, "You gave us some heart failure there

toward the end, but we got it off. My thanks for another great job."

Speaking from the launch control center, Air Force Secretary Edward

"Pete" Aldridge said, "Let me tell you that you have made a great

contribution to the nation's national security. The payload was

extremely important and you did a great job all around." Four hours

into flight, NASA spokesman Brian Welch made a brief announcement: "The

Atlantis crew members are doing well and all systems of the Orbiter are

performing satisfactorily."

The launch was delayed by wind shear. Shortly after 9:00 a.m., NASA

cleared Atlantis for launch without resorting to any waivers in the

agency's strict weather policy which had been developed after the

Challenger tragedy. There was another brief hold at 31 seconds, due

to concern about weather conditions at the emergency runway in Spain.

Astronaut John Casper flew a NASA jet at the landing site in Zaragoza,

L

91
Spain. He reported that a low bank of clouds exceeding NASA'v

restrictions was clearing out and would be gone in time for Atlantis t_

make an emergency landing at the site, according to Air Force spokesman

Lt. Col. Ron Rand. Two other emergency landing sites overseas were

unusable due to bad weather. Launch commentator Hugh Harris, who was

in the launch control center, said that Casper relayed his decision on

the weather to Deputy Shuttle Operations Director Robert Crippen, the

final authority on whether to launch. "Crippen just reported that the

conditions were acceptable and he told [Launch Director] Bob Slack to

proceed with the launch," said Harris. "Pilot reports are considered

to be some of the best information we get." Officials also relied on

frequent weather readings from balloons to determine launch conditions.

"With the favorable data we got the decision was pretty obvious," said

J. R. Thompson, Director of Marshall Space Flight Center. "We waited

until we got inside our limits and decided to go. We went right down

to the end of our [launch] window. It became obvious we were looking

good on the weather." The countdown was resumed and the liftoff was

safely achieved. Atlantis could be seen clearly for the first four

minutes of its eight minute ascent and booster separation at two minutes

eight seconds into flight was also easily observed. NASA spokesman

Jerry Berg said the boosters came down about eight miles from recovery

ships - right on target. No obvious damage was noted by divers who

entered the rough seas with winds of 23 to 35 mph. The only difficulty

NASA managers noted was the malfunction of a sensor on one of the main

engines, a backup sensor was quickly utilized, however. [Halvorson,

Mittman and Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. IA-2A, Dec. 3, 1988, Glisch, TH r

ORLAN_ SENTINEL, p, A-1 & A-23, Dec. 3, 1988, Lafferty, THE ORLAHD_

SEMTIMEL, p. A-23, Dec. 3, 1988, Wiiford, THE NEW YORK TIMES (National

Edition), pp. I & 10, Dec. 3, 1988.]

SMALLER LAUNCH CROWD FOR ATLANTIS

Approximately 125,000 people came to Brevard County to view the Atlantis

launch, according to Joan Heller, spokeswoman for the Brevard County

Sheriff's Department. The crowd, then, was about half the number of

those who came to see Discovery's launch and the renewal of the Shuttle

Program. [Bumpus-Hooper, THE ORLANDO SENTIMEL, p. A-24, Dec. 3, 1988. ]

D4,:em_r 3 = JOHN E. PRYOR, 70, DIES

John E. Pryor, 70, a NASA manager and retired Air Force colonel, died

today at his home in Indian Harbour Beach, FL. Survivors included

Pryor's wife, Marjorie; sons, John Pryor [Washington, D. C. ] and Michael

Pryor [Cocos Beach, FL]; daughters, Janice Bougher and Laura Jean Pryor

[Cocoa Beach] and Karen Rose [Jacksonville, TX]; sister, Kathleen

Sullivan [Winchester, MA]; and five grandchildren. Services were

scheduled to be held Dec. 6 at Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home [Cocoa

Beach.] ["Obituaries: John Pryor," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 3B, Dec. 5,

1988.]

BUZZING COSTS FHP TROOPERS

Two Florida Highway Patrol troopers who flew an agency plane int_

restricted airspace for a closer look at Discovery on Sept. 29 will be

92
suspended up to two days. Major Winthrop Vincent and Sgt. Gary

Schluter, the pilot, were headed to Orlando on official business on the

morning of the liftoff. They entered restricted airspace before the

launch but left before liftoff. No charges have been filed. Vincent

will be suspended without pay for two days and Schluter will be

suspended for one day. ["Buzzing Costs FHP Troopers," THE ORLANDO

SENTINEL, p. A-11, Dec. 4, 1988.]

<> BOOSTERS TOWED TO SHORE

The solid rocket boosters which propelled Atlantis and its crew into

Space were towed into Port Canaveral today between 5 and 5:30 p.m. by

the recovery ships Liberty Star and Freedom Star. The two ships located

and retrieved the boosters 160 miles off shore in rough seas.

Also at Kennedy Space Center, workers washed down LC 39B and prepared

to roll Atlantis's mobile launch platform back to the Vehicle Assembly

Building. [Hslvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Dec. 4, 1988.]

D_es_r 41 IUS CHANGEOUT

Replacing the damaged rocket booster for a Tracking and Data Relay

Satellite may delay Discovery's scheduled Feb. 18 flight by a few days

according to Kennedy Space Center spokesman George Diller. During

processing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the nozzle of the

inertial upper stage was damaged when a worker accidentally bumped into

the e42 million part causing a 4-inch crack. An Air Force official said

that a Boeing Aerospace technician "slipped, and as his feet went out

from under him, he kicked the thing accSden_ally." Sid Saucier, Manager

of the Space Systems Project Office at Marshall'Space Flight Center

said, "The nozzie is definitely going to be scrapped. It's gone." A

replacement part is on hand at the Air Force Station. Diller said, "We

are putting together a recovery plan that, at least on paper, will

preserve the launch date." The mishap will be investigated by the Air

Force. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Dec. 4, 1988, "Discovery delay

only few days," FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, Dec. 5, 1988.]

D@cenbQr 5: ATLANTIS TO LAND TODAY

The Air Force announced that the Shuttle will land at Edwards Air Force

Base, CA, tomorrow at 6:36 p.m. EST; the five member crew will have

completed five days in orbit. "All systems on board the Atlantis

continue to perform satisfactorily," according to a NASA statement.

The crew was said to be "doing well and beginning landing preparations."

By an arrangement announced before the mission, the landing time was not

divulged till 24 hours before the end of the mission. The only previous

statement about the flight was issued four hours after launc_ when NASA

said that the Atlantis was in good condition and the crew had been

cleared for "orbital operations." [Wilford, THE NEW YORK TIMES

(National Edition), p. 11, Dec. 6, 1988.]

_cem_r 6: TIRE BEARS WATCHING

NASA officials plan to pay special attention tomorrow to a tire under

the main landing gear of Atlantis; a week ago, a slow leak of 1.7 pounds

per square inch per day had been discovered in the tire prior to

i

liftoff. "There is always a small amount of leakage in the tire and

wheel assembly, whether it is on a car or on any kind of aircraft," said

93
Beverly Pierce, public relations manager for the tire's manufacturer,

B. F. Goodrich Co. (Akron, OH). [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, Dec.

6, 1988.] V

NEW SECURITY PATROL HEADQUARTERS

Kennedy Space Center Director Forrest McCartney spoke today at the

dedication of the new security heldquarters building at the Space

center. It will serve as the hub for security operations and house 60

full-time personnel. The facility is 10,900 square feet and is located

on a 3.7-acre tract of land at the northeast corner of Contractor and

Schwartz roads. The $867,000 building will contain administrative work

areas, a communications room, dog kennels, a holding cell, a weapons

loading area, a weapons storage area and a meeting room. ["Center to

be First Permanent Security Headquarters, " FLORZDA TODAY, p. 2A, Dec.

7, 1988.]

DISCOVERY LAUNCH: FEB. 18 r 1989

Damage to Discovery's next payload - the upper-stage rocket of a

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite identical to the one launched by

Discovery on Sept. 29 - may prevent the Feb. 18 launch of the Shuttle.

Processing for Discovery is well in handt according to John "Tip"

Talone, who is in charge of processing for the Orbiter. He said that

Discovery could be moved from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the

Vehicle Assembly Building as early as Jan. 14. "That looks feasible

without having to work anybody over Christmas," he said.

Two pieces Of equipment that failed to work properly during Discovery'_

STS 26 mission have been replaced: the flash evaporator system whichcools the Orbiter during !aunch and landing and the communications

antenna that nearly stuck in a deployed position. The thermal

protection system's tiles will continue to be closely monitored. "Tiles

were within the parameters of what we predicted for a normal turn

around," Talone said. [FLORIDA TODAY, p. 2A, Dec. 7, 1988. ]

ATLANTIS LANDS AT EDWARDS AFB

Commander Robert "Hoot" Gibson piloted Atlantis to a perfect landing on

the California desert at Edwards Air Force Base today at 6:36 p.m. EST.

NASA Administrator James Fletcher, who greeted the returning astronauts

said, "It was a great flight, a super flight. It shows we can serve our

Department of Defense customers as we have in the past." NASA's

Associate Administrator for Space_light, Admiral Richard Truly said,

"Like all the Shuttle landings I've seen, this one was just beautiful.

I'm delighted that barely two months after [Discovery] we've landed the

second mission of the new era of the Shuttle Program." [Glisch, THE

ORLANDO SENTZNEL, pp. A-i & A-IO, Dec. 7, 1988, Banke, FLORIDA TODAY,

pp. iA-2A, Dec. 7, 1988.]

December 7: MAGELLAN ON DISPLAY

The Magellan Spacecraft was publicly displayed for the first time in

one of Kennedy Space Center's "clean rooms." It is scheduled to _

launched aboard Atlantis April 28. If the launch schedule slips, the

Magellan could be moved to the mission scheduled for October 12, 1989.

The Magellan Spacecraft's mission is to reach Venus in August 1990,

94 C +
orbit the planet eight times a day for 243 days and send information

back to ground stations in either Australia, Spain or California. The

signals will take from three to fifteen minutes to reach Earth from

Venus, a distance of some 56 million miles. JPL scientist Stephen

Saunders said that Magellan would send back IO0, OO0 times more

information than did Mariner 2. "It will literally take us decades to

analyze all the data,_ he said. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A,

Dec. 8, 1988.]

ATLANTIS TILE DAMAGE EXTENSIVE

Atlantis had up to 175 thermal tiles damaged on its STS-27 mission; the

damage apparently occurred during liftoff when something loose struck

the Orbiter, according to Shuttle Processing Director Conrad Nagel.

"The damage comparatively is significant, but it's not a major concern,"

Nagel said today. "We have to understand why we had this damage and

keep it from happening again. He said the heaviest damage was confined

to a strip three to four feet in length "down the right hand side, along

the line of the fuselage, w He said that a single tile in the nose was

missing and wit looked like it was popped off by the impact of

something, w Nagel said that the Atlantis had suffered about twice the

damage that Discovery received two months ago. "It appears that between

125 and 175 tiles will have to be scrapped and replaced." In addition

scores of tiles with scratches and "dings" will have to be repaired in

place.

A solid rocket booster expert said today that strips of cork covering

instrumentation on Atlantis's SRB's may have come loose during liftoff

and damaged the tiles. The damage was inspected In SPaCe by the Shuttle

crew using a television camera on the end of the Orbiter's robot arm.

Launch film shows debris falling away from the Shuttle some two minutes

and ten seconds into flight, just after the SRB's were jettisoned. Cork

also came loose on Discovery's mission under similar circumstances. An

investigation team will be in place by the time Atlantis returns from

California next week.

The landing recovery team was slowed by high winds at Edwards Air Force

Base and is now some eight hours behind schedule, according to Kennedy

Space Center spokesman Karl Kristofferson. ["Tiles of Space Shuttle's

Heat Shield Endure Heavy Battering," THE HEW YORK TIMES (National

Edition), p. 11, Dec. 9, 1988, Glisch, THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-3,

Dec. 8, 1988, FLORIDA TODAY, pp. 1A - 2A, Dec. 8, 1988. ]

December 9= TILE DAMAGE INVESTIGATION

NASA is still searching for people to serve on a team investigating the

tile damage suffered by Atlantis on the STS-27 mission. The Tile Damage

Assessment Team will review film of the Dec. 2 launch; the film shows

debris - possibly ice, a strut, or cork insulation from SRB's - moving

away from the Shuttle just after the solid rocket boosters separated

from the Shuttle and external tank. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A,

Dec. iO, 1988.]

O-RING STOPS DISCOVERY LEAK

The nozzle on one of Discovery's twin solid rocket boosters developed

a gas leak during the Orbiter's Sept. 29 launch, but O-ring seals

95
stopped the leak from escaping the booster's casing and endangering thr

mission. NASA spokesman Jerry Berg said, "We had a gas intrusio_

(between the panels), but it did not penetrate the primary O-ring and

the O-ring was not damaged or charred." Royce Mitchell, Manager of the

Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Program at the Marshall Space Flight

Center, said that such a phenomenon had been seen in rocket firing tests

on the ground and was determined to be a "nonproblem." NASA said that

the nozzle seals "operated as intended." "There was no burn-through or

near burn-through of insulation in any joints." The agency also said

that there was no "damage or charring of O-rings."[Halvorson, FLORIDA

TODAY, p. 4A, Dec. I0, 1988; Wilford, THE NEW YORK TIMES (National

Edition), p. 10, Dec. 10, 1988.]

l)QcQmber 12: WEATHER DELAYS ATLANTIS RETURN

Atlantis's return to Kennedy Space Center was halted by a front of

cloudy, windy weather which could also prevent a return on the 13tho

The Orbiter stopped overnight at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio

where it will remain till the weather clears. Meanwhile the Tile Damage

Assessment Team has been assembled and will be headed by John Thomas,

Marshall Space Flight Center engineer; Thomas also headed the team which

oversaw the redesign of the solid rocket booster following the

Challenger accident.

Technicians at Kennedy Space Center have disassembled the two SRB's

which had flown with Atlantis and found no indication so far of any

malfunction. All six main joints of the boosters have been viewed.

The boosters' nozzle Joints, more comPlicated than the other Joints,_

Will be examined today and tomorrow. [Fisher,+ THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p.

A-6, Dec. 13, 1988; Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 4A, Dec. 13, 1988. ]

December 13: ATLANTIS RETURNS HOME

Atlantis, bolted atop its 747 carrier plane, made a flawless landing on

Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:25 p.m. NASA

officials confirmed that more tile was damaged on Atlantis than on any

other successful flight since the Shuttle Program began in 1981. John

Thomas, Special Assistant to the Marshall Space Flight Center Director,

said that more than 700 heat-resistant tiles were damaged and one was

lost during liftoff. NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone said that the tile

damage was the worst in the program's history. Orbiters typically

return from missions with 200 to 300 tiles damaged. The previous worst

case was 500 tiles damaged on an earlier flight, according to Thomas.

NASA also announced the formation of an 8-member Tile Damage Assessment

team to learn what caused the Thermal Protection System problem. NASA

Safety Chief George Rodney said the damage was "serious because it is

a little bit outside our data base. We want to have a good explanation

for it before we fly the next time; we want to try and understand it as

early as possible." [Lafferty, THE ORLANDO SENTIMO, p. A-3, Dec. 14,

1988; Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Dec. 14, 1988.]

December 14: TILE REPLACEMENT

At least 155 of 298 damaged tiles on Atlantis must be replaced according

to Frank Jones, Thermal Protection System Engineer at Kennedy Space

96
J

Center. That number may increase i£ workers find loose tiles or other

damage during the post-flight inspection currently going on, said Jones.

"We do not think this flight is nearly as bad, although it is one of the

worst," said Jones, who has worked every Shuttle mission.

Meanwhile, the theory that cork from the solid rocket boosters might

have caused some of the damage has been discounted because the cork in

question was located behind the damaged area, according to Rocky Rash,

spokesman for Morton Thiokol, the booster manufacturer. "We have almost

been completely cleared of causing any damage. However, the jury is

still our," Raab said. Jones said, "We will put a concentrated effort

on the damaged side."

Conrad Nagel, Processing Director for Atlantis, said today that the

flight path that the Orbiter took into orbit might have contributed to

the damage sustained by the thermal protection system. The stress put

on Atlantis by its northeastward flight path might have loosened parts

of the Shuttle, creating debris which hit the tiles. Technicians

currently working on Columbia may have to be recruited to work on

Atlantis's tile repair in order for the Orbiter to meet its April 28

launch date. "It's going to hurt (Columbia), but the next bird to fly

is going to have priority. That's the way it has always been, and will

continue to be," Nagel said. [Mittman, FLORIDA TODAY, p. IA, Dec. 15,

1988, Banke, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 1A, Dec. 16, 1988.]

December 21 : CRACK IN TURBOPUMP FOUND

A crack was found Dec. 18 in a main engine turbopump - on a bearing part

- during routine inspections at Kennedy Space Center, according to

Launch Processing Director Conrad Nagel. He said that officials had

already planned to replace the pumps in any case and that they would be

shipped to the manufacturer, Rockwell International Corporation's

Rocketdyne division in California, to determine the cause of the crack.

Nagel also said that it was too early to tell whether the crack would

affect future launchings. ["Crack in Fuel Pump Found in Space Shuttle,"

THE MEW YORK TIM_ (National Edition), Dec. 22, 1988, Davis, THE WALL

STR££T JOURNAL, Dec. 21, 1988.]

December 22: WATCH THOSE BOOSTERSI

The National Research Council has advised NASA to keep a wary eye on

the manufacturing and development of the solid rocket boosters it uses

to help launch the Space Shuttles. The head o£ the Council, Guyford

Stever, said "success breeds confidence and confidence breeds

complacency. They have to watch for that. But the people we've talked

with at NASA say there isn't going to be any overconfidence on their

watch." The panel recommended that NASA strengthen some booster joints,

expand test data and confirm boosters' reusability by testing ones

already flown. NASA Systems Engineering Chief David Winterhalter said,

"I think we've got most of them covered to some extent. We're looking

at what we have in our program that will satisfy their suggestions."

[Hoversten, USA TODAY, Dec. 23, 1988.]

_jDecesber 23: FHP PILOT CAN APPEA_ FLYOVER

The Florida Highway Patrol pilot who £1ew illegally over Kennedy Space

Center Sept. 29 has till Dec. 27 to appeal a 30-day suspension of his

97
license. The FHP pilot was one of two who overflew KSC airSpace on the

day Discovery was launched. The second pilot circled over the Vehicle

Assembly Building and a launch pad a few hours before liftoff. Hi_

plane was intercepted by a NASA helicopter and escorted out of the area._

[Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5A, Dec. 24, 1988.]

HOLIDAYS SLOW SHUTTLE PREPARATIONS

Kennedy Space Center slowed its Shuttle preparation pace to allow its

workers to head home for the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

Discovery and Atlantis have been powered down, according to KSC

spokesman George Diller, and only a skeleton crew will remain to

continue tile work on Atlantis. The investigative report on tile damage

to Atlantis from its STS-27 mission is not yet completed. Next week the

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite's Inertial Upper Stage booster will

be delivered to KSC from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Atlantis's

No. 3 main engine will be removed so its turbopump can be returned to

its California manufacturer. [Halvorson, FLORIDA TODAY, p. 5A, Dec. 24,

1988.]

_Qm_r 27z NEW SHUTTLE IN CAPE CANAVERAL_ FL

The newest Shuttle in Brevard County is not found at Kennedy Space

Center. Cape Canaveral Volunteer firefighters spent two weeks

constructing a 20-foot-long by 12-foot-wide model of the Space Shuttle

that they've named "Volunteer." The new Shuttle was erected on the lawn

of Cape Canaveral City Hall. Firefighter Glenn Neeb said, "We donated

it as a friendly present to the city to keep our re!ationship open. " We

sppreciate what they've done for us. We wanted to say thank you and

F --

Merry Christmas. " Cape Canaveral's City Manager Leo Nicholas said o_

the Volunteer, "It's another example of good will and cooperation

between the volunteer fire department and the city." [" 'Volunteer"

Makes Perfect Landing at Cape," FLORIDA TODAY, Dec. 28, 1988.]

"THE BOY FROM MARS"

Spaceport USA will boast a new film at the attraction beginning next

fall. The twenty minute movie, "The Boy From Mars," will tell the story

of a youngster who was born and raised on Mars - the first child to be

born other than on Earth - and his adventure as he visits Earth for the

first time. Spaceport USA awarded Zacks and Perrier Inc. (New York

City, NY) a _1 million contract to produce the film for its Galaxy

Theater. There will be no charge for admission. [Banke, F_RIDA TODAY,

Dec. 28, 1988.]

SHUTTLE DAMAGE ANALYSIS

NASA said today that debris found embedded in Atlantis's tiles appeared

to have come from insulation on the external fuel tank and the right

solid-fuel rocket booster. Spokesman Ed Medal cautioned that

investigators had reached no final conclusions. The investigation was

expected to be completed by mid-January 1989 and agency officials are

not sure if their findings will affect the launch of Discovery p!anne

now for February 18, 1989. ["Shuttle Damage Analysis Points t_

Insulation," THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, p. A-4, Dec. 28, 1988.]

98
Decesber 28= TOUR BUS/CAMPER COLLISION

An accident near Spaceport USA occurred today when a tour bus collided

with a camper sending 39 people to Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital

(Titusville, FL) with mostly minor injuries. The tour bus struck a

camper stopped at a traffic light in the westbound lane of a two-lane

highway in front of the tourist attraction, about 4:30 p.m., according

to Kennedy Space Center spokesman Dick Young. He said, "The light

changed and the tour bus driver thought the camper had moved, but it

didn't." Four people in the camper and 35 of the tour bus passengers

were treated for minor injuries at the Titusville hospital. [UPZ, Dec.

28, 1988.]

December 29; PILOT APPEALS RULING

A pilot who flew his aircraft over Kennedy Space Center during

Discovery's countdown on Sept. 29 has appealed the Federal Aviation

Administration's decision to suspend his commercial pilot certification

for 30 days, the FAA said today. The appeal means that Florida Highway

Patrol Sgt. Gary Schluter will attend a conference with FAA attorneys

to explain his actions. Wthe lawyer [for Schluter] has asked for an

informal conference, which is the first step for appeal," said FAA

spokesman Roger Myers. ["Pilot Who Flew Over Launch Appeals Ruling,"

FLORIDA TODAY, p. 6A, Dec. 30, 1988. ]

<7 USBI CO. WINS RENEWAL

USBI Co. has won a restructured and extended contract renewal from NASA

to process and'refurbish solid rocket boosters. The extension runs from

Sept. 30 through Sept. 30, 1994, and adds $I billion to the contract,

giving it a total value of _1.6 billion. The original contract was

awarded January 1985. The new contract includes payment to USBI for its

work in returning the Shuttle Program to flight after the Challenger

tragedy. ["USBI Co. Wins Renewal of Booster Contract," FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 6A, Dec. 30, 1988.]

December 30: HONEYWELL WINS SHUTTLE CONTRACT

A $7.2 million contract to upgrade computer systems containing master

Space Shuttle launch, test and processing data has been awarded to

Honeywell Federal Systems (McLean, VA), according to Kennedy Space

Center officials. ["Honeywell Wins Shuttle Pact," FLORIDA TODAY,

p. 7A, Dec. 31, 1988.]

99
SPACEPORTUSA ATTENDANCE

January 165,936 July

February 225,783 August

March 268,614 September

April 241,487 October

May 197,566 November

June 269,444 December

Total Attendance

2,906p538

- 1988

368,362

347,290

190,433

216,300

213,017

196,033

V

V

100
v

Act uators

Changeout/Sept. 21, 1988 (F_I

Atlantis Rollover Delay (771

@hmie, Kenneth (DE Section Chief)

Native Paerican Video (301

A1 Saud, Sultan

Saudi Arabian Payload

Specialist/STS-516 (6g)

Aldrich,_nold D. (STSOffice,NP_=q)

(201s Astronaut EscapeSystems

(8), National Space Tvansportat ion System

Director (591

Aldridge, Edward "Pete" (Air Force

Secretary)

Atlantis Launch (92)

Transfer of Pad 17 to Air Force (41)

Aldrin,Edwin "Buzz"

_vhol Silk Screens (_1

Pad 3% Visit (_21

Pmerican Institute of _ronsutics aM

Patronaut ics

• Fletcher , James C. (NASA

Administrator1 Nay 31 1988 (23)

_moni_ Perchlorate (31)

Archibald, John (Lockheed Space Operations

Co.)

SignatureBook Idea (19,361

AriansProgram/EuropeanSpaceAgency (31)

Armstrong, Neil (Apollo 11) (421

Arthur D. LittleInc.

PalimaPoint LaunchSite !8)

Astronaut EscapeSystems (8)

P_tronaut Hall of Fame (46)

Astronauts Nemorial Design (41

Astrotech Inten_ationalCorp. (Pittsburgh,

PA)Smith, RichardB. (261

Atlantis

Auxiliary Power Units (841, Crew

• "Pival (80, 84), Crew Tests

(861,Cr_ Training (851,

Department of Defense (6g), Drenched

by Keith (89) , External Fuel Tank

Arrival (141, Launch/Dec. 2, 1988

(921, Launch Crowd, (93) Launch

Dates (74, 79, 841, Launch Day

Announcement (87), Launch

Preparations(881, NilitaryPayload

(76), Nission 5TS-27 ( 8 5 ) ,

Power Downfor Holidays (99),

Power Up/Oct, 27, 1988 ( 8 1 ) ,

Processing Work (73, 771,

Ready for Rollout (82/, Return to

KSC/Dec. 13, 1988/TileDamage

(971, Rollout/Nov. 2, 1%8 (81, 831

Rollover to VABExpected (75, 79)

Sensor Criteria (77)

Solid Rocket Boosters Examined(97)

Stacking (8(I)

Tile Damage (100)

Auxiliary power L_its (841

Aviation Week& Space Technoloqy

Launchdate prediction/Aug. 29, 1988

(27)

Baliles, 6evald (Scv., VAI/Atlantis Laurch

Buest (92)

BananaCreekSite for VIP Laurich Viewing

(40)

Banjos, Russell (NASA Shuttle Propulsion

Director)

Traingrsck in Biloxi,MS (11)

Bay St. Louis, MS

SRB FacilityCandidate (18)

Deggs,James (FormerNP£A Administrator)

Nissi le, Space & Pior_ers

Banquet/fipri I _, 1988 (211,

Spacehab, Inc./Chairman (55)

Biloxi,MS

TrainAccident,ithBoosterSegments

Aboard (11)

Boaters Launch Day Restrictions (6?)

Bolden,Charles (_tronaut,Lt. Col.,U£J4C)

Slide-gir_Test/JulyO, Ig88 (39),

Speechto SpaceCampAwards_re_ny

(32),STS-61CPilot (G9)

BoosterJointAccident/July9, 1988/Brigham

City, Utah (40)

BoosterSegmentsArrival at KSC/Testingfor

Damage (11)

Boot RingShattered/Dec.23, 1988,Test (2)

Brakes Perforlance/STS-26 (751

Brar_Jer_tein, Daniel (Astronaut, U. S. Navy

Captain)

Weather PlanePilotReplacingYoung

(69), Chiefof Astronaut Office(21)

Brevan_ County Jail/TrespassingArrests

(26)

I01
Brevard Historical Museum (cocos, FL)/Indian

Camp Bround Pa_tifacts (27)

Bremr, Bevid/Wind-Caused Injury (18)

Briel _am Pc)rater & House" ArchitectsEngineers Inc./Melbourne s R.

(34)

Brown, Thomas (Beneral I)ynamics/cape

Operat ions)

Port Canaveral Importing Plans (_)

Bubb_ _ry

Journalist of P-erican Space

Prograa,1957-1988 (13)

Buchanan,Paul (BiomedicalDirectors KSC)

Muscle Loss on Long-Duration Manned

Missions (81)

Buckbee, Edward

Space Camp Foundation Executive

Budget Proposal/S11.5Billion

Bumga_ens Albert (PadSafety Personnel)

Slide Wire Pad Escape System

T_tlJuly 8s 1988 (_)

Butchs Calvin (KSC Chief of Security

Operations)

PlayalindaBeachAccess (38)

BussesJohn (Chairmanof MishapBoard)

Magellan Electrical Mishap

Investigation Board (_)

Butler Construction Co, (R_kl_ge, Fl.)

VIP Viewi_ Site at K_ (_)

Maggie Omega

Scholarship (47)

Campbell_ Carl'oll (6ov., SC)

Atlantis Laurch Guest (92)

Canaveral port Authority Pereission for

SatelliteProcessor (89)

Cape CanaveralAir Force Station

ESPrim AerospaceCorp. Launch(74)s

SRB Fuel Safety (_)s Strategic

DeFenseInitiative/Delta Launch (7)

Cape Canaveral Volunteer Firefighters

Fire Department (15), Shuttle

Model/'Vol unteer" (99)

Cape Canaveral_ FL

Space Congas Support (17)

Carlson, Norm (NASATest Director)

FRF Success and Morale(54)

Carter, Jams (Assistant State Attorney)

KS_ PPotestore Case (37)

Casper, John (Astronaut)

_ather/Zaragozas Spain (93)

Castor4 Rocket Motor

Canaveral Seafoods Scal lop Boat (15)

Celestes Richard (Gev., OH)

_larftisLaunch Guest (92)

Cernan, Eugene "Germ' (20, 69)

ChellengerComemoration

_,Cartr_/Speech (5)

Challenger License Plate Revm_ues

Space ScienceInstituteFunding(29)

Challengerll_

TDRS-I Laurch (55)

Chiang-Diazs Franklin (Astronaut)

Simulated Emergency Landing at

S.F/Jurm7, 1988 (31)

ClosingDiscovery'sLaunchSite (_)

CocoaBeach, FL.

Space Congress Support (17)

Cohens Aaron (JSC Director)

Shuttle Progress Nesting (27)

Collins,Michael (ApolloII) (42)

Collins,Rod

FloridaSpaceCamp Supervisor(3)

Columbia

MovedFrom _ to OF_: (84)

Moves From _ to OHRF (75)

O_c Processing (73)

Rollover (40)

Co,fortHouse Inc. (WinterPark,FL)

Portable Toilets (69)

CommPcial Spaceport Er&orsed by

Legislature (31)

Commission on Space (3)

Computer Contract A_ard (_)

Computer Virus at NASAHeadquarters (45)

Co_ey s John (Director s Payload _nagement

Operations)

Magellan Electrical Fire (78),

Launch Pc)visory Team (7)

Ray (Director of Education &

_areness _arch)

Manned Flight A_arermss Honoree

Program/Nov. 15-16,1988 (86)

Gary (AssistantManager Orbiter

ProjectsOffice)

ReactionControlSystemRepair(55)

Corey,

Coultas,

FL

102

V

V

V
Countdown

Clock Delay/Sept. _, 1988 (66),

Demor_trat ion Test Completed/Aug. 1,

1988 (50) 1 Schedule With Holds (65) !

Simul_tionWith AtlantisCrew (85)

Counts, Parker (NSFC Upper-Stage Office

Chief)

D-Ring Cuts (67)

Covey, Richard (Pilot) (80)

C_ APPival/Countdo, m Rehearsal & Escape

D_ills (61)

Cvippen, Robert (Astronaut, Chief, Launch

Approval Team)

(2D,31, 38, 48, 50, _, 68, 93)

Cross Grooves

Shuttle Landing Facility

Modifications (4)

Crou_Je, Fred

Ib'evard CountyCivil Defense (25)

Crowd Esti-ates fop Discovery Launch (66)

Davis, Bob (President, E'prim Aerospace

Corp.)

LOFT-! Launch (87)

Delta 181 Laurch/Feb. 8, 1988

LaunchAdviso_ Team (7)

Delta Laurch Delayed/Weather

SOI Payload (6)

Delta Rocket Debris (19)

Denver, John (Singer/Pctop) (69)

Depavtmed¢of Comerce/Flopida

Spaceport Florida (34)

Department of Defense (69)

Discovery (4, 19, 31, 811

Boosters After Launch (76), Crew

(38, 67, 80), Engine Inspection

(55), EnginePumpsInspection (16),

Flight Readiness Firing (511,

Landing at Edwards Air Force

Base/Buoh on Hand (731, Launch

Delay/3 months (11, Laurch Date

P_nourced/HydrogenLeak Resolution

PMaited(59),LaunchDelays(3,93),

LaunchWeiver(71),MainEngines(2,

4, 78), Post-Flight Inspection(74),

Power Down fop Holidays (99),

Reaction ControlSystem Leak (44),

Return to KennedySpace Center (73,

75, 76),Rocket Fuel Plant Explosion

Drugs

(31),RolloutCeremony/July3, 1988

(36, 37, 39), RolloverDelay (34,

35), TDRS-3 Deliveredto Pad/Aug.

15, 1988 (55),TDRS/IUSRating/May

31, 1988 (28)

Drug Enforcement Agency (56),l)Pug

Testing/RSC Civil Serva_s (34),

Drug Use at NASA/Rep.RobertWalker

(R-I_),(23)

E'prime PmPospaceCorp.

LOFT-I (77, 85, 87), Sourding Rocket

LaunchScrubbed/Oct. 4, 1988 (74)

Easten_ Pmrican Teak Corp./Permit to

ProcessSatellitesatPortCanaveral

(89)

Eastern Space & Missile Center

SafetyStudies/PressSite Change

(6)

Eckler, Ralph (E'prime Derospace Copp.)

(19)

EdwardsAir Force Base (CA) (95, 961

ES_Flopida Inc.

Base Operations Contract Renewal

(2), Transport U_ion WorkersSpace

Center Strike/Hatch30, 1988

(13, 14)

Elam, Willa/protestor (26, 32, 37, 38)

EmployeePMardWinkles (871

Englehaet, Hud (LSO Vice president,

Comunications)

Wildlife Donation (_))

Evans, Daniel (U. S. Senatop-I_) (69)

Exploper I _rmiversarylJan,31, 1958 (5)

Fanton, Michelle (51$qRP) (52)

Federal An-est Authority

SecurityBuards (15,79)

FederallyEmployed kk_men(FEW)Awards

Space Coast Chapter (47)

FHP (SmFloridaHi_lamayPatrol)

Flaws in BoosterSegment (14)

Fletcher,James (NASAAdministrator (69)

Atlantis Launch Comment (92),

Discovery's Laurch Date Announced

(23, 631, National Space Policy

Rr,r_urcement(8), Transferof Pad 17

to Air Force (41)

Flight ReadirmssFiring (FRF)

Countdown(49, 53), Delays (45),

103
Discovery (4), Fai lure/Valve, Sensor

Problem (5_reparations (46), Press

Coverage (51), Rescheduling (52),

Review(86), Success/August I0,12

(53), Target/Aug.4, 1988 (50)

Florida Departme_ of Environmental

Regulat ion

Eastern t_erican Teak Corp. Plan for

Port Canaveral(89)

FloridaBovernor's_ission on Space

Morgan,Stephen (21)

Florida HighwayPatrol

AirspaceViolated (99)

BuzzingDiscovery (%)

Florida Hospital/Orlando i FL

ModicalSupport for ShuttleCrews

FloridaInstituteof Techr_logy

Boardof Trustees/Mcca_nsyElected

Member (B9}

Fosnot, Susan (SHARP) (52)

FRF (See Flight ReaJim Firiq)

Freedomstar l_ecovery Ship (94)

Fuel Isolation Valve Replaced

Ordnance Devices Installed (89)

Fuel Line Valve Replacement (53)

Funkhouser,Jim (Directorof PublicServices

Division, NASA)

Guests and Journalists at KSC for

Discovery Launch (55)

Balaxy Center (Spaceport U_ Art Gallery)

"The Artist and the Space Shuttle'

(58)

6ardner, Buy (STS-L_ Pilot/Atlantis)

(69, 76, 85, 90)

Gardner, Winston "Bud" (State Rep.,

Titusville, FL)

Second Spaceport Plan (18)

Gar_, Jake (U. S. Senator, R-Utah)

PayloadSpecialist(51-D)(69)

Say,Charles(Di_-,ctor,ShuttleOperations,

Retired) (34)

Baseous Oxygen Flow Control Valve Poppets

Reinstal led (6_)

Semar, Sam (Astronaut, Captain, U. S. Army)

SertomaClub Speechat La Cita

CountryClub (Titusville,FL) (59)

_eneralO_/namicsCorp.

Port CanaveralSatelliteImporting

Plans (42)

Serpheide,John (Magellanproject,'JPL)(76)

Sibson, Robert "Hoot" (Commander,STS-27,

Atlantis) (69,76, 85, 90, 95)

61em_, J_n (Mercury Astronaut, U. S.

Senator,D-Ohio) (36, 69)

Boddard SpaceFlight Center

MannedFlight P_arsness Program(13)

Boetsch, Paul (g_ Lightning Research

Program)

Blimp for Lightning Study

Laura:bed/Aug.18, 1988 (57>

Borbachw, Mikhail (sen.Sec.,U.S.S.R.)

Mars JointMissio_ Idea (27)

Bore, Albert (U.S. Senator,I>-TN}

Sraham, Bob (U. S. Senator, D-FL)

Grassley, Charles (U. S. Senator, R-SD)

Braves,Temiko (SHARP) (52)

Breen Ribbon/Launch SuccessCampaign

B_eva_dCounty Chambersof Commerce

(65)

6rissom,Betty (Widow,Virgil"Bus= Grissom,

Astronaut) (36,46)

6round Support Equipment (_) Probl_s/

July 27, 1988, FRF Delay (48)

Gruman TechnicalServices Ire.

TitusvilleConstructior, (14)

• ;E (See Ib'omd Sem_ Equi_mt)

GyroscopeAboardTDRS Removed (63)

Haddad, Peter (BrevardCour,ty Judge)

Protestors (32, 38)

Hannah,Daryl (Actress) (69)

Harper, Jack (LSO Engineer)

Leak Discovered/cobra BorescopeUsed

to Detect Source(_)

_ington, Jim (Chief of Shuttle

Processing/DiscoveryRollout)(_)

HarrisCorp.

ComputerContractCompetition(86)

Harris,Bordon (FormerP_ Chief, I%3-1974)

Death,June 12, i%8 (32)

Harris,Hugh (LaunchCoBentator, F_l)

AtlantisLaunch/Dec.2, 1988 (93)

_ug-Testing Policy at KSC Not

Implemented(24)

Hauck, Federick "Rick" (P_tro_aut,

Commander,S13-26)

(8, 19, 31_ 36, 80)

Hawaii/comercial LaunchSite

Palima Point (@)

104

V

V

V
Ha, ley, Stephen (Astronaut)

Escape Syste_ Comments(25th Space

Congress) (21)

Henderson, Nevada

Solid Rocket Booster Fuel Explosion

(25)

Hereford, Sid (President, Transport Workers

Union Local _._)

Space Center Strike Possibility

(13)

HerPington, Jars F. (Director,Shuttle

Operations,KennedySpaceCenter)

Pre_aunch Caution (48)

Hilmers, David (Astronaut, STS-26)

Discovery Rollout Ceremony(38, 39)

Hiring/330 NewJobs in Sept. 1988

Engineers, QA, Administrators,

Clerical (59)

Hoggard, George (Pad Safety)

Slide Wire Pad Escape System

Test/July 8, 1988 (39)

Hollinshead, Charles (PA, Kennedy Space

Center)

Press Site Change (6)

Holmes RegionalMedical Center (Melbourne,

(FL)/MedicalSupport for Shuttle

Crews (_)

Honeywell Federal Systems (McLean, _)

Contract

Computer System Upgrade (100)

House _ittee on Science, Space &

Technology

Lossof AmmoniumPerchloratePlants

(31)

Hurricane Gilbert

JSC Shutdown (63)

Hurricane Helene (65)

Shuttle Protection (63)

Hydrogen Leak (62, 63)

Hydrogen Line Leak/Test ing (51)

IATSE _ee I_nwtiommI Alliamce of

ll=_ical Stale Employees

lapactLir_

Press Site Change (6)

Indian CampGround/Artifacts

VIP Viewing Site Candidate (27)

InertialUpper-StageO-Rings (67)

InsulationI)ebondingon SRB/ApPil3, 1988

(15),Unbonding/_rtonThiokolInc.

(17)

InternationalAllianceof TheatricalStage

Employees(IAT_)

TGS Technology Inc. Contract

SettlBent/Aug._, 1988 (58)

Jemison,Nae (Doctor,AstronautCandidate)

(69)

Jenkins,Tom(Brevard County Administrator)

Discovery LaunchCrowdEstimate (37)

JessPa_ish HemotialHospital(Titusville,

FL)

LaubenheimrAccident/April4, 1988

(16),MedicalSupportfor Crew (66)

JI.CAerospaceCorp. (Orlando,FL)

Smith,RichardS. (26)

JohnsonSpaceCenter

ReactionControlSystemLeak (44)

Johnson, Travers (SHARP) (52)

Jones, Frank (Lead Engineer, TPS) (35)

Kasten, Robert (U. S. Senator, R-WI) (69)

Kelly Air Force Base (San Antonio, TX)

Atlantis Stopover to KSC (97)

Kerr-Mc6ee_emical Corp. (Henderson, NV)

" Rocket Fuel Plant

gienlen,Mike (NASAMissionEngir_er,TDRS)

PayloadCanisterLoading (40)

King,_xwell (president,BrevardComunity

ColIege)

KSC/BCCAgreement (10)

Kiseiovski, Leonid Ivanovich (President,

ByelorussianStateUniversity)(3)

LandingGear Nalfunotion (35)

LandingPracticeShuttle TrainingAircraft

(6)

Lang, Bob (KSC Director, Safety &

Reliability)

Discovery_s Leak of Nitrogen

Teteoxide(43)

Lauber_eimr, Lorie

Accident Victim (16)

LaunchAdvisory Teem (7)

Launch Complex 17 (41)

Launch Complex 26 (12)

Launch Coverage _ Safety ConcerT,s (62)

Launch Rules Changed (28)

Leak Plugged/Reaction Control System (57)

Leber,William

Wind-CausedInjury (18)

Lent, Katerina (SHARP) (52)

Lewis,I)enise (_4ARP) (52)

105
V

Liberty Star Recovery Ship (94)

Linde, Edgar Vladimrovich

Minster for Higher Education in

Latvia (3)

LockheedSpace Operations Company

Construction (Titusville,FL)

(14), ComputerContract Co,q_titor/Julyl,

1989Award (86),Hiving (46)

LOFT-I Launch (85)

Lo=bardo, Joseph (#ain EngineChief,#S:C)

FRFFailure/Aug. 4, 1988 (52)

Longanecker, Gerald W. (Director, Flight

Projects,GSFC)

Launch Advisory Team (7)

Loo=as, Wendy (Protestor)

(_, 32, 37t 38)

Loose Insulation

#oPtom Thiokolllr¢,Utah Plant (9)

Love, Doyle (ProjectManager,Olson Electric

Co.)

Wind Damage (18)

#acKenzie, _+vi_ (SHARP) (52)

#aclean, Don (Hc__on_nell Douglas Launch

Operations Manager)

Comercial Launch Manifest (36)

Magellan Electrical Mishap Investigation

Board

ElectricalConnectionMistake(78),

Five, Oct. 17, 1988 (TE),Worker

Cleared (84)

Magellan Probe Displayed (%)

#alone,Lisa (KSCSpokeswoman) (I)

MannedFlightAwarenessHonorerProgram

]b'evard CountyCha.bersof Co_erce

and NASA(_), Coney, Raymond(KSC

Chief of Education and Awareness)

(87)

#are Mission With Soviet Union Vetoed by

Fletcher (27)

Marshall Space Flight Center

ReactionControl SystemLeak (44)

Martin Marietta Comunication and

Info_at ion .qystm

Computer"Contract Co=petitor/July 1,

1989 Award (86)

Martin,Tony (_ARP) (52)

#artinez, Bob (Governor of Florida) (89)

ComercialSpaceportPlans(13, 18),

Commission on Space (3, 43)

Mazion, Michelle (SHARP) (52)

NcBrides Jon (Antronaut)

Atlantis LaunchGuest (92)

#cCaPtney, ForPest S. (KennedySpaceCenter

Director)

Challender Co_rat ion Address (5)

Discovery Launch Date (33),

Discovery Rollover fro= OR: to

VflB/Ju_ 21, 1988 (_), Discovery

Rollout (39), Distinguished Service

Award (47), Drug Use in NASA (24),

Embry-RiddleUniversityAIum',iGroup

(83),F_/Aug. i0,1988 (84),Launch

Schedule Review/Nov. 10, 1988 (84),

LSO WildlifeDonation (40),Office

P_x Opened(17),ReactionControl

System Leak (44), Rollout Cer'B_ny

(38), Safety & Budgetary Cor_cerns

(17), Shuttle P_'ogPessHeeting (27),

Signature Book (19), Signature

Presentationto HaucklJuly3, 1988

(36), 5T5-26 Crew Retu_'n/Dct.25,

1988 (80),TPS FacilityOpera,d/

#ay 2, 1_8 (23), _r'hol Unveiling

at SpaceportLE_q/#ay15, 1988 (26)

_cDormellDouglasAstronauticsCO.

Pad 17Lauri-hPlans (1989-1992)(41,

59)

_clntyPe, Marjorie (Protestor) (38)

#cKernan, Jr., John (6or., HE)

Atlantis Launch Guest (32)

#adal, Ed (#SFCSpokesman)

(58, 76)

Nedaris, J. Bruce

(Retired Major _ensral (AB_t_)

Anglican _iest) (5)

_ercuPy 7 Foundation

U. 5. S_ce Camp (36)

NervittIslandNationalWildlifeRefuge

ControlledBun_/Ozo_eResearch

(84),RocketPlant (10)

Mica,Dan (U. S. Rep.,D-FL) (69)

Mid-BodyUmbilicalUnit

A]igment P_oble_ (_)

Mitchell,Royce

DiscoveryGas Leak/Sept._, 1988

(97), FinalBoosterTest/_ugust18,

I_(_), FourthSRB Test/Apparent

Success (9, _), SRBTest #anage_"

106
r

(19),Test-firingSuccessful(26)

Nizell,JiB (Chiefof Operations,E'Prime}

LOFT-I Lauw_h (57)

Mobley, Dave (N_ Deputy Project Manager

for Redesign)

Joint Tests (25)

MorgangBarbara (Teacher-In-Space Runner-Up)

Drevard Cour,ty Visit/June14, 1988

(32)

Morgan, Stephen

Achievement Award, 25th Space

Co_grees (21)

Morian, Karen (Protestor) (26, 32, 38)

Morton Thiokol Inc.

Booster Test/Aug. 8, 1988 (53),

Fourth SRB Test (g, 33), Nozzle

Bolts SRB's (7), O-Ring Seals (2),

Solid Rocket Booster Manufacturer

(30, 73), Solid Rocket Booster TestFiring (lg)

Movie - "The Boy FromMa_s"

SpaceportLISA (g9)

Nullane, Hike (NissionSpecialist,8TS-27)

(69,76, 85, 90)

Myers,Dale (_ DeputyAdministrator)

(69)

Nagel, Conrad (Atlantis Processing Director)

Atlantis (74, 83, 84, 89), 5T5-27

(76), Turbopup Crack (98)

QualityDay

Rodney,George (80)

N_T_-OwnedSRB Facility (18)

NationalAcademyof SciencesReport

Space Platforms (26)

National Research Council (10, 62, 98)

Natiorel Security Industrial flssociaticm

Space Committee

Confererceon Civilianand Nilitary

Pctivitiesin BrevardCounty (78)

NationalSpacePolicyAnr_urcement

Moon Base and Manned Mars Nission

(8)

National Space Techr_logy Laboratories

[Stemis Space Ce.tm-]

Bay St. Louis, Nississippi

(2,4, 21)

NationalWildlifeand Fish Foundation

L_ Donation (_)

Nelson, Bill (Rep., D-Nelbourne FL)

Drug Use in NASA(24), Playalinda

Beach Access RoadFunding (35), SRB

Facility (i8), ST8-26 Crew

Return/Oct. 25, 1988 (80), STS-61C

Crew Mamber (69)

Nelson, George "Pinky' (MissionSpecialist)

STS-26/OCt. 25, 1988 (80)

Nicholas,Leo (Cape CanaveralCity Manager)

(gg)

TetroxideLeakon Pad/July15, 1988

(41)

Nitrogen

Nozzles

Bolts/SRB's (7), Part Intact After

Firing (20)

O Ring Seals

Cut Rings/Aug. 26, lgBB (58),

Discovery Laurch (97), Test

Failure/Dec. 23, 1988 (2)

O'Brien,John (Ni_q SeneralCounsel)

FederalArrestAuthority (15)

O!Shea,Tom (U.S.Fish a_ WildlifeService)

L_ Wild|ireDonation (40)

OASISSysteaInstalled/March21, 1988

LockheedEngir_eringandManagement

• ServicesCo. (12)

Officeof Safety,Reliability,

Naintainability and Quality

P_surance/Thoms, _e (12)

Officer's Club/Patrick Air Force Base

Embry-Riddle University

Alummi/NcCartneySpeeoh/Nov.4, 1988

(83)

Orbiter Maintenar_e and Refurbishment

FaciI ity/Columbia

(40,75,84)

OrbiterProcessingFacility (4,31,75)

ColumbiaandAtlantis(84),Atlantis

(69),Columbia(40)

On', Robert(SOy.,Indiana) (_)

OvertimeWork Rules (82]

Pacific Enginae_ing and ProductionCompany

RocketFuel Plant/May4, 1988

(30)

Page, George F. (LockheedSpace Operations

CO.)/LaurL-hAdvisoryTeam (7)

PalizaPoint(Ha_aii)/commrcialLauri'hSite

(B)

107
PanP_,ericanWorldServices/Cape Canaveral,

FL (34)

Pathfinder/KC-1_, weatherconditions 476)

PatrickAir ForceSaselOc_.18-19,1988

Classified Seminar (78)

Pavlograd Rocket Fuel Plant Explosion/

May 12, 1988 (30)

Payload Environmental Transport System

(PETS)/Magellan (76)

Pershing Missiles/March 21t 1988 (99)

phelps, Ron (KSC Landing & Recovery

Director)

RecoveryExercises,May 4 & 6, 1988

(25)

Phillips, George (COl., USAF, Rescue

Director) (56)

phillips,Tina

FEW "Mewberof the Year" (47)

Pickett v Linda (KSCContracting Officer)

(86)

Pippin, William (TransportWorkers Union,

President) 416!

Playalinda Beach Access " i35,38)

Polaski, Louis (NASATask Force on Safety)

Discovery Mission (39)

PracticeCountdown,Sept. B, 1988 (61)

Press

Atlantis (90)

Discovery (68)

Previous Shutdowns (52}

P_opellantLoading 441)

Protestors 430,32, 37, _)

Reaction _trol System Leak (44, 51, 57)

ReaganSigns _ Budget (87)

RecoveryShips Liberty Star and FreedomStar

Dec. 3, 1988 (%)

Mission Schedule for Ships (G_)

Richman, AT'nsld D. (KSC Chief of Visitor

Services)/Discovery (37)

Rockefeller,JohnO. (Sen.,WV)

Atlantis LaunchGuest (92)

Rocket Factory at KennedySpace Center

Mississippi Site_ (10, 21)

Rocket Fuel Plant Explosion (32)

Rocket Joints Pass Tests (24)

Rocket Segments/Train Wreck (11)

RocketdynetMain EngineManufacturer

(81)

RockwelI Inten_ationalCorporation

BPevaPdCou_y Jobs (85),Reaction

Control System Leak Repair (56),

Space Shuttle Parts (47), TPS

FacilityOpening (23)

Rodn_/, _=orge (NA_ Associate Administrator

for Safety)

Launch Team Member (28), "NP_A

Quality Day" (_), Tile Damageto

Atlantis (%)

RollbackConsideredlsasLeak (2R)

Rolloutfor Oiscgvery/JulyI, 1988(_)

Ross,Jerry (STS-27 MissionSpecialist)

(69,76, 85, 90)

RotatingService Structure

Test for Atlantis/Nov.8, 19BB

(04)

Sargent, Doug (L50 President)/Wildlife

Oonation (40)

Saunders, Stephen (JPLScier,tist)

Nagelfan Probe (%)

Schaefer, William Dor._ld (Bov.__ryland) .

Atlantis Laur_--_Guest (92)

_chluter,Gary (FloridaHighwayPatrol)

DiscoveryLaunchOverflight(I00)

Schrontz, Lee (LSODirector of R _ Q_)

Nitrogen Tetroxide Leak (43)

Schwinghamer,Bob (Director,ProcessingLab_

HSFC)IReactionControl System Leak

(45)

SecurityPatrolHeadquarters/Dec.6, 1988

Dedication Ceremony (95)

Sensor Criteria Changed on Discovery

Boosters (77)

Shands Hospital (Sair_.,sville, FL)

Medical Supportfor ShuttleCrews

(66)

Shapley, Willis (Associate Deputy

Administrator,_qS_) (6g)

Sheehan, William (NAS_ Chief of

Communications!

ViewingAreas Controversy (_)

Shepard,Alan (Mercury,Apolloastronaut)

Mercury 7 Foundation 436,46)

Shepherd, William (STS-27 Mission

Specialist) 469,76, 85, 90)

Shevchenko,VladimirPavilovich(President,

Doretski State University (3)

108

V

V

V
,.j

_river, Loren (Astronaut)

Emergency Landing Simulation on

SU:/June7, I_ (31)

ShuttleLandingFacility (SU:)

Jensen Comtruction Co. Contract (3)

TDRS_rival at KSC (90)

_uttle ViewingAreas Controversy(25)

Sleek, Robert "Bob" (K_ Shuttle Laur£_n

Director)

AtlantisLaunchDec.2, 1988 (93),

Booster Test/Aug. 18, 1988 (57),

Confererceon Civilianand Milita_

Activitiesin B_evardCounty (78),

CountdownDemormtrationTest (50),

Discovery's Flight Readirmss

Firing/Aug.4, 1988 (51),FRF,

Aug. 10, 19_3 (54), Discovery's

Readinessfor Bollovm"to V_ (31),

Launch _visory Team (7), Launch

Rules (28), Leak and Dec. 1987

Testing (44), STS-26 Crew

.Re.turn/Oct. 25, 1988 (80),

Videoconferencefor Educators(11)

SignaturesAboardDiscovery

Archibald,John(LockheedManagement

SystemsA_alyst) (19)

Silvers, John (18)

SimulatedEmergencyLandingat SU:IJure7,

1988/shriver,geatherbee,_ang-Oiaz

(31)

Slash Burning Techniques/controlled Bun_ in

Refuge, Nov. 7, 1988 (84)

Slattery,Kenneth (BendixEmployee,M. I.

TrackingStation)

MannedFlight_t'eness Nonowe (13)

Slay,AltonO./_airman of N_ Panel (10)

SlideWire and Pad EscapeSystemTest

Bolden,Jr., _arles F. (Lt.COl.,

US;_, Astronaut) (39)

Smith, Bo_thy (Protestor) (26, 32, 38)

Smith, Gene (P_sident, Eastern American

Teak Corp.)

SatelliteProcessor (89)

Smith, Gerald/SRBProject Manager at EoFC

(I)

Smith,Larry/U.S. Representative(69)

Smith,RichardS. (fonmerK_ Director)

Consultanton SpaceSystems (_)

Solid RocketBoosters

Assembly(I0),Atlantis(94)_Damage

(73),MarshallSpaceFlightCenter

(7, 12), Nitchell, Royce (Project

_nager) (18), New Test Facility

(33), Stacking Complete_/14ay_,

198828),_ird FiringSet/April20,

19_ (18),ThirdTest Planned (4)

Soviet Educators Tour KSC (3)

Space CampOpens (Titusville,FL)/April 3,

1988

Barr_art, Deborah (Director)

(15), Mercury 7 Foundation

Sponsorship(_)

Space Congress 1988 (20, 21)

Cen_n Speech (20)

Missile, Space & Range Pioneers

Banquet (21)

Space Congrsss 1989

Fletcher & Nelson to Speak (83)

Space Research Institute

: Florida Institute of Techr,ology-.

(21,31)

Spa_ab Ire.

e_evard County Payload Processing

FaciIity (55)

SpaceportFlorida

NartinezSpeech/Mar_-_n 25, 1988(12),

RFP's Requested (24), Study

P_oposals (34)

Spaceport USA

Attendarce (lOJ),IndianCamp_rc,und

P_'tifacts(27), Movie- "The Boy

FromMars" (99)

Space Week'BB (41)

Spaceshuttle Laurch Task Force

Discovery LaunchCro_d/Orgar,ized by

Jenkins (37)

SpecialtyMaintenance & ConstructionInc.

(Lakeland,FL)

Security Building Contract/CC-39

• "ea (11),Office_nex (17)

StennisSpaceCenter (BaySt. Louis,MS)

Main Engine Testing (79,BO)

Stever, Guyforcl(N_CChairman) /Boosters (%)

Stottler, Stagg & Associates (Cape

Canavera1, FL)

C_ NewsFacility Design Contract at

KSCPressSite (g)

109
Strange,ThomasR. (Captain,E_)

Laur¢_n _vi_ Team (7),

_tesrologist (_)

Strategic Defense Initiative/DeltaLaunch

VehicleProblem (6)

Strike_erted (14)

Stru_ural Load TestlMSFC (15)

STS _s_bly/June 24, 1988 (36)

STS 27/Atlantis (84)

Suuer High School ApprenticeshipResearch

_ram (_) (52)

Sun Coast ServicesInc. (Titusvilles FL)

(FoodServicesContract/KSC)

(8)

SuspectPlate In AtlantisMain Engine (Sl)

Talone, John (Director of Shuttle

Processing)

Discovery'sPost-FlightInspection

(74),F_ Failurs/Aug.4, 1988 (52)

TI)RSr_eeT_ _ D=-ta Relax Satellite

Below]

TechnicianHiringllO0 (12)

TelescopingPole Cr_w EscapeSystem (17)

Test-Firing Delayed/Discovery Main

Engir_/Aug. 4, 1988 (48)

T_ TechnologyInc./InformationalPicketing

(44)

ThermalProtectionSystemFacilityOpens/

May 2, 1988 (23)

Thomas,_ne (Dirt_'t_of S, R _ _ at K_)

SRB Fuel Safety (25)

Thomas, John (NASA Solid Rocket Motor

RedesignManager) (I)

March Firing Plan (2), Flaws in

Booster Equipment (14), Launch

Peeparations/Discover7 (13)

Thompson,J. R. (I_oFCOirsctor)

AtlantisLaur_h/l)_.2, 1988 (93)

ShuttleProgressMeeting (27),Test

Firingand Boot Ring (2)

horn, _lissa (_Fi_@)- (52)

_ornton, Kathr)m (_t_r_ut)/Pad Escape

l)rill (24)

Tile DamageAssessment Tea= (%, 97)

Tires/At lanti s (95)

Titan 4/Rocket Fuel Explosion (31)

Todd, Paul W.

NAS Report on Space

Platforss/Nicrogravity Experiments

(26)

ToxicGas Leak/July16, 1988 (_)

Trackingand Data RelaySatellite

(27, 28, 40, 55, 56, 58, 65, 69, 9<),

99)

Transpece Carriers/Lanham, _ (34)

Transport Workers Union Local

Contract Ratified (16)

Walkout Averted (14)

Travolta, John (Actor) (69)

Trss_s_rs/May 8, 1988 (26)

Tropical Depression/Aug. 27-28, 19(38

Discovery (59)

Tropical Storm Keith/Nov..°2, I988

(88-89)

Truly, Richard(Rear Admiral,NASA Associate

Adm nistrator for Speceflight)

(3, 5, 18, 27, f_, 69, 87, 95)

Turbop_p

CrackDiscoversd/Dec. 18, 1%8 (98),

PumpRe,oved (99)

Tun_er,April (_) (_)

Services Inc./Lauber_heimer _:ident,

Awil 4, I_ (16)

U. S. Comercial Laurch Manifest/June27,

19_8/Department of Transportat ion

L_man,Myron (National Resea_'h Council

Booster 6roup)

5TS-26 Boosters/Oct. 5, 1988 (75)

United Enginee_ and Constructors

Inc./Denv_, CO (34)

_nned Shuttle LaunchStudied

Columbia/Department of Defense

Satellite (41)

OSBI Co. ContractRenewal for Solid Rocket

BoosterWork (100)

Utsman,Thomas (DeputyDirsctor,HSC)

(16,34, 44, 54, 65)

Valveand Sensor Replacement/Aug. 7-9, 1988

(53)

Vandenberg Air Force Base (CA) Shuttle

LaunchFactlity/Mothballed

(20)

VectorSpace/SpaceCa_p, Florida (46)

VehicleAssemblyBuilding (VAB) (4,31)

Videoconfersncefor Educators (II)

VIP's for DiscoveryLaunch (69)

Walker,Charles (Payload Specialist)

(33,69)

II0

V

V

V
"v"

Walker,Robert (Rep.,R-PA}

Drug Use in _ (23)

Walker,Sterling(Chief,MechanicalSystems,

ILqC)/Groued Support Equipment

Problems (48)

Warhol, A'edy

Silk ScreensGivento SpaceportUSA

(26)

Wasatch OperationsTest Site/BrighamCity,

Utah (18)

Weather (66,92)

Weatherbee,James (Astronaut)

Simulated Emergency Landing at

SLF/Jure7, 1988 (31)

Weaver,Lynn (FITPresident)

l_.'CartneyBoard Election (89}

_bb, Talmadge(Directorof L_ Operations}

F_IAug. I0, 1988 (54}

Weitz, B. J. (_tronaut, Deputy Director,

&BC} (69}

Westar-4 Satellite (11}

Williams, John (Public Affairs, L_kheed

Space OperationsCo.)

Drug Use at _ (24}

Williams, Roy ("Our Native American

Heritage" )IInst ruct o-V isior,,

EducationalFiIm (_)

Winds (18,89, 92}

Winterhalter, David (I¢oFjADirector of

SystemsEngir, eerin@)

(I,2, 4, 99}

Wirth,Vince (lCagellanTest ar_ Integration

Nanager)/Oct.17, 1988 (78)

Wistraed,Sary (K_ SecurityChief}

ArrestAuthorityIssue (79>

Wolfinger,Norm

Brevard County Prosecutor in

ProtestorsCase (3B)

Wemack,JamesL. (Launch Director, Delta

181),Laurw_hAdvisoryTeam (7)

YellowCreekNuclearFacility(NortheastMS>

Rocket Plant (10, 18)

Youn@, John (Former Chief of Astronaut

Corps)

University of Central Florida

Commencement _ _23)

Zacksa_l PeririerInc. (NewYo_'kCi'ty)

Movie- UThe Boy From Mars" (99>

111
NaSA

Nalo'_ Ae_naufcsand

,_oaceAOw_sltal,0n

Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

_3-]_-13

4. Title and Subtitle

2. Government Accession No.

Chronology of KSC and KSC Related Events for 1988

7. Author(s)

Ken Nail, Jr.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

New World Services, Inc.

Kennedy Space Center

12, Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

National Aeronautics and Space _%ninistration

Kennedy Space Center

3. Recipient's Catalog No.

5. Report Date

March 1989

6. Performing Organization Code

8. Performing Organization Report No.

10. Work Unit No.

11. (_ontract' or Grant No.

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Annual, 1988

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15, Supplementary Notes

This chronology is published to fulfill the requirements of KMI 2700.1 (as revised)

to describe and document KSC's role in NASA progress. Materials _re researched

and prepared by New World Services, Inc., EG&G Florida subcontractor for

KSC Library Services.

16. Abstract

The document is intended to serve as a record of KSC events and as a reference

source for historians and other researchers. Arrangement is by day and month and

individual articles are attributed to published sources. An index has been added

to this edition.

17. Key Words (Suggested by Author(s))

Chronology, Space Shuttles, solid rocket

boosters, Discovery, Atlantis, Columbia,

contracts, awards, accidents

18. Distribution Statement

Unclassified - Unlimited

19. Security Classif. (of this report)

Unclass if ied

NASA FORM 1628 OCT 86

20. Security Classif. (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of pages

114

22. Price

V

V