National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Kennedy Space Center

Annual Report FY2
Kennedy Space Center 1 Annual Report 20

Center Director’s Message

Significant Events

Launch Vehicle Processing

International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing

Launch Services Program

Constellation Ground Operations

Applied Technology

Partnerships

Environmental Leadership

Outreach to the World

Education

2007 KSC Business Report

 Economic Impact

 Work Force Diversity

 Procurement Report

Table of Contents

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Kennedy Space Center 2 Annual Report 20

The moon makes an appearance above Earth’s cloud-covered limb.
Kennedy Space Center 3 Annual Report 20

In 2007 Kennedy Space Center celebrated its 45th year as NASA’s launch 

operations center. Throughout the year, the dedicated work force launched 

space shuttles and expendable launch vehicles, worked toward completion of 

construction of the International Space Station and began moving forward in 

preparation for the Constellation Program. 

During the year, Kennedy launched three space shuttle missions delivering 

critical elements to the International Space Station. A new set of solar power 

arrays and a connecting module were added to the space station. The Launch 

Services Program processed four expendable launch vehicles and spacecraft for 

launches. The program continued to work 34 active missions throughout the 

year as well. A milestone was reached in April, when the Launch Services Program celebrated the 50th successful expendable launch vehicle since assuming 

the lead for the agency in 1998.

Work for the Constellation Program really began moving forward this 

year. Kennedy supported the agency with preparations for the test flight of the 

Ares I-X, scheduled for 2009. 

Kennedy employees also excelled in applied technology, strived for environmental leadership and strengthened partnerships while providing outreach 

and educating the community. The employees reached out into the communities and supported local charities through the Combined Federal Campaign. 

In its 45th year, Kennedy made these and many more significant contributions to the rich history of the space program. I am proud to lead such a 

dedicated and exceptional work force. I encourage you to read more about the 

accomplishments of 2007. 

 

Sincerely,

William W. Parsons

Center Director

Center Director’s Message
Kennedy Space Center 4 Annual Report 20

Significant Events

1. STEREO Launch

Oct. 25, 2006

NASA’s twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatories mission, 

known as STEREO, successfully launched at 8:52 p.m. EDT 

from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft is making 

observations to help researchers construct the first threedimensional views of the sun. The images show the star’s stormy 

environment and its effects on the inner solar system, vital data 

for understanding how the sun creates space weather.

2. Award-winning Invention

Oct. 26, 2006

A groundwater treatment process, known as the Emulsified 

Zero-Valent Iron technology, was recognized as NASA’s 2005 

Government Invention of the Year and Commercial Invention of 

the Year. The technology, developed by researchers from Kennedy 

Space Center and the University of Central Florida in Orlando, 

cleans up environmental contaminants in groundwater around 

industrial areas like rocket launch pads. 

3. Discovery Launch 

Dec. 9, 2006

Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew lifted off from 

Kennedy at 8:47 p.m. EST and traveled to the International Space 

Station. During the STS-116 mission, the crew installed the P5 

truss to the station. 

4. Discovery Landing 

Dec. 22, 2006

At 5:32 p.m. EST, space shuttle Discovery and its crew returned 

home after a 13-day journey of more than 5.3 million miles in 

space. Discovery’s STS-116 mission successfully reconfigured the 

International Space Station’s power and cooling systems from a 

temporary setup to a permanent mode and added a new piece to 

the station’s backbone.

5. New Center Director 

Jan. 4, 2007

William W. Parsons assumed the role as Kennedy’s ninth director, 

succeeding former director James W. Kennedy. 

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Kennedy Space Center 5 Annual Report 20

Significant Events

6. Constellation Program Facility 

Jan. 30, 2007

A special ceremony commemorated the Operations and Checkout 

Building high bay’s new assignment to support the Constellation 

Program. Originally built to process space vehicles in the Apollo 

era, the building will serve as the final assembly facility for the 

Orion crew exploration vehicle. Orion is America’s human 

spaceflight vehicle of the future.

7. THEMIS Launch 

Feb. 17, 2007

NASA’s THEMIS mission successfully launched at 6:01 p.m. EST 

from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. THEMIS, 

which stands for the Time History of Events and Macroscale 

Interactions during Substorms, is NASA’s first five-satellite mission 

launched aboard a single rocket. The mission will help resolve the 

mystery of what triggers geomagnetic atmospheric events visible 

in the Northern Hemisphere.

8. Hailstorm Damage 

Feb. 27, 2007

After space shuttle Atlantis suffered hailstorm damage, NASA 

officials decided to roll Atlantis off its launch pad and back 

inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy. The severe 

thunderstorm caused between 1,000 to 2,000 divots in the 

external tank’s foam insulation and minor surface damage to 

about 26 heat shield tiles on the shuttle’s left wing. 

9. Station Module Named 

March 15, 2007

Thanks to students from across the United States, the 

International Space Station Node 2 module is now also known as 

“Harmony.” The name was chosen from an academic competition 

involving more than 2,200 kindergarten through high school 

students from 32 states. The challenge required students to learn 

about the space station, build a scale model and write an essay 

explaining their proposed name.

10. Technology Leaders 

April 12, 2007

Two Kennedy employees, Jacqueline Quinn and Kathleen 

Brooks, were inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame 

for their work in developing a method that reduces groundwater 

contamination.

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Kennedy Space Center 6 Annual Report 20

11. Suborbital Flights 

April 17, 2007

Kennedy hosted the first of a series of suborbital Pathfinder flights 

at the Shuttle Landing Facility. A privately operated F-104 jet 

aircraft from Starfighters Inc. of Clearwater, Fla., will perform 

flights to help in assessing suborbital space launch trajectories and 

pave the way for future commercial space tourism and research 

flights from the facility.

12. AIM Launch 

April 25, 2007

NASA’s Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere, or AIM, spacecraft 

launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 1:26 p.m. 

PDT. AIM is the first mission dedicated to the exploration of 

mysterious ice clouds that dot the edge of space in Earth’s polar 

regions. The Orbital Sciences L-1011 aircraft released a Pegasus 

XL rocket carrying AIM at a drop point over the Pacific Ocean 

about 100 miles offshore west/southwest of Point Sur, Calif. 

13. Atlantis Launch 

June 8, 2007

Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew launched 

mission STS-117 from Pad 39A at 7:38 p.m. EDT to continue 

construction of the International Space Station. The crew 

delivered and installed the S3/S4 truss segments and a new set of 

solar arrays.

14. Atlantis Landing 

June 22, 2007

Due to inclement weather, Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force 

Base, Calif., at 3:49 p.m. EDT after completing a 14-day journey 

of more than 5.8 million miles in space.

15. Center’s 45th Anniversary 

July 1, 2007

Kennedy Space Center celebrates its 45th anniversary as a launch 

operations center. In 1962, with a mandate to build a launch 

center, NASA and Kennedy’s first director, Dr. Kurt H. Debus, set 

out to build an infrastructure to support the biggest rockets ever 

constructed.

Significant Events

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Kennedy Space Center 7 Annual Report 20

Significant Events

16. Lightning Protection System 

July 27, 2007

NASA selected Ivey’s Construction Inc. of Merritt Island, Fla., to 

build a new lightning protection system for Kennedy’s Launch 

Pad 39B. The system will support launches of the Constellation 

Program’s Ares I rocket.

17. Phoenix Launch 

Aug. 4, 2007

NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft launched aboard a Delta II expendable 

launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:26 

a.m. EDT on a mission to Mars. The spacecraft arrived at the 

Red Planet in late May 2008 to closely examine the surface of the 

planet’s northern polar region.

18. Endeavour Launch 

Aug. 8, 2007

Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member crew lifted off 

from Launch Pad 39A at 6:36 p.m. EDT on mission STS-118. 

Crew members delivered the S5 truss segment to the International 

Space Station, and tested a new system that enables docked 

shuttles to draw electrical power from the station to extend visits 

to the orbiting outpost. It was the first flight for Endeavour in 

more than four years, after an extensive modification period.

19. Endeavour Landing 

Aug. 21, 2007

Endeavour and its crew touched down at Kennedy’s Shuttle 

Landing Facility at 12:32 p.m. EDT, completing a 13-day journey 

of more than 5.2 million miles in space.

20. Dawn Launch 

Sept. 27, 2007

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft began its 1.7-billion-mile voyage on 

a Delta II rocket from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air 

Force Station at 7:34 a.m. EDT. Dawn will study asteroid Vesta 

in 2011 and dwarf planet Ceres in 2015, both located in orbit 

between Mars and Jupiter.

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Kennedy Space Center 8 Annual Report 20

During Fiscal Year 2007, the Launch Vehicle Processing 

team prepared NASA’s three orbiter vehicles—Atlantis, 

Discovery and Endeavour—for their journeys to deliver 

U.S. and international partner elements to the International Space 

Station. At the same time, the team also began work on Launch 

Complex 39 facilities to prepare for the Ares I-X test flight, scheduled for April 2009.

Three space shuttle launches from Launch Pad 39A carried 21 

astronauts and several critical payloads to the station. The space 

shuttles traveled a combined total of approximately 20 million 

miles during missions that delivered permanent power to, and expanded the size and capability of the station.

The processing team overcame pre-flight challenges by developing innovative tools and procedures to complete the work necessary 

to ensure successful launches.

Mission STS-116/Discovery

Space shuttle Discovery launched on Dec. 9, 2006, at 8:47 p.m. 

EST, on mission STS-116, to deliver the P5 truss segment to the 

station. The shuttle also carried 5,800 pounds of much-needed supplies and equipment in a Spacehab single logistics module in the 

orbiter’s payload bay. It was the 20th shuttle flight to the space station and the first nighttime launch in more than four years. After 

a 13-day mission, Discovery landed at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing 

Facility on Dec. 22, 2006 at 5:32 p.m. EST.

Mission STS-117/Atlantis

Originally scheduled for launch in March, Atlantis’ external 

tank thermal protection system foam insulation was damaged by 

hail from a strong thunderstorm that passed over the Launch Complex 39 area on Feb. 26, 2007. After initial damage assessments, 

the shuttle was returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where 

unprecedented scaffolding and temporary platform access were assembled quickly and safely around the external tank. 

Assessments revealed thousands of damaged areas on the tank 

that violated acceptance criteria for flight. NASA and contractor 

repair teams took on the challenge to develop and implement repair 

methods. Additionally, a hail damage database was created to collate and evaluate the damage information. A Web site was created 

that allowed the team to understand the progress of the immense 

repair efforts.

The processing team worked tirelessly to complete all repairs, 

contributing to a successful launch of Atlantis on mission STS-117 

on June 8, 2007, at 7:38 p.m. EDT. After a 14-day mission, Atlantis landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on June 22, 

2007, at 3:49 p.m. EDT.

Mission STS-118/Endeavour

After nearly five years, NASA and contractor workers completed the Orbiter Major Modifications, or OMM, to Endeavour. The 

processing team completed 195 modifications and 205 special tests 

on the vehicle. Nearly 150 miles of wiring was inspected and many 

components were removed to gain access to the vehicle’s airframe 

for inspection. 

Endeavour received a new multi-functional electronic display 

system, also called the “glass cockpit.” A Global Positioning Satellite system was added and the cockpit’s outermost windows on each 

side were replaced with thicker window panes. 

More than 2,000 tiles were removed and replaced and 72 Boeing Reusable Insulation tiles were installed in critical areas on wing 

leading edges, and main and nose landing gear doors. All wing 

leading edge reinforced carbon-carbon panels were removed and 

inspected using thermography and CT scans. A record-breaking 

2,000 thermal control system insulation blankets were removed 

from inside the vehicle and either refurbished or replaced.

Major components removed, inspected and reinstalled included 

the remote manipulator system, forward reaction control system, 

orbital maneuvering system pods, orbiter docking system/airlock 

and the dome-mounted heat shields that surround the main engines. Every orbiter system was inspected and tested, including hydraulics, electrical and main propulsion systems.

When the OMM and post-Columbia accident safety modifications were completed in June 2007, the team had inspected, repaired, replaced, modified or upgraded practically every piece of 

the orbiter’s components.

Space shuttle Endeavour launched on Aug. 8, 2007, at 6:36 

p.m. EDT, and landed safely at Kennedy on Aug. 21, 2007, at 

12:32 p.m. EDT, completing a nearly flawless 13-day mission. 

The first flight of the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System 

took place aboard Endeavour. The system allowed the shuttle to 

remain docked for a longer period by drawing power from the station.

ARES I-X Preplanning and Ground Modification Efforts

NASA’s Ares I-X flight test vehicle will use some shuttle-derived 

flight hardware, including a five-stage solid rocket booster. The test 

vehicle will consist of a single, four-segment solid rocket booster 

and a fifth inactive segment and will require a variety of facility 

Launch Vehicle Processing
Kennedy Space Center 9 Annual Report 20

Emerging from the billows of smoke below, space shuttle Endeavour hurtled into the sky from 

Launch Pad 39A on mission STS-118, on Aug. 8, 2007, at 6:36 p.m. EDT. The 13-day mission 

was the 22nd flight to the International Space Station.
Kennedy Space Center 10 Annual Report 20

and ground support equipment modifications. As the prime space 

flight operations contractor for NASA, United Space Alliance will 

provide design solutions to minimize the extent of the modifications, manage the modification work with both in-house and fixed 

price contractor support and integrate Ares I-X and Constellation 

modifications into shuttle processing activities. Several Kennedy facilities are currently undergoing modifications, or soon will be, in 

order to accommodate Ares vehicle processing and launch.

Launch Pad 39B

Access for the Ares I-X flight test vehicle will be provided at 

three locations and will originate from the existing fixed service 

structure and the rotating service structure. The upper stage and 

interstage access will be provided by modifying the gaseous oxygen 

vent arm to provide entry to the upper stage simulator and permit 

servicing of the interstage roll control system. The gaseous oxygen 

vent arm rotation will be accomplished using existing mechanisms 

and controls at the pad. A new platform will be mounted on the 

rotating service structure to provide access to the forward skirt/forward assembly access door.

Conditioned air purge will be provided to the flight test vehicle 

at the new forward skirt/forward assembly for avionics and instrumentation thermal conditioning. The existing T-0 umbilical will 

use a simple lanyard/reel for duct retraction. Conditioned air will 

be provided to the upper stage simulator for personnel comfort and 

safety during launch pad processing operations. 

A new lightning protection system will be similar to the existing space shuttle-derived system. The lightning mast and/or fixed 

service structure’s height will be extended to encompass the taller 

vehicle and will require new down cables to accommodate the 

taller structure. Demolition of the abandoned in-place hammer 

head crane assembly will be necessary because of the taller mast. 

Mobile Launchers 

Additional cleats and water bags will be installed to close off the 

area between the hold-down post in the right solid rocket booster 

hole to help ensure that the shock wave from the ignition of the 

boosters and exhaust during initial ascent do not affect the flight 

test vehicle.

Vehicle Assembly Building

Modifications to the Vehicle Assembly Building will be implemented for the Ares I-X flight test vehicle to support access and 

environmental control design. Access to the test vehicle will be 

provided by the existing solid rocket motor field joints through existing high bay platforms. Temporary scaffolding will be used as 

necessary to reach correct heights.

Upper stage and interstage access will be provided by a staircase 

projecting off of existing shuttle platforms. The upper most shuttle 

access platform on the north side will be removed to provide access 

for the fight test vehicle. Access to the hypergolic servicing panel 

will be provided by a new staircase/platform or modified module.

A conditioned air purge to the upper stage access hatch for the 

avionics bay will be provided. Conditioned air will be provided by 

a mini-portable purge unit.

Hypergolic Maintenance Facility 

Assembly and validation of the Ares I-X roll control system servicing and de-servicing design was accomplished at the Hypergolic 

Maintenance Facility. The plan for propellant servicing/contingency de-servicing will utilize existing ground support equipment 

within the facility test cell.

In High Bay No. 1 inside the 

Vehicle Assembly Building, 

technicians sand away the red 

dye that was applied to the 

external tank to help expose 

cracks or compression dents. 

A severe thunderstorm with 

golf ball-sized hail caused 

visible divots in the tank’s foam 

insulation and minor surface 

damage to about 26 heat shield 

tiles on the shuttle’s left wing, 

as space shuttle Atlantis sat on 

the pad for mission STS-117.
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Endeavour was lifted into the upper levels of the Vehicle Assembly Building for stacking in High Bay 1 with the 

external tank and solid rocket boosters. Mission STS-118 was Endeavour’s first flight in more than four years. 
Kennedy Space Center 12 Annual Report 20

Preparing several key U.S. and international partner elements 

for delivery to the International Space Station made for an 

exciting year at Kennedy’s Space Station Processing Facility. 

During fiscal year 2007, several payloads underwent extensive final 

checkout, assembly and processing before flight. 

With the delivery of numerous elements, NASA expanded the 

space station to 240 feet long and 330 feet wide, with a weight of 

more than 516,000 pounds, or 258 tons, in orbit. After the addition of the Harmony node in October 2007, the Expedition crew’s 

pressurized living space was 15,000 cubic feet, or about the size of 

a large three-bedroom house. 

Mission STS-117

The S3/S4 truss segment was delivered to the space station on 

mission STS-117 in June 2007, marking the first construction on 

the starboard side of the station’s integrated truss structure since 

2002. The truss weighed 17.5 tons, giving it the distinction of being 

the heaviest single element delivered to the complex orbiting outpost. When station assembly is complete, the S3/S4 truss will provide one-fourth of the combined power from the U.S. solar arrays. 

The truss will supply the power necessary to launch space station assembly into the next major phase which includes the addition of the 

international science laboratory modules during the next two years.

Mission STS-118

Kennedy workers completed the physical integration and testing of the S5 truss segment and four orbital replacement unit integrated assemblies. These items, along with a Spacehab single cargo 

module and the external stowage platform 3, were successfully integrated and launched aboard Endeavour on mission STS-118 on 

Aug. 8, 2007.

Mission STS-120

The mission processing team completed the ground processing 

of the Harmony node and it was successfully launched and delivered to the orbiting station on Oct. 23, 2007, during the STS-120 

mission. It was permanently attached to the U.S. Destiny Laboratory and will serve as the docking station for the Japanese Aerospace 

Exploration Agency module Kibo and the European Space Agency 

module Columbus. 

Columbus module

Mission processing workers assisted 

the European Space Agency, or ESA, 

in preparing the Columbus laboratory 

module and the integrated cargo carrier containing two European payloads: 

SOLAR and EuTEF. Both experiments 

were attached to the Columbus exposed 

payload facility and are comprised of a 

variety of solar and engineering technology experiments.

Ground processing tasks included 

an element leak test of the module 

International Space Station and 

Spacecraft Processing

Members of the STS-122 crew 

look over the Columbus Research 

Laboratory in the Space Station 

Processing Facility. The Columbus 

Lab is the European Space Agency’s 

largest contribution to the construction 

of the space station and will support 

scientific and technological research in 

a microgravity environment.
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Inside the Space Station Processing 

Facility, an overhead crane lifts 

the U.S. Node 2 module, known as 

Harmony node from its stand. The 

crane was used to transfer the Italianbuilt module to the payload canister 

for delivery to Launch Pad 39A, for 

mission STS-120.

inside the Operations and Checkout Building vacuum chamber; 

and testing Columbus’ common berthing mechanism and flushing, then filling, Columbus with new water coolant. The nitrogen 

tank assembly, which is a space station orbital replacement unit, 

was loaded with high-pressure gaseous nitrogen, integrated onto its 

flight support equipment, and delivered to the Spacehab facility for 

installation onto the integrated cargo carrier. 

The space station and payload processing team assisted the ESA 

customer with troubleshooting problems, delivered both cargo elements 

and vertically installed the payload 

data grapple fixture onto a sidewall 

carrier at Launch Pad 39A.

Future 

JAXA Missions

The Japan Aerospace Exploration 

Agency, or JAXA, delivered the experiment logistics module-pressurized 

section to Kennedy in March 2007. 

After arrival, the ELM-PS underwent 

eight months of integration and testing to prepare it for flight on mission 

STS-123 aboard Endeavour, which 

launched on March 11, 2008. The 

module carried eight system, storage, 

and experiment racks to orbit for future use in the JAXA Kibo pressurized 

laboratory module.

JAXA and its contractors continued launch site preparations of the 

pressurized module for its flight on 

the STS-124 mission. In October 

2006, an end-to-end test was performed involving the transmission of 

commands from the JAXA Space Station Control Center at the Tsukuba 

Space Center in Japan to the module 

at Kennedy, and return of telemetry 

from the module to Tsukuba. The test 

served to successfully validate flight 

hardware, the control system and procedures. In January 2007, the pressurized module remote manipulator system arrived at Kennedy from Tsukuba and was installed 

onto the module. At the close of the year, final module flight configuration was under way in preparation for launch.

Canada’s Dextre robotic manipulator

The Canadian Space Agency special purpose dexterous manipulator, also called Dextre, arrived at Kennedy in June 2007. After a 
Kennedy Space Center 14 Annual Report 20

Technicians monitor the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s 

Kibo experiment logistics module pressurized section inside the 

Space Station Processing Facility. The logistics module was the 

primary payload for space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 mission.

brief period of post-delivery testing, it was 

integrated on top of a Spacelab pallet for 

flight on mission STS-123.

S6 truss segment 

As the last truss segment to fly, the S6 

will be the final addition to the space station’s power and support structure. Since 

the segment arrived at Kennedy in December 2002, the processing team has worked 

diligently to ensure the S6 is ready for 

launch. Future processing work includes 

battery replacement, installation of one of 

the solar array wings and around-the-clock 

testing of the segment’s batteries and coolant systems. The S6 truss is scheduled to be 

delivered to the station on mission STS-119 

in early 2009.

Cupola

The Cupola is currently in the Space 

Station Processing Facility high bay awaiting launch. The ultimate observation deck and control tower for robotics in space will provide astronauts with a spectacular view of the 

universe, as well as to the station through its 360-degree windows. 

When Node 3 arrives from Italy in July 2009, the Cupola will be 

joined to the node for launch in mid-2010.

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Operations and Checkout Building

Construction is well under way to transform the Operations 

and Checkout Building high bay into a 

world-class Orion spacecraft assembly facility. By the end of 2007, facility system 

designs were nearly complete and the 

Lockheed Martin-led construction team 

had removed Spacelab and Apollo-era systems and begun installing new infrastructure to support future Orion factory work. 

Lockheed Martin plans to have the spacecraft clean room ready for tooling installation by November 2008. The first Orion 

flight hardware to be processed through 

the building will be the crew module hardware arriving in April 2009. 

Technicians adjust the Canadian Space 

Agency’s special purpose dexterous 

manipulator, known as Dextre, into position 

on a pallet inside the Space Station 

Processing Facility.
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STS-116 Mission Specialist 

Robert L. Curbeam Jr. 

prepares to replace a TV 

camera on the exterior of 

the International Space 

Station during the mission’s 

first spacewalk.
NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy processed 

five expendable launch vehicles and spacecraft for successful launches, while working 34 active missions and 

preparing for future launch capability by engaging with entrepreneurial launch companies. 

The program continued supporting the Constellation Program 

by providing expendable launch vehicle expertise, information and 

guidance for ground operations and requirements development. It 

also supported NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services effort by providing launch vehicle expertise in an advisory role.

In April 2007, the Launch Services Program celebrated the 50th 

successful expendable vehicle launch since taking the lead for the 

agency in 1998. Among those 50 missions were some of the nation’s 

most important scientific and planetary spacecraft that continue to 

study Earth and the solar system today.

Historic spacecraft launched by the program include the Mars 

exploration rovers, the MESSENGER spacecraft currently journeying to the planet Mercury and the Deep Impact spacecraft that 

arrived at the comet Tempel 1. The Launch Services Program also 

launched the New Horizons spacecraft on its way to Pluto, the Mars 

Reconnaissance Orbiter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration’s GOES weather satellite system and the Tracking 

and Data Relay Satellite communication series.

The program also seeks to inspire and motivate the next generation of scientists, engineers and space explorers. During fiscal year 

2007, more than 100 schools and more than 45,000 students in 28 

states and five countries received educational material on NASA’s 

robotic space exploration missions.

M

STEREO

The Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or STEREO, 

launched Oct. 25, 2006, aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. STEREO is a two-year mission of two 

nearly identical observatories: one ahead of Earth in its orbit and 

the other trailing behind to provide 3-D measurements of the sun 

and its flow of energy. The information gathered by these observatories will enable scientists to study the nature of coronal mass 

ejections and help understand why they happen. 

THEMIS

The Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during 

Substorms, or THEMIS, spacecraft launched aboard a Delta II on 

Feb. 17, 2007, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. THEMIS 

is a two-year mission that uses five identical microspacecraft, or 

probes, to track the colorful, “dancing” lights in Earth’s upper atmosphere. These eruptions are linked to energy releases in Earth’s 

magnetosphere called substorms. THEMIS’ five probes, aligned 

Kennedy Space Center Annual Report 20

The Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or STEREO, was 

processed at Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla. STEREO 

is two observatories and is the first mission to take measurements 

of the sun and solar wind in 3-D.

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Launch Services Program
At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, clouds of smoke formed 

around the Delta II rocket with NASA’s THEMIS spacecraft aboard 

as it lifted off Pad 17-B on Feb. 17, 2007, at 6:01 p.m. EDT.
Kennedy Space Center 18 Annual Report 20

over the North American continent, will measure three aspects of 

substorms and help scientists develop a better understanding of 

how auroral eruptions are triggered. 

AIM

NASA launched the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere, or 

AIM, satellite using a Pegasus XL launch vehicle from Vandenberg 

Air Force Base, Calif. on April 25, 2007. The satellite will orbit 

Earth for at least two years to study the highest clouds in the planet’s atmosphere which are only visible from the ground at night. 

AIM’s three instruments will provide the basis for study of longterm variability in the mesospheric climate and its relationship to 

global changes, to solve the mysteries of these clouds. The overall 

goal of the AIM experiment is to resolve why polar mesospheric 

clouds form and why they vary. 

Phoenix

The Phoenix Mars spacecraft launched Aug. 4, 2007, aboard 

a Delta II launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. 

Phoenix is the first in NASA’s Scout Program and is part of NASA’s 

Mars Exploration Program. Phoenix will land on the icy northern 

pole of Mars and explore the surface by deploying its robotic arm 

to dig trenches up to 1.6 feet deep through the 

protective top soil layer to the water-ice below, 

and bring both soil and ice to the lander-based 

instruments for scientific analysis. The results 

from the analysis of the soil and ice will help 

scientists assess whether the environment beneath the surface has ever been a favorable habitat for microbial life.

Dawn

The Dawn spacecraft launched aboard a 

Delta II on Sept. 27, 2007, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft will investigate two of the largest protoplanets in the 

main asteroid belt: Vesta and Ceres. Vesta is the 

source of 5 percent of the meteorites found on 

Earth. Ceres, like Pluto, is now classified as a 

dwarf planet and Dawn will be the first mission 

to explore this interesting class of objects. Ceres 

has a primitive surface and evidence of water 

content, which has led scientists to suspect the 

presence of frosty polar caps. Vesta’s physical 

characteristics reflect those of the inner planets, 

whereas Ceres resembles the icy moons of the 

outer planets. By comparing these two protoplanets, scientists will develop an understanding of the transition from the rocky inner to the 

icy outer regions of the solar system. Dawn will 

be the first spacecraft ever to orbit two targets 

after leaving Earth, allowing the same instruments to be used to gather comparative data on 

both protoplanets on a single voyage.

On Launch Pad 17-A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the first half of the fairing is 

moved into place around the Phoenix Mars Lander for installation.
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Launch Services Program leaders 

concentrate on launch operations in 

support of the STEREO mission.
Kennedy Space Center 20 Annual Report 20

Kennedy Space Center’s Constellation Project Office supported NASA’s Constellation Program as the agency prepared for the test flight of the Ares I-X, scheduled for 

2009. The year was filled with several exciting accomplishments as 

the team worked hard to fulfill its role in providing the nation with 

the next generation of space vehicles.

Kennedy’s Ground Operations Project continued to mature and 

make notable progress this year in establishing a capability to assemble, test, launch and recover flight vehicle components for the 

Constellation Program. The key elements associated with this capability include the following:

•	 Spacecraft processing

•	 Solid rocket processing

•	 Vertical integration

•	 Mobile launcher

•	 Launch pad

•	 Recovery and retrieval

•	 Command, control and communications

•	 Operations support

The Ground Operations Project also passed a significant milestone in May 2007 with the completion of the systems requirements review. This review was necessary to ensure that the project 

plans and requirements will meet program expectations, establish 

initial flight capability and support missions to the International 

Space Station.

In preparation for Ares I-X, the project completed the preliminary designs for modifications to a shuttle mobile launcher platform, Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay, Launch Pad 39B, 

Launch Control Center firing room and Hangar AF. The initial 

execution of these designs began when a construction contract was 

awarded to modify Firing Room 1 in June. 

Kennedy also initiated key design efforts to support the flights 

following Ares I-X. These designs included an additional VAB high 

bay, Launch Complex 39 and Multi-Payload Processing Facility 

modifications, a new mobile launcher, a launch control system, a 

vehicle motion simulator and ground support equipment. The implementation of these designs began with the initiation of the first 

phase of construction of a lightning protection system at Launch 

Pad 39B in August 2007. 

In addition to the design activities, Kennedy continued to work 

with the Crew Launch Vehicle (Ares) and Crew Exploration Vehicle (Orion) teams to refine requirements, identify vehicle interfaces, 

and support the early formulation of concepts and requirements for 

the Ares V launch vehicle, lunar lander (Altair), Mars exploration 

missions and extra-vehicular activities.

As the project continues to progress through the design and development phase of the program, Kennedy workers will continue to enthusiastically develop and procure the products and services required 

to support the Constellation Program needs, goals and objectives.

Constellation Ground Operations

An artist’s concept of Ares I-X processing inside the Vehicle 

Assembly Building.
Kennedy Space Center 21 Annual Report 20

An artist’s rendering of Ares I and Ares V, with the moon 

peeking above Earth and Mars in the distance.
Kennedy Space Center 22 Annual Report 20

Technology experts at Kennedy Space Center solved difficult problems, ensured space shuttle safety and developed techniques to support sustained moon missions.

Kennedy’s cryogenics test bed team quickly resolved critical issues related to the STS-122 space shuttle mission. Problems 

arose with Atlantis’ engine cutoff sensor and delayed the launch. 

In response, the team worked with engineers to rapidly and safely 

evaluate the performance of a connector that was thought to be 

breaking contact at cryogenic temperatures. Test bed investigations, 

in cooperation with Marshall Space Flight Center tests, traced the 

fault to a lubricant which was 

hardening at low temperatures 

and causing vibration-induced 

loss of contact. The availability 

of Kennedy’s expertise and test 

bed capabilities provided essential support in identifying 

and fixing this difficult problem, allowing the shuttle to 

safely fly again. 

Kennedy researchers continue to play a strong role in 

developing technology for the 

In-Situ Resource Utilization, 

or ISRU, program supporting 

exploration. ISRU is the technique which will enable sustained missions on the moon 

by producing needed resources 

from the lunar soil. Kennedy 

leads the oxygen production 

portion of the project and is 

developing a prototype system 

for demonstration. Due to 

Kennedy’s successful involvement, the team earned responsibility for ISRU lunar systems 

involving the development of systems for moon operations.

Using technology developed for fostering plant growth, a lightemitting diode light panel was developed at the center as well. The 

LED panel is a drop-in replacement for fluorescent light panels 

used on the International Space Station today. The advantages to 

the new panel are reduced cost and reliability. The panel will be 

flown to and evaluated on the space station in late 2008.

The center’s technology experts will continue to rely on their 

cutting-edge expertise and facilities to positively affect current and 

future programs. 

Applied Technology

A team member works in the cryogenics 

testbed to resolve critical issues.
Kennedy Space Center 23 Annual Report 20

Kennedy Space Center continued strengthening its external partnerships with space-related industry leaders, state and local economic development entities, elected officials 

and community leaders to accomplish agency and center goals. Key 

partners included the Florida governor and lieutenant governor, 

Space Florida, the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s 

Space Coast, Enterprise Florida Inc., Florida High Tech Corridor 

Council, Brevard County Commission, Florida legislature, Florida 

Congressional Delegation, chambers of commerce and various key 

civic associations local to Kennedy.

The center hosted members of Congress, state legislators, local 

elected officials and congressional and state legislative staff members 

who were on hand to learn 

about Kennedy and view expendable vehicle and space 

shuttle launches. Kennedy 

supported extensive activities to maintain and enhance 

legislative relationships with 

local, state and federal elected 

officials. Briefings were given 

to members of the Brevard 

County Commission, Florida 

legislature, Florida Governor’s 

Office and Florida congressional delegation, focusing 

on NASA’s mission and other 

initiatives involving the center. Senior management participated in events marking 

the annual Florida Space Day 

in Tallahassee. Kennedy also 

supported NASA’s Office of 

Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs in the annual 

“Days on the Hill” in Washington, D.C. 

Center leaders continued 

providing outreach to a diverse group of economic organizations. The center provided input 

to the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space 

Coast quarterly Space Committee meeting to help in prioritizing 

Brevard County’s space initiatives. A notable success was the August 2007 Supply Chain Conference, in which NASA prime contractors were brought together with third- and fourth-tier contractors interested in business opportunities. The center was active with 

the Brevard Workforce Development Board as a member of the 

Aerospace Career Development Committee that provides input on 

work force transition tools.

Kennedy’s partnerships with charitable organizations in Brevard, principally United Way of Brevard, served as a vehicle for 

employees to contribute to the healthy and growing local community, as well as numerous charities across the nation. This year’s 

theme was “Federal Hearts at Work,” and employees voluntarily 

contributed just under $431,662 in donations through the 2007 

Combined Federal Campaign.

Partnerships

Inside an orbiter processing facility, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff 

Kottcamp examines the reinforced carbon-carbon panels 

of Discovery during a tour of the center.
Kennedy Space Center 24 Annual Report 20

The Kennedy Space Center work force is successfully reducing its carbon footprint on the world, ensuring the safety of workers and preserving the historic properties unique 

to the center. 

In 2007, Kennedy workers recycled 430 tons of office paper and 

cardboard, and 1,250 tons of scrap metal. The proceeds from these 

recycling activities fund additional recycling and pollution prevention efforts, including installation of a new fence at the Kennedy 

Child Care Facility. The new fence is made of recycled content and 

will require far less maintenance than the previous wooden fence. 

Another example is the crushing of waste concrete generated from 

the demolition of unnecessary center structures. The crushed concrete will be used in an upcoming Kennedy project to repair the 

existing seawall along the NASA Causeway, thereby avoiding the 

cost of purchasing new materials and also diverting concrete from 

disposal in a landfill.

Through the use of cutting-edge cleaning methods, Kennedy’s 

environmental specialists saved the government more than $6 million during a clean-up project. Based on current knowledge and 

technology, workers identified and removed soil contaminates from 

15,000 cubic yards of center property. A chemical was used to stabilize the soil, and the renewed site will be available for recreational 

use by employees. 

An alternative waste management process, which protects workers as well as the environment, was also implemented at the center. The process provides a method to manage inorganic zinc paint 

wastes, which ensures worker safety by allowing the material to 

safely dry prior to disposal. Environmental regulations require such 

wastes to be completely containerized before disposal, but the paint 

wastes continue to undergo chemical reactions and release gases 

that can cause closed containers to explode. Therefore, Kennedy 

experts developed the safe process, and the Florida Department of 

Environmental Protection approved it for limited use at the center. 

Kennedy leaders are working with the department to expand the 

use of this process at the center to obtain the maximum worker 

and environmental benefits offered by this unique management 

process. 

Kennedy workers also led an agency-wide effort to identify criteria to define the historic value of shuttle-related property. NASA 

staff will use the specific standards to determine which of these 

properties should be managed as historic ones. Developing these 

criteria well before the retirement of the Space Shuttle Program 

will speed up transition efforts and ensure consistent protection 

and management of historic properties that exemplify significant 

achievements of the program.

Environmental Leadership

This young alligator climbs on the railroad tracks where a train carrying solid rocket 

booster motor segments was approaching Kennedy Space Center.
Kennedy Space Center 25 Annual Report 20

Whether they were looking toward the airways to see 

rockets, watching TV broadcasts, visiting interactive 

NASA Web pages or meeting employees who work in 

a true space-age setting, everyone from children to retirees got a 

better understanding of NASA’s impact on the world during the 

fiscal year. 

KSC Visitor Complex 

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex effectively spread 

NASA’s message to more than 1.5 million guests from across the 

globe. Attendance for 2007 grew 9.3 percent over the previous year 

due to the opening of the highly anticipated Shuttle Launch Experience mid-year. This new attraction effectively immerses guests 

in the sights, sounds, feelings and excitement of a simulated space 

shuttle launch with educational pre- and post-show elements. 

Actual launch viewings from the Space Coast continued to draw 

enthusiastic tourists and residents from the central Florida marketplace to Kennedy. The Visitor Complex hosted thousands of guests 

for three space shuttle and three expendable launch vehicle missions 

that began with liftoffs from the spaceport during the fiscal year. 

Several other construction projects also improved the Visitor 

Complex’s guest experience. The central plaza was refurbished for 

better appearance, safety and flow for foot traffic. New weather 

protection was added, along with a large NASA logo for photo opportunities and reader boards that enable current events and messages to be prominently displayed. The bus boarding-loop received 

a total renovation, which improves safety and loading efficiency. 

A new Constellation Program-themed children’s playground was 

built for the younger audience to enjoy, along with a one-of-a-kind 

floating granite ball showcasing our constellation, a hugely popular 

bonus for the guests. The NASA and concessioner team continue 

to evaluate, refine and invigorate the guest experience through a 

10-year master development plan. 

The Orlando International Airport retail stores continued to 

thrive, providing exposure to NASA and offering space-related 

products to millions of travelers commuting through one of the 

top-10 busiest airports in the country. Additionally, the complex’s 

educational programs maintained great success toward educating 

and inspiring the next generation of explorers. Overall, 88,000 

students participated in programs including Camp KSC, Overnight Adventures, the Astronaut Training Experience and student 

fieldtrips. Included was the continued partnership with Brevard 

Schools hosting more than 11,000 sixth- and seventh-grade students through the formal curriculum developed for two programs: 

Outreach to the World

A videographer 

takes footage 

of the center 

following recent 

high definition 

television 

upgrades.
Kennedy Space Center 26 Annual Report 20

Brevard Space Week and Brevard Learns About Science and Technology. The Visitor Complex sponsored the 2007 Florida Association of Science and Teachers conference, hosting more than 350 

science teachers from around the state. Additionally, the complex 

participated in NASA’s education conference and tours for educators from across the country during the STS-118 mission activities. 

Payload Specialist Barbara Morgan’s involvement added to the excitement. Morgan, an educator-astronaut, traveled to space as part 

of the mission’s crew.

Special events continued to be an effective way to reach thousands of people with the NASA story. Highlights this year included 

the induction of the fifth class of space shuttle astronauts to the 

U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and weeklong festivities to celebrate 

the grand opening of the Shuttle Launch Experience. This included 

40 veteran astronauts who were the first riders of the new attraction and two concert nights with the highly acclaimed Mannheim 

Steamroller band. Netflix and the Visitor Complex partnered for a 

Bruce Willis concert and a special showing of the movie “Armageddon” in the Rocket Garden, followed by the first Visitor Complex 

Fall Concert Series. Most notable is the World Space Expo event 

which featured the first aerial demonstration over Kennedy in 30 

years. The expo was coupled with an evening gala commemorating Project Mecury’s 45th anniversary, special exhibits including 

a Vostok capsule, and special educational programs that reached 

more than 3,500 Florida students and Girl Scouts. Soaring through 

the Kennedy airspace for three days were the world-renowned U.S. 

Air Force Thunderbirds, as well as the F-22 Raptor and F-15 Strike 

Eagle, the U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet, U.S. Army Golden 

Knights, and a 920th Rescue Wing astronaut recovery demonstration. Thousands of Kennedy employees joined a multitude of central Florida residents and tourists to enjoy this unique event.

2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the Visitor Complex which 

was successfully developed, operated and maintained with non-appropriated funds. Unlike many museums around the country who 

do receive tax payer funding, the Visitor Complex is a self-supporting entity funded solely through admission, retail and food sales.

Guest Operations 

Kennedy’s Guest Operations staff enabled more than 17,000 

guests of NASA and its center partners to participate in behindthe-scenes Kennedy tours, including educational briefings provided 

by center engineers and operational experts. Additionally, the center hosted thousands of the agency’s invited guests to participate 

in launch briefings and up-close viewing opportunities for three 

NASA space shuttle and three expendable launch vehicle liftoffs. 

Guests included members of Congress, business and agency leaders, astronaut families, medical and legal professionals, veterans, 

teachers, students and the public. 

Exhibits

Kennedy’s Display Management Team and Integrated Display 

Staff supported 25 events, both locally and nationally reaching out 

to about 530,000 people. Most events were held in the southeast 

region of the U.S., particularly in Florida, extending from as far 

south as Miami to north as Tallahassee. Types of events ranged from 

air shows to technical conferences. The program also supported 

some national events with other NASA centers including NASA 

Headquarters. The majority of events were open to the public, with 

Former astronauts enjoy the newest Visitor Complex attraction, the Shuttle Launch Experience. It includes a simulated launch with the sights, 

sounds and sensations of launching into space.
Kennedy Space Center 27 Annual Report 20

several focused on minority groups such as African-Americans, 

Puerto Ricans and Hispanics, as well as student groups, scientific/

technical groups and the government. 

Exhibits included an astronaut mannequin photo opportunity, 

and interpretive displays of NASA programs including the Space 

Shuttle, International Space Station, Launch Services, and Constellation programs. Displays and handout materials featured the 

benefits of space, spin-offs and NASA’s mission.

Speakers Bureau

The Speakers Bureau reached more than 45,000 people at 151 

events during 2007, including two international (Mexico and Columbia) and four national events (three in Georgia and one in New 

York). There were 47 Speaker’s Bureau events in Brevard County 

and 98 held elsewhere in Florida. A variety of Kennedy speakers 

participated, along with NASA astronauts. The group also used the 

Delaware North Spaceman for three events. 

Using resources such as new presentations on NASA’s Constellation Program, and several other updated presentations, Kennedy 

speakers brought the NASA message to educators, scientists, government representatives, special interest groups, industry officials 

and others throughout the world.

Speakers presented to library, university and retirement community groups, women leadership programs, girls in math and science 

programs, minority groups, engineering and science organizations, 

aerospace groups, education and business conferences, church and 

scouting groups and numerous corporations. 

Kennedy Web site 

As the public turns to the Internet for direct access to news, the 

worldwide audience of the Kennedy Web site continues to keep the 

Kennedy pages ranked in the NASA top-10 among the more than 

one million pages of NASA.gov. The center’s home page had more 

than 6.35 million visits this fiscal 

year. In addition to products like 

feature stories, videos and podcasts, the Web team added highdefinition videos in Quicktime 

format for all shuttle launches. 

The live “Ask the Astronaut” 

webcasts for each shuttle mission 

remained a favorite, as astronaut 

guests conducted show-and-tell 

segments and answered questions submitted by the public from 

across the globe. Interactive Flash-based products gave the Web 

audience a chance to build a rocket, test their knowledge, and 

take a look inside the Space Station Processing Facility to see the 

station components being prepared for launch.

During the year, the Web team covered the liftoff of four expendable launch vehicles, including the high-profile Phoenix Mars 

mission, and three space shuttle launches and landings. In addition 

to Web site updates, features and videos leading up to launch day, 

the NASA launch blog provides minute-by-minute account of each 

countdown, keeping the Internet audience engaged in the excitement of the launch process. The blogs drew more than 129,000 

visits for the STS-117 launch, about 83,520 for the STS-118 liftoff 

and nearly 77,560 for the STS-120 launch. 

The Kennedy Web content kept the space shuttle and space station program developments prominently featured for the public, 

while beginning to build interest in Constellation’s next generation 

of launch vehicles and the changes already under way at Kennedy 

to support the new program. 

Media Services

The Media Services Division at Kennedy’s NASA News Center 

increased public awareness and support of space programs by interfacing with the world’s media and public audience through a wide 

variety of avenues. This included a television affiliate for NASA TV 

broadcasting all NASA launches, a Web operation which included 

live webcasts and received nearly 396,000 hits on its Multimedia 

Gallery, television streams and on-demand videos, and a full-service 

Public Affairs Office catering to all forms of professional journalists. Furthermore, more than 170,000 multimedia products were 

produced, including fact sheets, news releases, video news releases, 

live and radio phone-in interviews, still photographs, video footage, 

tapes, CDs and DVDs.

The closeout crew helps STS-118 

Mission Specialists Barbara 

Morgan, left, and Tracy Caldwell, 

prepare to enter space shuttle 

Endeavour. As an educator astronaut, Morgan’s participation in the 

mission fueled excitement for local 

residents, tourists and educators.
Kennedy Space Center 28 Annual Report 20

Through its innovative learning opportunities for educators and students, Kennedy Space Center’s Education Programs and University Research Division enjoyed highflying success this year. 

NASA’s education program celebrated when Payload Specialist 

Barbara Morgan traveled to space as part of the STS-118 crew. As 

an educator-astronaut, Morgan helped develop several successful 

education projects built around the flight. Kennedy also hosted the 

agency-wide “Innovative Strategies for Cultivating the STEM Work 

Force” conference, which included panelists and speakers from academia, government and industry, and encouraged developing the 

nation’s future technical work force. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Kennedy’s Deputy Director 

Janet Petro explained the important roles teachers play for the future work force, and representatives attended from The National 

Academies, Google, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, many 

universities and informal education agencies. 

Agency-wide Project Management

In 2007, NASA Headquarters selected Kennedy to manage 

several agency-wide projects, including the Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research and Education Experience, known 

as INSPIRE. INSPIRE provides students 

from ninth grade through the freshman 

year of college, and their parents, an online community, as well as opportunities 

to compete for the chance to participate 

in hands-on research experiences during 

the summer months at a NASA center. 

INSPIRE will provide students opportunities to explore STEM careers and to be 

better prepared for the rigors of college. In 

addition, INSPIRE will be developing and 

supporting NASA’s future aerospace work 

force needs. 

Kennedy was also assigned to manage the agency-wide Minority University 

Research and Education Program’s small 

programs project, too. Included in the effort is the Pre-Service Teacher Conference, 

which provides opportunities to enhance 

knowledge and skill for teaching mathematics and science. Another facet is the 

“Achieving Competence in Computing, Engineering and Space 

Science” program, which provides a 10-week paid internship at 

NASA centers for undergraduate and disabled graduate students 

who have strong backgrounds in science. 

Kennedy also was selected to co-lead the agency project Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology, also known as 

MUST. Each year, the project supports approximately 100 undergraduate students with a one-year competitive scholarship of up 

to half of tuition, not to exceed $10,000. Students meeting the 

required grade point average are eligible for a paid internship at a 

NASA center or other research facility. Additionally, students will 

benefit year-round from tutoring, lecture series and mentoring. 

MUST is open to all U.S. students and is particularly focused on 

engaging students from underserved and underrepresented groups 

to enter STEM fields. 

K-12

NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate partners with 

Kennedy on teacher professional development and student workshops through the NASA Education Exploration Team. Operated 

by the University of Central Florida and the Florida Space Grant 

Education

During a visit by an aerospace specialist, pre-kindergarten students learned about the solar 

system. Here, they are demonstrating Earth’s rotation and the role that plays on day and night.
Kennedy Space Center 29 Annual Report 20

Consortium, the team provides STEM-related professional development workshops for educators, hands-on classroom activities for 

students and educational information to the general public. The 

team interacted with 8,248 educators, including taking part in 

professional development workshops for 4,826 teachers. The team 

also partnered with Delaware North and Brevard County schools 

during Space Week, which welcomed Brevard’s sixth-graders to the 

center.

In 2007, at Kennedy, the NASA Explorer School program, 

which focuses on educators and students in the fourth through 

ninth grades, added three teams from Florida and Georgia for partnership. A week-long, joint orientation professional development 

experience was provided for the 20 Explorer teachers from the Kennedy and Stennis Space Center regions. Center staff also hosted a 

two-day virtual student research symposium via the Digital Learning Network for five teams from Florida, Georgia and the U.S. 

Virgin Islands.

Among the significant program accomplishments: two Explorer 

middle school experiments flew in the reduced gravity airplane; 

Collier County was selected for an International Space Station 

downlink experience; Conyers Middle School was recognized by 

the state of Georgia as a “Lighthouse School to Watch” and was 

awarded the Intel Schools of Distinction Award for excellence in 

middle-grades’ science; hundreds of students from 12 schools were 

invited to attend space shuttle launches and launch attempts.

Kennedy supported the Florida regional “For Inspiration and 

Recognition of Science and Technology” robotics competition. This 

competition was held at UCF and involved 53 teams. The center 

sponsored two teams, and Center Director Bill Parsons kicked off 

the competition.

General Electric’s Foundation College Bound District Program 

partnered with Kennedy’s NASA Education Office, through the 

NASA Education Exploration Team, for a one-day professional 

development workshop for 300 educators. The program seeks to 

increase the number of college-ready students through a rigorous 

math and science curriculum, professional development for teachers and administrators, in-depth evaluation, strengthening of a district’s management functions and the collaborative engagement of 

various districts. 

The Aerospace Education Services Project supported Kennedy’s 

region of Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, providing programs for 22,600 educators, K-12 students and family 

groups, with 2,012 workshops specifically for teachers. The specialists supported NASA Explorer Schools, the Florida Association of 

Science Teachers, Georgia Association of Science Teachers, Georgia 

Partnership for Reform in Science and Mathematics, and Kennedy 

NASA Educator Resource Center. 

Higher-Education Programs

During the summer, the center hosted more than 100 student 

interns, representing 59 different universities and 19 states. Each 

student was mentored by an employee and assigned mission-related 

projects. These opportunities afford the students chances to gain 

early insight into their chosen career areas. According to one mentor, his student’s extraordinary responsibilities resulted in a significant increase in the project’s scope and quality. 

During the fiscal year, the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Space Grant Faculty Project was initiated. Five faculty members were competitively selected and paired with two NASA centers 

to identify student internships and senior design projects relative 

to Exploration in support of the directorate’s space grant program. 

The efforts yielded an additional 128 directorate internship opportunities (a 95-percent increase) and 84 further opportunities (a 

115-percent increase) for senior design projects related to NASA 

directorate’s work. 

Minority-Focused Programs

In September, the Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering conference was held at Tennessee State University in Nashville 

with a focus on “Pathways to Stronger Partnerships.” This presented an excellent opportunity for interaction with 11 deans of 

historically black colleges and universities with accredited engineering programs, and numerous private industry representatives from 

Chrysler, The Boeing Company, General Motors, Hewlett-Packard, 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Raytheon. Kennedy education specialists also attended presentations of research projects by 

the university’s engineering students.

Electronic Education Projects

KSC’s Digital Learning Network, or DLN, connected NASA 

scientists, engineers and education specialists with teachers and 

students through interactive videoconferencing. The network interacted with 7,000 students and 2,500 educators in 35 different 

states. It delivered educational modules, community programs, 

family nights and special events, such as live space shuttle launch 

briefings.

Informal Education 

A DVD called “Launching Dreams,” which focused on mission 

STS-118 and featured an educator astronaut and several fourththrough seventh-grade students, was produced and distributed to 

museums, science centers, planetariums and schools nationwide. 

The video highlighted the crew, which included Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan, an educator astronaut, and gave the students 

the opportunity to simulate a launch countdown in a mock-firing 

room and space shuttle. 

The NASA Education Exploration Team welcomed 120 Boy 

Scout and 500 Girl Scout leaders and volunteers from central Florida as they completed the “train-the-trainer” workshop. The team 

also provided educational workshops to 401 central Florida homeschooled students, partnered with Delaware North Park Service’s 

education office, and provided workshops during the Homeschool 

Days and the “Salute to Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts” at the Visitor 

Complex. They also greeted and assisted 8,500 people who came to 

experience the Exploration Station at the Center for Space Education.
Kennedy Space Center 30 Annual Report 20

Chief Financial Officer

2007 was a successful year for the financial operation of Kennedy Space Center in many ways, including sustained budget 

growth with the evolving Constellation Program; continued improvements to the financial systems; and demonstrated progress 

toward a clean financial opinion for NASA through implementation of an improved Property, Plant and Equipment (PP&E) valuation process and establishment of an Internal Controls Office. 

All of these initiatives contributed to the efficient operation of the 

Center and achievement of the President’s Management Agenda. 

Kennedy Budget

The center budget in FY 2007 totaled $1.312 billion and nearly 

$2.3 billion when the Johnson Space Center-managed Space Program Operations Contract (SPOC) work performed at Kennedy is 

included. In addition, the center performed $121 million in reimbursable work with other commercial and government entities.

Specifically:

•	 The Space Shuttle Program executed a nearly $1.2 billion budget (including SPOC) with three successful missions during FY 

2007 and prepared for six flights scheduled in FY 2008.

•	 The FY 2007 Launch Service Program (LSP) $412 million 

budget successfully supported five launch missions as well as 

preparations and analyses for six missions manifested in FY 

2008.

•	 International Space Station $110 million budget allowed 

for fulfillment of commitments to international partners in 

completing the ISS assembly, which included the delivery and 

integration of a major structural element and additional solar 

arrays. 

•	 The FY 2007 Exploration budget of $190 million supported 

continued preparations for the ground operations, launch, 

landing and recovery of the Ares launch and the Orion crew 

exploration vehicles for the Constellation Program, and planning of ground operations and launch of the lunar lander and 

components of the lunar outpost.

•	 The Kennedy Center Management & Operations budget 

provided $322 million in FY 2007 to maintain the center’s infrastructure and business operations in support of its programs.

NASA/KSC BUDGET AUTHORITY SUMMARY

FY 2005 — FY 2007 ($ Millions)

KSC Business Report

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

($ Millions)

SPOC 1,084 1,033 983

KSC 1,250 1,114 1,312

FY2005 FY2006 FY2007

The space shuttle 

processing work is 

managed by Johnson 

Space Center 

and performed at 

Kennedy Space 

Center under the 

Space Program 

Operations Contract 

(SPOC) by United 

Space Alliance 

(USA).
Kennedy Space Center 31 Annual Report 20

Space Shuttle $194

Space Station $110

Launch Service $412

Exploration/Constellation $190

Center Management & Operations $322

Other $84

Total KSC $1,312

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FY 2007 BUDGET AUTHORITY*

($ Millions)

FY 2007 KSC Bug

Labor

$249M, 19%

Direct Travel

$7M, 1% Direct Procurement

$1,056M, 80%

* excludes the Johnson Space Center-managed SPOC (space shuttle) contract

80 percent of the Kennedy budget is spent through the purchase of goods and services 

from commercial providers. The SPOC (space shuttle) contract is excluded here. 

Its inclusion would increase the percentage of procured services to 89 percent. 
Kennedy Space Center 32 Annual Report 20

Financial Systems

Continuing to centralize and improve NASA’s financial management, Kennedy implemented two new modules under the Integrated Enterprise Management Program (IEMP) in 2007, and 

developed two others for 2008 operations. 

The SAP Version Update (SVU) is an upgrade to the current 

SAP-developed core financial system which enhances and improves 

the processes and functionality of the current system. The center 

implemented this significant system change without incident, becoming fully operational within five days of the start of the new 

fiscal year. 

The Contract Management Module (CMM) was implemented 

in conjunction with the SVU upgrade at the beginning of FY 2007. 

CMM, an initiative led by Kennedy’s Procurement Office, provides 

a new tool to support contract writing, contract administration, 

procurement workload management, and data reporting to facilitate and expedite the NASA procurement processes. 

Preparations for the 2008 implementation of the next IEMP 

modules – eTravel and Integrated Asset Management (IAM), continued throughout 2007. eTravel is one of five eGovernment initiatives launched in response to the President’s Management Agenda, 

and will provide end-to-end travel services for government personnel. The IAM module will improve the methods and tools the 

center uses to manage, track, value and account for NASA-owned 

personal property and equipment. 

Business Development

Commercial business within the gates of Kennedy is rapidly becoming a growth industry, as businesses seek out NASA expertise 

to provide goods or services on a reimbursable basis, and the center 

attempts to make greater use of its unique, world-class facilities and 

infrastructure. In FY 2007, Kennedy had 135 active reimbursable 

agreements, which generated $120.6 million in commercial work 

for other federal and non-federal entities; 63 of those agreements 

were new in FY 2007. The most significant of these activities were 

the provision of expendable launch services to the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Defense. 

Kennedy’s legal authority to execute enhanced use leases encompasses 10 active agreements for media organizations at the 

press site and communication towers. Following the success of a 

pilot program, Kennedy renewed its commercial partnerships with 

Zero-Gravity Corporation and two auto racing teams for utilization of the Shuttle Landing Facility, with great potential for additional customers in 2008. Through the efforts of Kennedy’s state 

partner, Space Florida, Lockheed Martin Corp. agreed to conduct 

manufacturing of the Orion spacecraft at Kennedy. This major economic success employed 100 people by the end of FY 2007 to make 

modifications to the Operations and Checkout Building. It is anticipated that more than 300 will be employed in this non-traditional 

manufacturing activity at Kennedy by mid-2009. Space Florida has 

an aggressive agenda to soften the impact of the retirement of the 

Space Shuttle Program on the area, which includes seeking lunar 

lander manufacturing work at Kennedy and re-exploring the development of Exploration Park within Kennedy boundaries. The 

center continues to seek opportunities to assist the Commercial 

Orbital Transportation Services program, and currently supports 

the SpaceX, Falcon 9 launch site development on Launch Complex 

40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

The center, together with state of Florida partners, continues 

to seek out and secure commercial and business arrangements as a 

permanent part of the future state of Kennedy. Increased commercial and enhanced use lease opportunities for the center could be of 

great future value to Kennedy, creating a revenue stream to help offset center operating costs, maintain a skilled workforce, and make 

center investments, which would further commercial cooperation.

To fulfill its mission, NASA and its contractors require a range of 

goods and services, both technical and non-technical, ranging from 

expendable launch vehicles, propellants and computer systems, to 

motor vehicles, office supplies and tools. In meeting NASA’s demand, local contractors employ workers, produce products, fund 

payrolls and generate output. These workers and contractors generate additional impacts as they spend their incomes and place orders 

with other local or regional firms for materials and services. Salaries 

paid to employees create and generate business for the communities 

where they live. In addition, further economic activity is generated 

through visitors to the KSC Visitor Complex and business travel 

to the region. Each round of spending recirculates NASA’s initial 

demand among Florida’s businesses and households, multiplying 

the direct impact on the economy.

Kennedy annually conducts an economic impact analysis to 

measure NASA’s effect on the economy at the local, regional and 

state levels. The assessment found that in FY 2007, of the $16.3 

billion NASA budget, Kennedy and other NASA centers injected 

$1.1 billion in wages and $700 million in purchases into the local 

and state economies of Florida, which induced a total economic 

impact of $4 billion and 35,960 jobs in the state of Florida. The 

report concludes that every space-related job and each NASA dollar spent within the state is multiplied throughout the economy, 

resulting in more than double the overall economic benefit. Kennedy remains by far the major economic driver in Brevard County 

and a significant contributor to the economic health of the state of 

Florida.

Economic Impact
Kennedy Space Center 33 Annual Report 20

fy 200

i

4,500

4,000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

Output, Income & Taxes in millions of 2007 $

Employment

35,960

31,535

35,029

Output

Area of Economic Impact

Brevard County

Central Florida Region

State of Florida

State of Florida

Central Florida Region

Brevard County

29,000 30,000 31,000 32,000 33,000 34,000 35,000 36,000 37,000

Millions of 2007 $

Output

3,271

3,867

4,006

Income

1,636

1,961

1,983

Federal Taxes

141

200

206

State & Local Taxes

66

85

91

Income Federal Taxes State & Local

Taxes

Brevard County Central Florida State of Florida

For every job at Kennedy, an additional 1.49 jobs are created elsewhere within the state of Florida, 

each dollar of wages was multiplied into $1.82 in total income and each dollar of total direct spending 

for commodity purchases and wage payments was multiplied into $2.22 of output production.

In FY 2007 the total economic impact of 

NASA in Florida was:

• $4 billion in output

• $2 billion in household income

• 35,960 jobs

• $206 million in federal taxes

• $91 million in state and local taxes

The vast majority was in central Florida
Kennedy Space Center 34 Annual Report 20

Kennedy Space Center is the most broadly based, complex and 

successful launch center in the world. Both NASA and contractor 

personnel working at the center are essential to the success of Kennedy.

The work force is a diverse group of people dedicated to supporting the nation’s space program and NASA’s exploration mission. To accomplish the various missions expected of the space center, these individuals fulfill a multitude of tasks.

At the end of each year, the center takes a “snapshot” of its work 

force. This picture includes all federal and contract employees chartered to work for Kennedy. Other organizations, such as international partners and Patrick Air Force Base, have roles here but are 

not reflected in these numbers.

As of Sept. 30, 2007, the total Kennedy population was 14,950. 

This includes 2,197 full-time and other-than-full-time NASA civil 

servants including students and 10,937 total on-site and near-site 

contractor employees. The civil servant skill mix includes scientific 

and engineering, administrative, technical, and clerical workers. 

There are 602 construction employees, and 1,214 tenants at the 

center.

Total Civil Servants 2,197

Civil Servant Skill Mix

Scientific & Engineering 62%

Administration 27%

Technical 7%

Clerical 4%

On-Site Contractor Employees 10,235

Off/Near-Site Contractor Employees 702

Total Contractor Employees 10,937

Total Construction Employees 602

Total Tenants 1,214

TOTAL KSC POPULATION 14,950

* Includes students

*

*

*

*

kne

(through 9/30/07)

Work Force Diversity
Kennedy Space Center 35 Annual Report 20

Industry Partners at a Glance

The companies listed below were Kennedy’s top support contractors or launch services contractors in terms of dollars obligated 

in FY 2007. Following is a brief description of their work for the 

agency:

Space Gateway Support (SGS)

SGS, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman Corp. and Wackenhut, provides base operations support for Kennedy and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. SGS is responsible for such activities as 

roads and grounds maintenance, facilities maintenance, custodial, 

fire, security, calibrations and propellants handling.

The Boeing Company

Boeing Space Operations Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary 

of The Boeing Company, is the prime contractor for the Checkout, 

Assembly and Payload Processing Services (CAPPS) contract. Its 

primary purpose is to support payload processing for the International Space Station, space shuttle, and expendable launch vehicles. 

Boeing performs all aspects of payload processing, including the 

planning and receiving of payloads, maintenance of associated payload ground systems, integration of payloads with the space shuttle, 

launch support and space shuttle post-landing payload activities.

InDyne, Inc.

InDyne, Inc. provides communication services under the Kennedy Space Center Integrated Communications Contract (KICS) 

supporting the space shuttle, payload carriers and launch services, 

and the International Space Station. InDyne provides hardware and 

software integration and development for voice, video and data communications. InDyne also provides motion picture, still photographic, digital and video products and services for NASA, commercial 

expendable launch vehicle (ELV) and Department of Defense customers, and the operation, administration and maintenance of the 

administrative telephone system in support of all KSC employees. 

Analex, Corp.

Analex is the prime contractor on the ELV integrated support 

contract. The contractor is responsible for performing and integrating the overall programmatic ELV business and administrative functions, including program/project planning, risk management, evaluation and information technology. Services provided include the 

management, operation, maintenance and sustaining engineering 

of the NASA ELV communications and telemetry stations located 

at CCAFS and Vandenberg Air Force Base; engineering services/

studies and technical services for various ground/flight ELV systems, 

missions and payloads. Analex also provides management, operation, maintenance and sustaining engineering of assigned NASA facilities, systems and equipment at VAFB.

Artic Slope Research Corporation (ASRC) Aerospace

ASRC Aerospace provides research and engineering services 

and technical support to the Kennedy Spaceport Engineering and 

Technology organization and other center operational customers. 

The support ranges in scope from providing research, engineering 

development, and management of complex research and development and technology projects, to engineering and technical support of various KSC laboratories and test beds. ASRC Aerospace 

utilizes a consortium of affiliated universities in performing applied 

research and technology development efforts. ASRC Aerospace also 

provides technology outreach to foster awareness and utilization of 

Kennedy’s unique capabilities.

Dynamac Corp.

The Life Sciences Services Contract provides a broad range of 

life sciences services to NASA. These include medical operations 

for shuttle and station programs, environmental compliance and 

stewardship, life sciences payload operations, support to the agency’s Occupational Health Program, biological science, life sciences 

payload development, work force protection, fitness and musculoskeletal rehabilitation and education outreach.

The Boeing Company

Delta Launch Services, Inc. provides the agency launch services 

using its Delta II vehicle. Boeing is the contractor for one of three 

existing NASA launch services multiple award Indefinite Delivery 

Quantity task order contracts. Principal location for the Delta II 

vehicle assembly is Decatur, Ala. The Delta II vehicles launch from 

CCAFS and VAFB.

Lockheed Martin Corp.

Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services provides the 

agency launch services using its Atlas vehicle. Lockheed is the contractor for one of three existing NASA Launch Services multiple 

award Indefinite Delivery Quantity task order contracts. Principal 

location for the Atlas vehicle assembly is Denver, Colo. The Atlas 

vehicles launch from CCAFS and VAFB.

Lockheed Martin Information Technology performs the Outsourcing Desktop Initiative (ODIN) for NASA. Lockheed became 

the prime contractor after acquiring the OAO Corp. which was 

performing the contract. The ODIN contract is an agency-wide 

long-term outsourcing arrangement which transfers the responsibility and risk for providing and managing the vast majority of 

NASA’s desktop, server and intra-center communications assets 

and services. Such services include desktops, servers, mobile BlackBerry devices, WebEx web conferencing, Kennedy Unified Dialup 

Access (KUDA) and e-mail.

Procurement Report
Kennedy Space Center 36 Annual Report 20

Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC)

Orbital Sciences Corp. provides the agency launch services using 

its Pegasus and Taurus small expendable launch vehicles launched 

from CCAFS, VAFB, Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, and equatorial launch ranges. OSC is the contractor for one of three existing 

NASA Launch Services multiple award Indefinite Delivery Quantity task order contracts. Additionally, OSC provides Pegasus and 

Taurus vehicles to the agency under a second contract, the Small 

Expendable Launch Vehicle contract.

United Space Alliance (US

Under a Johnson Space Center contract, USA is the prime contractor for the Space Flight Operations Contract. USA’s primary 

purpose is to ensure mission success for the Space Shuttle Program. 

Kennedy is the primary point of responsibility for launch and landing of the space shuttle. USA supports ground operations and orbiter logistics elements of the Space Shuttle Program at Kennedy.

Large Business Contractors

Small Business Contractors

fy 200

l

Kennedy obligated 22.01 percent of its dollars directly to small businesses during 

FY 2007, which represents a nearly 3 percent increase over FY 2006.

77.99%

22.01%
Kennedy Space Center 37 Annual Report 20

YOUR PROCUREMENT DOLLARS AT WOR

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION BY STATE

(FISCAL YEAR 2007 OBLIGATIONS)

STATE TOTAL DOLLARS

ALABAMA 317,822.23

ARIZONA 41,378,955.26

ARKANSAS 52,404.40

CALIFORNIA 4,963,888.04

COLORADO 1,130,705.11

CONNECTICUT 10,013,215.16

DELAWARE 825,162.9

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 213,411.20

FLORIDA 953,696,316.37

GEORGIA 92,363.58

ILLINOIS 421,828.69

INDIANA 21,005.13

IOWA 46,049.2

KENTUCKY 169,341.64

MAINE 3,300.00

MARYLAND 1,933,980.79

MASSACHUSETTS 3,408,973.51

MICHIGAN 1,254,733.74

MINNESOTA 860,056.30

MISSISSIPPI 12,544,952.04

MISSOURI 253,214.36

STATE TOTAL DOLLARS

NEVADA 26,600.00

NEW HAMPSHIRE 278,612.2

NEW JERSEY 156,604.6

NEW MEXICO 141.801.6

NEW YORK 520,308.8

NORTH CAROLINA 55,608.53

NORTH DAKOTA 21,902.60

OHIO 1,341,687.10

OKLAHOMA 569,547.02

OREGON 82,427.37

PENNSYLVANIA 637,690.34

RHODE ISLAND 65,190.00

SOUTH CAROLINA 26,561.11

TENNESSEE 631,930.34

TEXAS 1,348,041.25

UTAH 48,953.86

VERMONT 17,760.00

VIRGINIA 3,588,173.44

WASHINGTON 154,315.2

WISCONSIN 1,408,338.6

TOTAL 1,049,374,125.97
Kennedy Space Center 38 Annual Report 20

Space Gateway Support 1

Delta Launch Services In

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION 2 111,611,177.00

THE BOEING COMPANY 2 97,239,979.00

ASRC AEROSPACE CORPORATION 1 58,484,945.00

INDYNE INCORPORATED 1 53,916,402.12

ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION 2 41,238,549.00

ANALEX CORPORATION 1 33,892,611.88

IVEYS CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED 3 28,071,474.00

OAO CORPORATION 3 21,402,856.33

DYNAMAC CORPORATION 1 14,160,785.80

REYNOLDS SMITH AND HILLS INCORPORATED 2 10,588,450.00

SPEEGLE CONSTRUCTION II INCORPORATED 1 9,274,881.69

AIR LIQUIDE LARGE INDUSTRIES US LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1 8,724,523.92

ASTROTECH SPACE OPERATIONS INCORPORATED 3 7,207,912.07

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INCORPORATED 3 6,894,615.24

PRAXAIR INCORPORATED 12 6,534,418.00

CANAVERAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCORPORATED 3 5,474,615.00

RUSH CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED 7 4,691,799.00

SAUER INCORPORATED 8 3,539,532.50

CENDANT MOBILITY SERVICES CORP 1 3,523,881.04

BRPH ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS INCORPORATED 6 3,032,679.00

C AND C INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER AND CONSULTANTS INC. 2 2,592,225.00

JONES EDMUNDS AND ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED 36 2,571,725.00

INTERCONN RESOURCES INC 1 2,412,136.00

TOTAL 104 983,652,778.81

Contractor Number of Dollars

Contracts/Orders

TOP 25 KSC BUSINESS CONTRACTORS

FOR FY 2007
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899

www.nasa.gov

NP-2008-03-048-KSC