KENNEDY SPACE 

CENTER’S

ANNUAL 

REPORT

FY2008

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Table of Contents

3 Center Director’s Message

4 Significant Events

8 Launch Vehicle Processing

12 International Space Station 

& Spacecraft Processing

16 Launch Services Program

20 Constellation Ground Operations

22 Applied Technology

23 Engineering Achievements

24 Partnerships

25 Institutional Contract Transition

26 Environmental Leadership

28 Education

32 Outreach to the World

36 Kennedy Business Report

CFO Report

Economic Impact

Work Force Diversity 

Procurement Report
Clouds of smoke and steam billow across Launch 

Pad 39A as space shuttle Endeavour launched on the 

STS-123 mission March 11, 2008, at 2:28 a.m. EDT. 

Endeavour’s crew made a record-breaking 16-day 

mission to the International Space Station.
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During 2008, NASA celebrated its 50th anniversary and 

Kennedy Space Center continued its legacy of being the premier, world-class rocket launching center for humans and payloads. Kennedy remained focused on processing and launching 

Space Shuttle missions and working toward completing construction of the International Space Station. This was accomplished while also processing and launching vehicles through 

the Launch Services Program and moving forward with the 

Constellation Program. 

The Kennedy team worked diligently throughout the year to 

meet our commitment to NASA, launching four Shuttle missions and two expendable launch vehicles. In 2008, the face of 

Kennedy showed signs of change in preparation for the Constellation Program. In the true spirit of exploration, Kennedy is 

forging ahead in preparations for humans to once again explore 

beyond low Earth orbit. 

Kennedy was active with “green” initiatives and engineering and applied technology efforts. The Center also worked to 

strengthen existing partnerships and form new ones. 

These are just a few of the activities that Kennedy was involved in over the past year. NASA’s core values of safety, teamwork, integrity, and excellence are evident throughout the accomplishments at Kennedy. We have a tremendous work force, 

and the employees are the real resource at the Center. I invite 

you to take time to read more about the team’s achievements 

over the past year.

Center Director’s Message

Robert D. Cabana
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Significant Events

1. Discovery Launch

Oct. 23, 2007

Space shuttle Discovery and its sevenmember crew launched from Kennedy’s 

Launch Pad 39A at 11:38 a.m. EDT, 

on mission STS-120. During the 

15-day mission, the crew delivered and 

attached NASA’s Harmony node to the 

International Space Station, and relocated 

the station’s P6 truss.

4. “Green” energy agreement with FPL

Dec. 13, 2007

Kennedy Space Center and Florida Power 

and Light teamed up to explore renewable 

energy projects. Managers signed a 

memorandum of understanding that 

established the framework for determining 

how technically and financially possible 

it would be to carry out various “green” 

power plants.

3. Discovery Landing

Nov. 7, 2007

Space shuttle Discovery and 

its STS-120 crew landed at 

Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing 

Facility at 1:01 p.m. EST, 

after completing a journey of 

more than 6.2 million miles 

in space.

2. SpaceX breaks ground at CCAFS 

Nov. 2, 2007

Space Exploration Technologies 

Corp., or SpaceX, broke ground 

at Launch Complex 40 to build 

new commercial launch facilities at 

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 

in Florida. The launch complex 

previously was used for Titan IV 

launches.
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Significant Events

5. Kennedy hosts international ambassadors

Jan. 31, 2008

NASA and the U.S. Department of State 

welcomed ambassadors from more than 

45 countries to Kennedy. Dignitaries were 

given an overview of the United States’ space 

exploration programs and toured various 

facilities at the center.

6. Atlantis Launch

Feb. 7, 2008

Space shuttle Atlantis and its 

seven-member crew lifted off 

from Kennedy’s Launch Pad 

39A at 2:45 p.m. EST, to begin 

the STS-122 mission to the 

International Space Station. 

During the 13-day flight, the 

crew installed the European 

Space Agency’s Columbus science 

laboratory to the station.

7. Atlantis Landing

Feb. 20, 2008

Space shuttle Atlantis 

and its STS-122 

crew landed at 

9:07 a.m. EST, at 

Kennedy’s Shuttle 

Landing Facility, after 

completing a journey 

of nearly 5.3 million 

miles in space.

8. Endeavour Launch

March 11, 2008

Space shuttle Endeavour began its 

STS-123 mission to the International 

Space Station by launching at 2:28 a.m. 

EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39A. 

During the 16-day flight, the seven crew 

members installed the first section of the 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s 

Kibo module and the Canadian Space 

Agency’s two-armed robotic system, 

known as Dextre.

9. Endeavour Landing

March 26, 2008

Space shuttle Endeavour and its 

STS-123 crew landed safely at 8:39 

p.m. EDT, at Kennedy’s Shuttle 

Landing Facility, after completing a 

journey of nearly 6.6 million miles 

in space. STS-123 was the longest 

shuttle mission to the International 

Space Station and included a record 

five spacewalks.
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Significant Events

10. Renewed partnership with EDC 

May 2, 2008

Kennedy signed a Space Act 

Agreement and renewed its partnership 

with the Economic Development 

Commission of Florida’s Space Coast 

to strengthen, retain and expand 

Brevard County as the prime location 

for the aerospace industry.

12. Work force agreement

May 27, 2008

Kennedy signed the center’s first 

Space Act Agreement with the 

Brevard Workforce Development 

Board to help support existing and 

future missions at the space center.

14. GLAST Launch

June 11, 2008

NASA’s Gamma-ray Large Area Space 

Telescope, or GLAST, launched 

aboard a Delta II expendable launch 

vehicle from Launch Complex 

17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Station in Florida, at 12:05 p.m. 

EDT. GLAST is a powerful space 

observatory exploring the universe’s 

ultimate frontier and studying 

gamma-ray bursts.

11. Ares I contract awarded

May 8, 2008

Kennedy Space Center 

awarded a contract to Hensel 

Phelps Construction Co. 

of Orlando, Fla., for the 

construction of the Ares 

I mobile launcher for the 

Constellation Program. 

The launcher will be used 

in the assembly, testing and 

servicing of Ares I at existing 

Kennedy facilities.

13. Discovery Launch

May 31, 2008

Space shuttle Discovery 

and its seven-member 

crew launched on 

mission STS-124 at 

5:02 p.m. EDT, from 

Kennedy’s Launch 

Pad 39A. During the 

13-day mission, the 

crew delivered and 

installed the Japan 

Aerospace Exploration 

Agency’s Kibo 

Pressurized Module 

and Japan’s Remote 

Manipulator System to 

the International Space 

Station.
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Significant Events

16. OSTM/Jason-2 Launch

June 20, 2008

NASA’s Ocean Surface 

Topography Mission/Jason-2 

launched aboard a Delta II 

expendable launch vehicle 

from Launch Complex 2 at 

Vandenberg Air Force Base 

in California, at 12:46 a.m. 

PDT. The satellite is on a 

globe-circling voyage to 

continue charting sea levels, 

a vital indicator of global 

climate change.

18. Kennedy Contract Transition

Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2008

The Space Gateway Support 

10-year Joint Base Operations 

Services Contract ended Sept. 30. 

New contractors officially began the 

smooth transition Oct. 1, resuming 

operations and services to the 

center.

15. Discovery Landing

June 14, 2008

Space shuttle Discovery 

and its STS-124 crew 

landed at Kennedy’s 

Shuttle Landing Facility 

at 11:15 a.m. EDT, after 

completing a 13-day 

journey of more than 

5.7 million miles in 

space.

17. Tropical Storm Fay

Aug. 19, 2008

Kennedy Space Center closed because of the 

potential threat of heavy rain and high winds from 

Tropical Storm Fay. The storm made landfall along 

Florida’s southwest coast. Kennedy remained closed 

through Aug. 21 and resumed normal operations 

Aug. 22.
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Launch Vehicle Processing

Since 1981, space shuttles have soared 

through the sky above Kennedy Space 

Center amazing spectators, engineers and 

scientists alike. But without the accomplishments from the launch vehicle processing team, NASA’s three orbiter vehicles 

-- Atlantis, Discovery and Endeavour -- 

wouldn’t get off the ground.

This fiscal year included processing for 

four space shuttle launches, teamwork to 

solve engineering and technical challenges, 

major milestones and preparing Kennedy’s 

facilities for NASA’s transition to the next 

generation of space vehicles.

Mission STS-120/Discovery

Space shuttle Discovery lifted off from 

Launch Pad 39A, at 11:38 a.m. EDT on 

Oct. 23, 2007, on the 120th shuttle mission and the 23rd mission to the International Space Station. In addition to the 

planned installation of the Harmony node 

and relocation of the P6 truss, the crew 

performed a 360-degree inspection of the 

Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, or SARJ, on 

their second spacewalk. They also repaired 

a torn solar array on the mission’s fourth 

spacewalk. The crew transferred more than 

a ton of scientific samples and equipment 

before undocking and landing at Kennedy’s 

Shuttle Landing Facility, at 1:01 p.m. EST, 

on Nov. 7, 2007.

Mission STS-122/Atlantis

Originally scheduled for launch in 

December 2007, Atlantis’ engine cutoff, 

or ECO, sensor scrubbed two launch attempts and delayed the mission until February 2008. In the event of an anomaly, the 

ECO sensor tells the shuttle to safely shut 

down the main engines. A mid-December 

tanking test determined the location of the 

failure. More than 500 engineers and technicians from Kennedy and other NASA 

centers worked tirelessly through the holidays and into January 2008, to completely 

redesign, develop, test and implement a 

new feed-through connector between the 

orbiter and the external tank. Atlantis remained at Launch Pad 39A during the 

ECO sensor repair efforts. 

Atlantis launched on its STS-122 mission Feb. 7, 2008, at 2:45 p.m. EST. After 

a 13-day mission to deliver and install the 

European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station, 

Atlantis landed safely at Kennedy’s Shuttle 

Landing Facility, Feb. 20, 2008, at 9:07 

a.m. EST.

Mission STS-123/Endeavour

Space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 

mission launched March 11, 2008, at 2:28 

a.m. EDT, illuminating the early-morning 

sky on its way to the International Space 

Station. The crew of the 25th flight to the 

space station delivered the Japan Aerospace 

Exploration Agency’s first half of the Kibo 

module -- the Japanese Logistics Module 

-- to the orbiting laboratory. Endeavour’s 

crew also delivered the Canadian Space 

Agency’s Dextre robotic arm, which will be 

Release of the drag chute helps slow space shuttle Discovery as it touches down on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle 

Landing Facility at 11:15 a.m. EDT, June 14, 2008, ending the STS-124 mission.
9

used for station maintenance and service in 

conjunction with the station’s robotic arm. 

A truly international mission, STS-123 

also included work on U.S., Russian and 

European Space Agency projects. In what 

was the longest mission to the International Space Station to date, the flight was the 

first to take full advantage of the station-toshuttle power transfer capability, extending 

the mission to 16 flight days before landing 

at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility on 

March 26, 2008, at 8:39 p.m. EDT. 

Mission STS-124/Discovery

Space shuttle Discovery’s STS-124 

mission launched May 31, 2008, at 5:02 

p.m. EDT. The STS-124 mission successfully delivered the Pressurized Module and 

robotic arm of the Japanese Experiment 

Module, known as Kibo, or hope, to the 

International Space Station. It was the 

123rd shuttle mission and the 26th flight 

to the orbiting laboratory. After a 13-day 

mission, Discovery touched down at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility on June 14, 

2008, at 11:15 a.m. EDT, to begin ground 

processing toward the upcoming STS-119 

mission, targeted to launch in February 

2009.

Launch Pad 39A Flame Trench Repair

During Discovery’s liftoff on the 

STS-124 mission, more than 3,500 refractory bricks from the flame trench wall broke 

loose without warning. Analysis revealed 

that the bond between the bricks and the 

underlying concrete wall had deteriorated 

due to the acidic and high temperature 

environment. During a shuttle launch, 

temperatures in the flame trench can reach 

4,000 to 6,000 degrees F. Kennedy engineers and technicians worked through the 

summer to repair the flame trench in time 

for the STS-125 mission, which was scheduled for early October.

Ares I-X Flight Test

The Ares I-X flight test is now within 

reach for Kennedy employees with the arrival of flight hardware from other NASA 

centers in 2008. Some extensive modifications took place in the Vehicle Assembly 

Building, or VAB, to prepare for the processing of this hardware.

Ares I-X VAB Modifications

The largest facility modification to date 

took place in the largest facility on Kennedy Space Center. Technicians removed 

Platform C from VAB High Bay 3 on 

June 26. Removal of the platform cleared 

the way for Ares I-X upper stage simulator segments. Originally scheduled to be 

removed in September 2008, the Constellation Program accelerated the move 

to take advantage of an earlier window in 

the shuttle processing schedule. At 70 feet 

wide by 45 feet deep and 50 feet tall, the 

platform weighed nearly 200 tons. Using 

the 325-ton VAB crane, the platform was 

lowered onto special powered transporters 

and moved out of the building through the 

north doors, where it was demolished and 

sold for scrap.

Continuing Improvements

Though NASA’s Space Shuttle Program 

is more than 25 years old and nearing retirement, the team continues to refine the proAt Launch Pad 39A, workers fill steel grid 

structures welded to the wall of the flame 

trench, with a heat-resistant concrete called 

Fondue Fyre, developed during NASA’s 

Apollo Program. Damage to the flame trench 

occurred during the May 31, 2008, launch 

of space shuttle Discovery on the STS-124 

mission.
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cess for preparing and launching vehicles. 

The significant modifications to the external tanks after the Columbia loss, resulted in the tank production rate becoming 

the limiting factor in meeting the manifest 

of shuttle launches. To overcome potential 

delays, certain tasks in the external tank 

production process were transferred from 

the Michoud Assembly Facility in New 

Orleans to Kennedy. This effort freed up 

enough resources to allow production to 

continue at a rate that will support the five 

flights per year required through the end of 

the program, and enables NASA to meet its 

presidential mandate.

Another improvement that helps NASA’s 

Space Shuttle Program, helps the environment, too. Using tablet personal computers 

and wireless internet connections, technicians and engineers in the VAB, the orbiter 

processing facilities, and numerous other 

shops are able to eliminate the reams of paper that were used in the maintenance and 

operations associated with daily processing. 

This effort will lead the way in becoming 

more paperless in the processing of NASA’s 

next-generation spacecraft. n

Above: The Freedom Star, one of NASA’s solid rocket booster retrieval ships, tows a solid 

rocket booster to Hangar AF at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The booster is from the 

STS-123 mission, which launched Endeavour on March 11, 2008.

Below: In the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center, Platform C was moved 

from High Bay 3 to allow refurbishment of the facility for the Constellation Program’s Ares 

I-X test vehicle.
Space shuttle Discovery hurtled toward space atop twin columns of 

fire on its STS-124 mission to the International Space Station, May 

31, 2008, at 5:02 p.m. EDT. STS-124 was Discovery’s 35th flight.
12

International Space Station and 

Spacecraft Processing

As NASA and the world looks toward 

the 10th anniversary and construction 

completion of the International Space Station, Kennedy Space Center continues to 

play an important role in the orbiting laboratory’s future.

This year, Kennedy’s International Space 

Station and Payload Processing Directorate 

received and processed several high-profile 

station elements and even hosted processing teams from other NASA centers, the 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the 

European Space Agency and the Canadian 

Space Agency.

STS-122 (Columbus Laboratory)

Europe’s major contribution to the 

space station received a guiding hand from 

Kennedy’s payload processing team as the 

Columbus laboratory was carried out to 

Launch Pad 39A and bolted inside the 

payload bay of space shuttle Atlantis. The 

state-of-the-art laboratory will become a 

home for space researchers living aboard 

the station. Atlantis also took an integrated 

cargo carrier with a nitrogen tank assembly 

and two external experiments into space 

during STS-122. Kennedy’s team supported the payload during an extended stay 

at the launch pad before Atlantis lifted off 

Feb. 7, 2008.

STS-123 (Kibo Logistics Module and 

Dextre)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, wrapped up ground processing of its Kibo Logistics Module in Kennedy’s Space Station Processing Facility, or 

SSPF. The module successfully launched 

aboard Endeavour on March 11, 2008, 

and was temporarily attached to the space 

station’s Harmony Node 2 until delivery of 

Kibo’s large laboratory. Ground processing 

of Canada’s robotic arm called Dextre also 

was completed at the SSPF and delivered 

to the space station on STS-123. Dextre works with the station’s robotic arm, 

Canadarm 2, for station maintenance and 

service. 

STS-124 (Kibo Pressurized Module)

Ground processing crews helped JAXA 

with the Kibo Pressurized Module, which 

successfully launched to the space station 

May 31, 2008. During the STS-124 mission, the large laboratory was attached to 

the station’s Harmony Node 2 and the Kibo 

Logistics Module was moved and permanently installed to the Japanese Pressurized 

Module. Kibo is Japan’s first human space 

facility and enhances the unique research 

capabilities of the space station. 

STS-126 (Multi-Purpose Logistics 

Module)

The Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo carried about seven tons of 

equipment and supplies to the space station, more than any other mission. Latched 

inside Endeavour, Leonardo was taken into 

orbit Nov. 14, 2008. The components, 

packed by payload technicians at Kennedy, are critical for NASA’s future plans to 

increase the station’s resident crew to six. 

The equipment included new crew quarters, galley facilities, an exercise device and 

water recycling system. The ground support team also accelerated maintenance on 

the flex hose rotary coupler so it could be 

taken into space during the flight. Making 

room for all the supplies meant installing 

12 crew transfer bags to the aft- end cone 

of Leonardo, something that had not been 

done before. 

Technicians monitored the 

Special Purpose Dexterous 

Manipulator, known as Dextre, 

as a crane moved it into 

position on a pallet inside 

the Space Station Processing 

Facility at Kennedy Space 

Center. Dextre was delivered 

to the International Space 

Station aboard Space Shuttle 

Endeavour on the STS-123 

mission.
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Future

STS-119 (S6 Truss)

For the space station to house extra 

crew members who perform science experiments, it needs more power. Discovery and 

its crew will deliver the fourth and final set 

of solar arrays and batteries to the station. 

Kennedy workers modified the S6 truss 

segment by mounting two battery charge 

and discharge units to the truss. In order to 

ensure the life of the batteries, both were removed and replaced with fresh ones. Technicians also successfully performed the S6 

truss confidence test, which involved making sure the truss’ coolant fluid ammonia 

didn’t leak. 

STS-125 (Hubble Space Telescope) 

The Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 4 processing team completed 

an end-to-end integrated verification test 

and became the leader for all planning 

activities supporting hardware delivery 

dates and integrated launch processing 

tasks. The team processed the payload and 

delivered it to Launch Pad 39A before 

Hubble experienced an anomaly in orbit. 

The team had to de-integrate the payload 

from Atlantis and return it to the SSPF. 

Because Hubble’s equipment is so sensitive, the team also came up with contamination control requirements for Kennedy. 

In addition, the team coordinated a dry 

run of the battery removal and replacement contingency operation. Launch was 

rescheduled for 2009. 

STS-127 

(Exposed Facility & Exposed Section)

The mission processing team coordinated, prepared for and received JAXA’s final two elements of Kibo, the Experiment 

Logistics Module Exposed Facility and the 

Exposed Section. Workers are preparing for 

the integration and test of the pump module, space-to-ground antenna and linear 

drive unit that will fly to the space station on 

a vertical cargo carrier aboard Endeavour. 

STS-129 (Express Logistics Carrier)

The STS-129 mission will be the first 

to fly an Express Logistics Carrier. The 

large carrier will be used to pre-position 

key space station spares in orbit, allowing 

operations to continue long after the space 

shuttle retires. The Kennedy team developed an integrated flow for assembly and 

build up of the mission, compliments of 

orbital replacement units and payloads. 

The Kennedy team also supported key 

integration operations at NASA’s Goddard 

Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., to 

fine-tune assembly plans and schedules. 

They worked closely with hardware providers, as well as safety and configuration 

managers to identify products required for 

integration and testing. The first carrier arrived at Kennedy in December 2008. Its 

associated ground support equipment, a 

rotation stand, was delivered to Kennedy 

and certified for use in the SSPF.

Operations and Checkout Building 

Reactivation for Orion Production

The effort to turn the Operations and 

Checkout Building, or O&C, high bay 

into a world-class Orion spacecraft production facility continued to progress on 

schedule. The demolition phase wrapped 

up in January 2008 and activation testing 

began in October 2008 with the majority 

of the construction complete. The facility 

was officially activated in January 2009. 

Lockheed Martin will have total operational capability, flexibility and independence 

The Multi-Purpose Logistics 

Module Leonardo was lifted 

from its stand in the Space 

Station Processing Facility. 

Leonardo was part of space 

shuttle Endeavour’s payload 

on the STS-126 mission 

to the International Space 

Station.
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within the high bay for Orion production 

activities. 

Construction upgrades include new 

high and low bays and basement refurbishment with:

•	 Separate facility power feed, and 

chilled and hot water 

•	 New ceiling, lighting, flooring and 

wall surfaces

•	 New heat, ventilation, air conditioning and ducts

•	 New fire protection, roofing, freight 

lifts and crane

•	 New airlock and vehicle refurbishment area

•	 New proof press and test cell for vehicle testing

•	 New vehicle servicing utility suites, 

and test control room and system

•	 Refurbished vertical doors

•	 Preliminary work on a visitor viewing 

gallery

•	 The first Orion flight hardware to be 

processed through the O&C will be 

the Ascent Abort 2 crew module hardware in the summer of 2010 Above: Kennedy Space Center’s Operations and Checkout Building high and low bays were 

prepared for complete ceiling-to-floor renovation.

Commercial Orbital Transportation 

Services

Kennedy’s International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing Directorate 

provided support to NASA’s Commercial 

Orbital Transportation Services, or COTS, 

with management oversight and asset 

transition. The agency also awarded the 

Commercial Resupply Services, or CRS, 

contract to supply the space station in December 2008. SpaceX and Orbital Sciences 

Corp. were awarded the contract to supply 

the station through 2015.

SpaceX is developing Launch Complex 

40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in 

Florida for its launches. SpaceX currently 

is retrofitting the launch pad to support 

its new Falcon 9 launch vehicle, and the 

first of three demonstration launches are 

planned for 2009. Orbital is developing 

its launch capability at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, and will be launching its 

Taurus II vehicle in late 2010. n

Government and industry representatives viewed the completed high bay during a tour in January 2009.
In the Space Station Processing 

Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space 

Center, Japanese Aerospace 

Exploration Agency technicians 

test the deployment of an antenna 

and boom for the Inter-orbit 

Communication System Exposed 

Facility, or ICS-EF. The system will 

launch to the International Space 

Station aboard space shuttle 

Endeavour on the STS-127 mission.
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Launch Services Program

NASA’s Launch Services Program, or 

LSP, at Kennedy Space Center led planning 

and implementation for two expendable 

launch vehicle missions, while performing advanced planning for more than two 

dozen missions targeted to launch between 

2009 and 2018. The program also celebrated its 10-year anniversary at Kennedy and 

supported several agency missions during 

the fiscal year.

The LSP team prepared and launched 

two missions, nine days apart, from opposite coasts of the country. The Gamma-ray 

Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, 

launched aboard a Delta II rocket June 

11, 2008, from Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Station in Florida; followed by the Ocean 

Surface Topography Mission, or OSTM/

Jason-2, launched aboard a Delta II on 

June 20, 2008, from Vandenberg Air Force 

Base in California. 

To achieve the short turnaround time, 

the LSP team reviewed all Delta II flight 

anomalies after the GLAST launch in seven 

days, rather than several weeks, so that the 

OSTM mission could be cleared for launch 

from the West Coast. 

OSTM is a unique partnership between 

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., and the French Space Agency. 

The Launch Site Integration branch coordinated 220-volt electrical power requirements for the French Space Agency at the 

Astrotech facility in California for OSTM 

testing and processing. The division also 

performed a dress rehearsal of procedures 

and techniques for the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft’s multi-mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator. The 

bus-sized laboratory is targeted to launch 

aboard an Atlas V rocket in late 2011.

Though NASA’s Interstellar Boundary 

Explorer, or IBEX, spacecraft launched just 

inside fiscal year 2009, groundwork and 

preplanning for the mission wrapped up in 

2008. IBEX launched aboard a Pegasus XL 

rocket from the Kwajalein Atoll in the South 

Pacific Ocean, which presented several challenges. To meet LSP logistical needs, the 

Ground Systems Integration Branch developed plans and established support services for the remote location a year from the 

launch date. All necessary computers, communications equipment, data files and satelInside the mobile service tower on Launch 

Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Station, workers guided one section of the 

payload fairing into place around NASA’s 

GLAST spacecraft.
17

NASA’s Gamma-ray Large 

Area Space Telescope, or 

GLAST, launched on a Delta 

II rocket from Launch Pad 

17-B at Cape Canaveral Air 

Force Station in Florida, on 

June 11, 2008, at 12:05 

p.m. EDT. GLAST is a 

powerful space observatory 

that will explore the 

universe’s ultimate frontier, 

where nature harnesses 

forces and energies far 

beyond anything possible 

on Earth.
18

lite link equipment were transferred to the 

atoll’s missile range to create a self-contained 

portable launch center. A contingency plan 

was developed, as well. 

The LSP provided support for the 

agency’s science and exploration systems 

directorates. Workers are supporting more 

than 25 science missions in all phases of 

the development and integration stages. 

Kennedy provided planning support for 

NASA-sponsored payloads, including the 

announcement of opportunity for Small 

Explorers 12, 13 and 14, and the Mars 

Scout 2, which selected the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN, 

mission. 

For NASA’s Space Operations Mission 

Directorate, the LSP provided advanced 

mission planning for the Tracking and Data 

Relay Satellite System follow-on missions. 

For the agency’s Explorations Systems Mission Directorate, LSP is providing launch 

support services for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s mission integration issues 

and unique design requirements.

LSP provided resource protection at 

Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex-2 

during United Launch Alliance’s commercial launches, and continued to provide integration and engineering services for the 

U.S. Missile Defense Agency under the 

NASA Launch Services Contract. n

At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, engineers checked the fit of the Ocean Surface Topography Mission, or OSTM/Jason-2 spacecraft as 

it was lowered onto the payload attach fitting for installation. The payload attach fitting is the interface with the Delta II launch vehicle. OSTM/

Jason-2 launched aboard a Delta II on June 20, 2008, at 12:46 a.m. PDT.

Inside a protected clean room tent on 

Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, 

workers installed the fairing around NASA’s 

Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, 

spacecraft. IBEX launched atop a Pegasus 

expendable launch vehicle Oct. 19, 2008.
An artist’s illustration of NASA’s Ares I launch vehicle 

at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B. The 

illustration shows the emergency egress system and 

one of three lightning towers in the background.
20

Constellation Ground Operations

Excitement for the budding Constellation Program continued to grow throughout 2008, as plans and designs turned into 

functional facilities to host the Ares I-X 

flight test in 2009.

Preparations for the Ares I-X mission 

continued with the successful completion 

of the critical design review in July. Some 

of the Ares I-X flight hardware arrived 

at Kennedy Space Center in November 

2008. The upper stage simulator arrived 

by barge in several sections and was transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building 

for assembly. Facility readiness reviews 

were conducted at Kennedy prior to the 

arrival of the flight hardware. 

For the Ares I-X mission, only the first 

four segments of the first stage will be active. A fifth booster segment, the upper 

stage, Orion spacecraft and launch abort 

system will be simulators matching the 

dimensions and weight of the operational 

rocket. 

The rocket will launch from Launch Pad 

39B, where modifications for the tall rocket 

have been under way for months. The most 

conspicuous of these is a set of lightning 

masts that are being erected around the 

launch pad. Steel frames are steadily rising 

and will be topped off in 2009. Another 

lightning tower designed for the top of the 

fixed service structure at Launch Pad 39B 

also is being built in case the permanent 

towers are not ready by the time the Ares 

I-X launches.

Ares I-X will launch from a modified 

mobile launcher platform used for space 

shuttle launches. A new platform, called a 

mobile launcher, is being designed specifically for the operational Ares I rocket. The 

plans for the structure passed the preliminary design review in May and a contract 

was awarded for the launcher’s construction. Some of the trusses for the mobile 

launcher were delivered to Kennedy, and 

assembly work will begin in 2009.

The same firing room that oversaw the 

first launch of the Space Shuttle Program 

also will command the launch of the premiere Ares I-X flight test and subsequent 

Ares/Orion launches. Workers gutted Firing Room 1 -- renamed the Young/Crippen 

Firing Room for the first shuttle crew -- to 

make room for computer consoles and systems required for the Ares/Orion launches. 

The biggest difference is that the Constellation Program requires about half of the 

consoles needed for a shuttle launch. The 

Ares I-X firing room is filled with computer 

cabinets, a single horseshoe-shaped bank of 

computers and a couple rows of computers 

where the launch director and test directors 

will control and monitor tests and launch 

countdowns. 

Hangar AF at Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Station also was modified for the Ares I-X 

launch. The hangar was outfitted to handle 

the four-segment solid rocket boosters used 

by shuttles, so it had to be modified to accommodate the five-segment version on 

tap for the Ares I.

On Launch Pad 39B, lightning towers are 

being constructed to hold catenary wires as 

part of the new lightning protection system 

for the Constellation Program and Ares/Orion 

launches.
21

Although much of the work focuses on 

the Ares I-X flight test, the Ground Operations Project is moving steadily toward 

setting up an infrastructure at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to support the operational Constellation Program. That means 

the center will handle final assembly of 

Orion spacecraft, processing of Ares I and 

Ares V rockets and eventually readying Altair spacecraft to land on the moon.

A System Definition Review of the 

necessary requirements and processes to 

meet the Constellation Program needs was 

successfully completed in May, setting the 

stage for a more intensive evaluation of the 

ground systems infrastructure, called a Preliminary Design Review. This evaluation is 

the next critical milestone for the Ground 

Operations Project.

The past year saw the first designs for 

the Multi-Payload Processing Facility take 

shape. The building will be outfitted to 

load hazardous commodities into the Orion spacecraft.

One of the high bays inside the Vehicle 

Assembly Building will be refit to assemble 

and process the 327-foot-tall combined 

Ares and Orion stack. The Ares I is almost 

twice as tall as a space shuttle stack and is 

designed to launch astronauts into orbit 

aboard the Orion spacecraft. Designs for 

the final platform construction will proceed throughout 2009.

Early concept work began on the lunar 

exploration aspects of the Constellation 

Program. Engineers are evaluating concepts 

of processing the Altair lunar lander and 

preparing it for its journey to the moon. 

Also, technology experts at Kennedy 

are making impressive progress in developing systems as part of the In-Situ Resource 

Utilization, or ISRU, exploration program. 

One of these systems is the Regolith and 

Environment Science and Oxygen and Lunar Volatile Extraction experiment package, or RESOLVE, which includes a chemical plant designed to analyze and extract 

resources from lunar simulated soil. n

Above: Inside the Parachute Refurbishment Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Deborah 

Coombs, senior parachute technician, measures suspension lines for the Ares I main canopy. 

Ares I is an in-line, two-stage rocket that will transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle to 

low Earth orbit.

Below: In the Assembly and Refurbishment Facility at Kennedy Space Center, a worker 

attaches an overhead crane to the aft skirt for the Ares I-X flight test. The segment is being 

lifted into a machine shop work stand for drilling modifications.
22

Applied Technology

Innovative technology experts at Kennedy Space Center support NASA’s current 

programs and future exploration missions 

by developing new products and processes 

that benefit both NASA and consumers. 

Using technical expertise, a highly trained 

work force and top-notch facilities, Kennedy remains a leader in the world of cuttingedge technology.

During the past year, technologists 

supported several Space Shuttle Program 

requests ranging from constructing a system and monitoring gaseous nitrogen flow 

inside the orbiter window cavities to developing certification processes for an iceimaging camera. They designed and built 

a handheld device that can accurately measure defects in orbiter windows, as well as 

a much larger system that can scan entire 

windows and locate those flaws while the 

windows remain installed. Investigations to mitigate launch issues include 

foam de-bonding, foam moisture uptake and ice liberation.

Kennedy’s team is developing a 

smart, environmentally friendly paint 

system for early corrosion detection, 

mitigation and healing. They also supported the engineers who assessed the 

extensive damage to the flame trench 

at Launch Pad 39A during Discovery’s 

May 31 launch. Some 5,300 heat-resistant bricks lining the northeast wall 

of the flame trench under the shuttle’s 

mobile launcher platform blew away. 

Adhesion testing was performed on the 

bricks to determine the strength of the 

epoxy bonding between the bricks and 

the concrete wall. 

A critical issue in the repair of 

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is the 

change out of circuit cards in the environment of space. To address this issue, 

electrostatics experts proposed a Faraday Cage design that will protect the 

electronic card from residual electric 

fields and protect Hubble’s electronic 

system from static discharge. This method 

will be incorporated into the repair mission, targeted for May 2009.

The International Space Station currently is testing a light-emitting diode, or 

LED, lighting fixture designed and built at 

Kennedy. The LED delivers better performance and uses less energy. The expertise 

needed to develop the fixture came from 

plant studies using LEDs. 

Kennedy’s technology team partnered 

with NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in 

Virginia to develop Global Position System metric tracking for flight vehicles 

during launch and ascent by using space 

assets, such as satellites. The technologists 

provided flight algorithm and engineering 

support, as well as computer systems and 

sensors for the Autonomous Flight Safety 

System, which currently is being tested 

in flight vehicles. Discussions are taking 

place with NASA’s Constellation Program 

and the U.S. Air Force to incorporate this 

technology, which soon could be ready for 

commercial use. 

The team is actively working with 

NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate to develop soil extraction, excavation and surface preparation technologies 

for the return to the moon effort. Chemists 

are leading an agencywide effort to develop 

techniques to extract oxygen from lunar 

regolith, as well as developing self healing 

wire insulation. Meanwhile, physicists are 

investigating methods to control and remove dust and manage plume effects, and 

biologists are working on water purification, air revitalization, mitigation of radiation effects and management of microbial 

communities. n

Bionetics Corp. Lead Mechanical Engineer Todd Mortenson performs a fit check of the Solid State 

Lighting Module, or LED light, in a lighting fixture slot of a multi-purpose logistics module in the 

Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center.
23

Engineering Achievements

The Kennedy Space Center Engineering Directorate’s accomplishments during 

the year exemplify the organization’s dedication to high-stakes problem-solving and 

technical excellence.

Solar Alpha Rotary Joint 

Failure Analysis

During the STS-120 mission in October 2007, spacewalking astronaut Daniel 

Tani collected debris from the International Space Station’s starboard Solar Alpha 

Rotary Joint, or SARJ. The station has two 

such joints, which allow the station’s power-generating solar arrays to track the sun. 

Tani’s sample was returned to Kennedy 

Space Center for remote failure analysis. 

The goal: to determine what was causing 

current spikes and vibrations that a camera 

mounted on the joint detected.

Using high-resolution optical, laser, and 

electron microscopes, as well as advanced 

metallography techniques, Kennedy’s engineering team revealed that the mechanism’s 

race surface was spalling, or flaking, due to 

contact stress fatigue. Additional samples 

collected during Expedition 16 and analyzed at Kennedy confirmed the spalling 

mechanism.

Launch Pad 39A Flame Trench 

Analysis and Repair

During the May 31, 2008, launch of 

space shuttle Discovery on its STS-124 mission, a 15- by 75-foot section of brick was 

blown loose from the east wall of the Launch 

Pad 39A flame trench. While leading the 

analysis and repair team, Kennedy engineers 

helped evaluate the flame trench system and 

the extent of the damage, as well as possible 

designs for a sound repair. 

Additionally, the directorate led the 

hands-on work to demolish the damaged 

section, repair and install new hardware and 

concrete, and add an array of sensors to validate computer models and collect data about 

the flame trench environment.

After the repair, the directorate provided valuable computational 

fluid dynamics analysis to 

NASA’s Marshall Space 

Flight Center in Alabama 

and United Space Alliance 

engineers to help evaluate 

the work. Material characterization testing continues in Kennedy engineering labs, with the goal of 

incorporating the results 

into future strength analysis models.

Constellation 

Program Support and 

Development

In support of the Constellation Program, Kennedy’s Engineering Directorate completed 30 percent 

design reviews for 42 new 

subsystems, including the 

Launch Equipment Test 

Facility, or LETF, mobile launcher element 

and vehicle integration element. The LETF 

Preliminary Design Review was the first official design review for the Constellation 

Program. These successful reviews paved 

the way for the directorate to begin working toward 60 percent design reviews.

Engineering also developed and built 

a tilt-up umbilical and liftoff simulator, 

a prototype for what may be used at the 

launch pad for the Ares I launch vehicle. 

Because the Ares rocket will ascend faster 

than the shuttle, the prototype umbilical 

relies on gravity to retract the umbilical 

arm during liftoff.

The directorate supported the nondestructive evaluation plan for the Orion 

Thermal Protection System Advanced Development Project, as well as the Constellation, Ares I-X and Orion contamination 

control plans for potential impacts to Kennedy ground operations. 

Kennedy Engineering Academy

The Kennedy Engineering Academy, or 

KEA, continually strives to share relevant 

knowledge with the center’s technological 

and engineering community. Almost 1,100 

people participated in the academy’s 14 onsite courses in fiscal year 2008. These included classroom-style sessions and “KEA 

on the Move,” an in-the-field, hands-on 

session. The academy offers courses for a 

variety of topics, from “Software Engineering 101” and “Lunar Launch and Landing Concepts” to a tour of the solid rocket 

booster retrieval ships. For more information, visit: http://kea.ksc.nasa.gov/.

Support of Space Act Agreements

Kennedy’s Engineering Directorate actively supports NASA’s Space Act Agreements. The directorate contributes to ongoing design, qualification and failure analysis 

of several space vehicles, including the Orbital 

Science Corp’s Taurus vehicles and the Space 

Exploration Technologies Corp’s, or SpaceX, 

Falcon 1 rockets. n

Clara Wright, a Kennedy Space Center materials engineer, 

uses a stereomicroscope to analyze small fragments of the 

International Space Station’s damaged starboard Solar Alpha 

Rotary Joint returned on mission STS-120.
24

Partnerships

Throughout the year, NASA’s Kennedy 

Space Center developed and strengthened 

existing partnerships with local, state and 

federal officials, as well as economic development entities and space industry leaders. 

As NASA transitions from the Space 

Shuttle Program to the Constellation Program, Kennedy strives to keep all of its 

partners well-informed. Partners include 

Florida’s governor and lieutenant governor, 

Space Florida, the Economic Development 

Commission, or EDC, of Florida’s Space 

Coast, Brevard Workforce Development 

Board, or BWDB, Enterprise Florida Inc., 

the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, the Brevard County Commission, the 

Florida Legislature and Congress, as well 

as chambers of commerce and various key 

civic associations local to Kennedy.

In fiscal year 2008, Kennedy hosted 

members of Congress, state legislators and 

community leaders for the four space shuttle missions that launched from the center. 

Throughout the year, elected officials and 

stakeholders visited the center to learn more 

about Kennedy’s mission and the role Kennedy will play in future space exploration. 

Kennedy also hosted international ambassadors from more than 45 countries, 

who were given an overview of America’s 

space program and toured on-site facilities. More than 100 presidents and CEOs 

from chambers of commerce throughout 

the state attended a forum at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to 

learn about Kennedy’s impact on Florida’s 

economy. 

Senior management participated in 

roundtable discussions, space forums and 

town hall meetings, as well as addressed 

legislative delegations, to discuss work 

force issues and NASA’s transition to the 

Constellation Program. Senior management also attended Florida Space Day in 

Tallahassee and supported NASA’s Office 

of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the annual Day on the Hill event in 

Washington, D.C. 

Two major Space Act Agreements were 

signed in May 2008, with Kennedy partners, the EDC and the BWDB. With the 

EDC, the center will continue to serve as 

a liaison to the board of directors, support 

the quarterly space committee and work to 

identify business partnerships to create jobs. 

The new partnership with the BWDB 

was a first of its kind for Kennedy, focusing on transition from the shuttle to the 

Constellation Program. Of particular note, 

is the weekly presence of the Brevard Job 

Link Express Bus at the center, which provides a full range of transition assistance to 

workers. This service was instrumental in 

helping 43 Space Gateway Support firefighters gain Department of Defense qualification, which enabled them to find new 

work at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. 

By the end of fiscal year 2008, about 500 

people had used these services.

Kennedy’s membership in the Aerospace Career Development Committee, 

part of the BWDB, allowed the center to 

educate and inform partners of the transition program, including new work coming to the center and projected work force 

numbers. 

Additionally in 2008, employees participated in the Combined Federal Campaign 

and voluntarily contributed $432,409. The 

2008 Campaign was themed “One Small 

Gift – One Giant Impact.” n

Workers received instruction 

inside the Brevard Workforce 

Development Board’s Job Link 

Express Bus at Kennedy Space 

Center. The bus made various 

stops around the center to assist 

with resumes and job searches 

prior to the Oct. 1, 2008, contract 

transition.
25

Institutional Contract Transition

Contracts Awarded:

•	 Institutional Services Contract to 

EG&G Technical Services Inc. of 

Gaithersburg, Md. A five-year base 

contract, and five one-year options.

•	 Information Management and Communications Support Contract to 

Abacus Technology Corp. of Chevy 

Chase, Md. A five-year base contract, 

and four one-year options.

•	 Medical and Environmental Support 

Contract to Innovative Health Applications LLC of Cape Canaveral, Fla. A 

five-year base contract, and two oneyear options.

•	 Mail Distribution Services Contract to 

Government Contract Resources Inc. 

of Viera, Fla. A one-year base contract, 

and four one-year options.

•	 Kennedy Institutional Support Services to REDE-Critique Inc. of Metaire, 

La. A seven-month base contract, and 

four one-year options.

•	 Custodial Services Contract to Brevard Achievement Center of Rockledge, Fla. A one-year base contract, 

and four one-year options.

•	 Grounds, Landscaping, Maintenance 

and Pest Control Contract to S.C. 

Jones Services Inc. of Dillwyn, Va. A 

three-year base contract, and two oneyear options.

•	 Agencywide NASA Protective Services 

Contract was protested and is in the 

process of being recompeted. n

Kennedy Space Center’s 10-year Joint 

Base Operations and Support Contract 

with Space Gateway Support LLC, ended 

Sept. 30, 2008. Approximately 18 months 

prior, the center formed a transition team 

to help ensure a smooth and efficient 

changeover from the previous institutional 

contract to eight separate NASA contracts.

As the new contracts were awarded and 

announced, the transition team distributed updated information to the NASA 

and contractor work force through internal 

publications and a transition Web site. The 

new contracts transitioned in during a 30-, 

60- or 90-day period, depending on predetermined requirements. 

To minimize impacts to the continuity 

of operations at Kennedy, several town hall 

meetings introduced the work force to the 

new contractors. They provided a forum 

for customers and stakeholders to hear an 

overview of what would be changing as the 

new contracts began. 

Comprehensive phase-in plans and processes were developed for each follow-on 

contractor. These plans included risk management, business management, space allocation, work control system and desktop 

services migration. Also, agreements with 

the U.S. Air Force, badging, launch readiness and mission critical assurance, mail 

code transition, property inventory and 

management, mediation and dispute processes and communication plans.

Kennedy Space Center 

participated in several 

town hall meetings to learn 

about the new contracts 

that replaced the Joint 

Base Operations Support 

Contract, or JBOSC. 

Coordinated by Kennedy’s 

contract transition team, 

the meetings provided 

valuable information to 

both NASA civil servants 

and contractor employees 

to ensure a smooth 

transition.
26

Environmental Leadership

Kennedy goes green in 2008

This year, Kennedy Space Center took 

several steps toward reducing its carbon 

footprint by building an energy efficient 

facility, recycling, making use of solar power and protecting the center’s surrounding 

environment.

The center recycled 369 tons of office 

paper and cardboard, 1,250 tons of scrap 

metal and more than 21,000 tons of construction material in 2008. The center also 

expanded its recycling program to include 

aluminum, plastics and glass. The proceeds 

from Kennedy’s recycling activities funded 

additional recycling, green procurement 

and pollution prevention efforts. A portion 

of the 2008 recycling revenues funded actions, such as purchasing renewable energy 

credits, mulching and reusing green waste, 

and testing to validate the use of top coat 

paint and thermal spray coatings containing 

low levels of volatile organic compounds.

In July, the center completed construction of a new Life Support Facility incorporating the U.S. Green Building Council’s green-building principles. It is the first 

NASA-funded building on Kennedy property that will receive the council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, 

or LEED, certification. The building includes sustainable design, construction and 

operational features, such as increased filtration and carbon monoxide monitoring 

for improved indoor air quality, dual-flush 

toilets for water conservation and highefficiency fluorescent lights. 

NASA and Florida Power & Light, or 

FPL, teamed up to provide Florida residents 

and America’s space program new sources 

of green power, which will cut reliance on 

fossil fuels and improve the environment 

by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

FPL will lease 60 acres at Kennedy, then 

build and maintain a solar photovoltaic 

power generation system that produces an 

estimated 10 megawatts of electrical power -- enough energy to serve about 3,000 

homes. As part of the lease agreement, FPL 

also will provide a nearly one megawatt 

system on Kennedy property, inside the 

center’s “grid.” This will help NASA meet 

its goals for use of power generated from 

renewable energy and enable NASA engineers and technicians to gain experience in 

energy production. It also may serve as a 

test bed for solar power technology, which 

could be used on the surface of the moon 

and other planetary bodies. 

Kennedy continued its strategic focus 

on cleaning up environmental contamination from past operations. In 2008, it 

removed more than 67,000 tons of contaminated soil. The center applied lessons 

learned from remediation and cleanup efforts to prevent recurrence of environmental contamination. 

The center also is restoring more than 

2,000 feet of coastal sand dunes damaged 

by storms during the past four years by 

replenishing the eroded sand dunes with 

native plants and installing sand fences to 

stabilize the restored areas. Storm erosion 

poses a potential threat to the center’s infrastructure, as well as threatened and endangered species, like sea turtles.

In September, Kennedy employees 

received NASA Blue Marble Awards for 

energy conservation and environmental 

stewardship from NASA’s Environmental 

Management Division at the 2008 NASA 

Environmental and Energy Conference at 

Langley Research Center in Virginia. n

On Kennedy Space Center’s 

beach, more than 130 

volunteers from Kennedy 

and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service contract organizations 

gave up an afternoon to gather 

all of the “unnatural” items 

along a 6.1-mile-stretch of 

central Florida’s east coast 

shoreline. Volunteers gathered 

enough trash to fill about 45 

garbage bags and enough 

recyclable plastic and glass to 

fill 150 bags.
Water lilies reach for the sun from their 

water beds at Kennedy Space Center. The 

center, which shares a boundary with the 

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, is 

surrounded by marshes and creeks.
28

Education

Kennedy Space Center’s Education Programs and University Research Division 

play a key role in educating and preparing 

the minds of the future. In 2008, Kennedy 

continued to invest in a variety of learning opportunities to attract and retain students in science, technology, engineering 

and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines to 

build the work force of tomorrow. Kennedy 

provided a variety of hands-on experiences 

designed to encourage students’ interest in 

space exploration and support teachers in 

these disciplines. 

Agencywide Project Management

Kennedy manages several agencywide 

education projects, including the Interdisciplinary Science Program Incorporating Research and Education Experience, 

or INSPIRE. INSPIRE provides students 

from ninth grade through freshman year 

of college, an online community that links 

them with other like-minded students with 

interests in aeronautics and space exploration, as well as opportunities to participate 

in hands-on research during the summer 

months at a NASA center. This year, Kennedy hosted 20 INSPIRE interns from 

Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico for eight 

weeks during summer. Ten of the interns 

were rising 12th graders and 10 had graduated high school and were starting their 

freshman year of college. 

The Minority University Research and 

Education Programs, or MUREP, Small 

Programs or MSP, is an Office of Education project funding innovative education 

initiatives that meet a need or gap within 

the higher education portfolio. MSP continues to fund two existing projects; the 

Pre-Service Teacher Conference, or PSTC, 

and Achieving Competence in Computing, Engineering, and Space Science, or 

ACCESS, serving pre-service teachers and 

students with disabilities respectively. During the year, MSP provided seed funding 

to New York City Research Initiative, Virginia State University, and Navajo Technical College and an expansion of NASA Science and Technology Institute for Minority 

Institute at Ames Research Center in California for pre-service teachers. 

NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission 

Directorate, or ESMD, supports a highereducation project called the Space Grant 

Systems Engineer Paper Competition, which 

is a highly-competitive, national scholarship 

designed to engage and retain students in 

STEM fields and is judged by ESMD systems engineers throughout the agency. 

During the 2007-08 academic year, the 

ESMD Space Grant Student Project continued to provide internship opportunities, 

senior design project participation and a 

systems engineering paper competition. A 

total of 115 NASA and industry ESMD 

internship opportunities and 74 ESMD senior design projects were supported across 

the nation. 

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 Consortium. The directorate 

provided STEM-related workshops for educators, hands-on classroom activities for 

students, and educational information to 

the general public. 

NASA’s Educator Resource Center, 

Aerospace Education Services Project and 

Kennedy’s Exploration Station collaborated on sustained professional development 

on-center and off-center for formal and 

informal educators and students. During 

the year, 31,110 K-12 students and 650 

scouts experienced NASA STEM activities. 

The team also provided educational STEM 

workshops to 9,579 K-12 educators. For 

Rebecca Wight, a student from Matanzas 

High School in Palm Coast, Fla., participates 

in a soil stabilization experiment at Kennedy 

Space Center during the first Governor’s 

School pilot program for gifted students. 

More than 50 students participated in the 

program.
29

informal programs, 8,944 people came to 

experience the Exploration Station activity 

room in the Center for Space Education 

building, which utilizes aerospace hardware to compliment the teaching of rocketry, spaceflight, space science and space 

exploration.

A pilot program called the Florida Governor’s School for Science, Mathematics 

and Space Technology also came to Kennedy during the summer of 2008, providing 

rising 10th-12th grade gifted students the 

opportunity to learn in a residential-type 

setting at Kennedy. Students engaged in 

exciting laboratory activities, scientific experiments and inquiry-based learning, incorporating a high-level science and math 

curriculum. Program funding was provided 

by the state of Florida and given to three 

universities to plan and test it: Florida Tech, 

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and 

Florida State University. Space Florida, 

NASA and Delaware North Park Services 

provided the curriculum.

Kennedy’s education specialists hosted 

a NASA Day at the 16th annual Model 

Schools Conference at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Fla. It is the nation’s premier conference on K-12 education reform, where about 7,000 teachers 

and administrators attended handson workshops and sessions, emphasizing 

NASA resources, the agency’s 50th anniversary and the Constellation Program. 

Florida NASA Explorer School students 

and teachers also attended and showcased 

how NASA’s resources have enhanced their 

schools.

Approximately 50 educators from six 

designated General Electric Co., or GE, regions participated in a weeklong workshop 

at Kennedy taught by the National Science 

Teachers Association, or NSTA, and NASA 

representatives. The workshop featured 

a two-day methods course, a concurrent 

leadership conference for administrators 

in the GE regions, and NASA taught two 

workshops on microgravity and rocketry.

Higher-Education Programs

Kennedy hosted 169 interns during the 

year. About 38 percent of the participants 

were minorities from the following minority-serving institutions: Florida A&M 

University, Howard University, BethuneCookman University, Morehouse College, 

Dillard University, New Mexico State University, and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, as well as Universidad del Turabo 

and Manuela Toro Morice in Puerto Rico.

Minority-Focused Programs

Kennedy hosted the fourth Pre-Service Teacher Institute, or PSTI, in 2008. 

Thirty-one students participated from minority institutions in Alabama, Arkansas, 

California, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, 

New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas and 

Virginia. Students in junior and senior colleges, majoring in education, learned how 

to create effective lesson plans for mathematics and science, while incorporating 

technology and NASA initiatives. NASA 

partnered with a Brevard County school, 

which allowed participants to conduct a 

lesson plan to fourth- and fifth- graders using NASA’s unique educational resources, 

tour Kennedy’s operational areas and speak 

Teachers from the Kennedy Space Center region of the NASA Explorer Schools program participated in workshops at the Center 

for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
30

to NASA engineers and technicians during 

a career panel session.

Grants were awarded to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities: 

Morgan State University, North Carolina 

A&T State University, Prairie View A&M 

University, and Tennessee State University 

to bring inner-city youth participating in 

a university K-12 program to Kennedy for 

an education workshop, conversations with 

engineers, scientists and astronauts, tour, 

and possible launch viewing. This program 

focused on students understanding the 

need to be successful in STEM studies and 

enabling a successful background in any 

STEM-based career. 

Electronic Education Projects

NASA’s Digital Learning Network, 

or DLN, really hit the ground running 

this year. DLN connected with 10,867 

students and 1,826 educators during the 

2007-08 school year. The network celebrated NASA’s 50th anniversary with middleschool students and a special guest, former 

NASA Launch Director Bob Sieck, who 

worked with Kennedy’s Apollo, Gemini 

and shuttle spacecraft. The network also 

piloted its first live webcast near Kennedy’s 

Launch Pad 39A, in the 60 minutes leading 

up to the launch of STS-124. The interactive webcast featured special guests from 

the higher education community, as well as 

mission and launch content. 

Informal Education 

Thirty local librarians participated in 

an on-site workshop held Sept. 20-Oct.1, 

2008. This train-the-trainer workshop 

equipped librarians with the knowledge 

and skills needed to conduct NASA-related after-school workshops at their local 

library, such as NASA’s Space Exploration 

Program, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and NASA’s plans for exploring the moon. The librarians also learned 

about NASA static display exhibits that 

are available for short-term loans. Funding 

was provided by the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex project initiative that 

Congress directed in 2008.

Kennedy and McNeill Designs for 

Brighter Minds Inc. entered into a Space 

Act Agreement for the creation of the 

“You’ve Been Sentenced” card game – 

NASA 50th Anniversary Special Edition 

Add-On Deck. The main goal of the game 

is to make sentences with the words on the 

cards. The add-on deck includes NASA terminology in a unique and fun way for players to understand NASA’s language.

Sixty percent of NASA astronauts were 

Boy or Girl Scouts when they were kids, 

and NASA and Kennedy carried on that 

tradition by hosting exciting workshops 

provided by the NASA Education Exploration Team for 128 Boy Scout and 1,554 

Girl Scout leaders and volunteers from central Florida in 2008. n

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities program provided opportunities for inner-city youth in grades K-12 to attend education 

workshops at Kennedy Space Center.
Perched high on the branch of a tall pine tree at 

Kennedy Space Center, a bald eagle surveys its 

surroundings. There are several active nests of bald 

eagles throughout the Merritt Island National Wildlife 

Refuge, which shares a boundary with the center.
32

Outreach to the World

KSC Visitor Complex 

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor 

Complex shared NASA’s message with 

more than 1.6 million guests, reaching 

both a national and international audience 

with memorable experiences. Attendance 

for 2008 surpassed the previous year by 6 

percent due to successful marketing initiatives, including continued focus on the 

new Shuttle Launch Experience, increased 

annual pass sales and national promotions 

with high-visibility partners, such as Kraft 

Macaroni & Cheese, Space Coast Tourism 

Development Council, Expedia.com, Travelocity and Chick-fil-A. 

Large crowds of enthusiastic tourists 

and central Floridians flocked to the Space 

Coast to experience Kennedy launches. 

The Visitor Complex hosted thousands of 

guests during four space shuttle missions 

and one expendable launch vehicle mission, which began with spectacular liftoffs 

from the Space Coast. 

Two new exhibits debuted, including 

a space shuttle wing at the U.S. Astronaut 

Hall of Fame, showcasing the personal artifacts of NASA’s hero astronauts, and Eye 

on the Universe: Hubble Space Telescope, 

featuring amazing images captured by the 

world’s most powerful telescope. Concept 

designs also were initiated for the permanent display of a space shuttle orbiter at 

Kennedy, relocating the hall of fame’s museum to the main complex and a new Constellation Program-themed exhibit. 

Construction projects included refreshing the Kurt H. Debus Conference Facility, 

refurbishing restrooms at the complex’s entrance and exit points, and major renovations to the Orbit Cafe.

Particularly noteworthy is the design 

completion of a 13,000-square-foot artifact 

storage warehouse, which will be the Visitor Complex’s second Leadership in Energy 

& Environmental Design, or LEED, certified facility. This new facility will enable the 

complex to perform its curatorial responsibilities for unique artifacts and exhibits at a 

NASA Public Affairs Specialist and Informal Outreach Coordinator Andres Adorno, left, talks with a participant at NASA’s Future Forum event in 

Miami, Fla. Kennedy Space Center’s exhibit featured a display of NASA’s next-generation spacecraft, the Ares I and Ares V. The Future Forum 

was one in a series of presentations in various U.S. cities to celebrate NASA’s 50th anniversary.
33

higher degree of quality than ever before. It 

also will position the complex as a key candidate for custodian of historical property 

from NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. 

Additionally, the complex’s education programs successfully educated and 

inspired the next generation of explorers. 

Overall, 80,000 students participated in 

Camp KSC, Overnight Adventures, the 

Astronaut Training Experience and field 

trips. 

In addition to the highly successful partnership with Brevard County Schools, hosting more than 11,300 sixth- and seventhgrade students through formal curriculums, 

such as Brevard Space Week and Brevard 

Learns About Science and Technology. A 

new pilot program with Orange County 

Schools reached 2,500 eighth-grade students from surrounding communities. 

Special events reached non-traditional 

audiences too, including the induction of 

the sixth class of space shuttle astronauts to 

the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, the second Fall Concert Series in the Rocket Garden, and the highly attended KSC Space 

and Air Show featuring the U.S. Navy’s 

Blue Angels’ spectacular performance over 

the Banana River. 

In its 41st year of existence, Kennedy’s 

Visitor Complex operated as a self-supporting entity funded solely through admission, 

retail and food sales. The complex remains 

one of Florida’s top five most visited tourist 

destinations.

Exhibits

From spectacular air shows to inspiring 

technical conferences, Kennedy’s Display 

Management Team and Integrated Display 

Staff supported 22 events across the southeastern United States. Most events were 

open to the public, with several focused on 

minority groups, such as African-Americans, Puerto Ricans and Hispanics, as well 

as student groups, scientific and technical 

groups, and other government agencies. 

During the year, NASA celebrated its 

50th anniversary and Kennedy supported 

several major events in conjunction with 

other NASA centers and NASA Headquarters. 

NASA’s outreach team reached about 

200,000 people with displays and handout 

materials featuring the benefits of space, 

NASA spin-offs and the agency’s mission. The program also supported national 

events, such as the Smithsonian Folklife 

Festival in Washington, D.C., which alone 

attracted more than one million visitors.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., talks to workers inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. Nelson toured the center with Kennedy 

Director Robert Cabana, background at right.
34

Guest Operations 

Kennedy’s Guest Operations staff enabled more than 

15,700 guests to participate 

in behind-the-scenes Kennedy tours, including educational briefings provided by 

center engineers and operational experts. Additionally, 

the center hosted thousands 

of NASA’s invited guests to 

participate in launch briefings and an up-close view 

of four space shuttle and 

two 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. 

Speakers Bureau

NASA’s Speakers Bureau reached more 

than 20,000 people at 100 events during 

2008. Kennedy engineers, scientists, senior 

management and NASA astronauts spoke 

at events in Florida, Georgia and across the 

Midwest. 

Utilizing resources, such as new presentations on NASA’s transition from the Space 

Shuttle Program to the Constellation Program, as well as a new agencywide Speakers Bureau database, the Kennedy team 

reached educators, scientists, government 

representatives, special interest groups and 

industry officials. Other groups included, 

minorities, women leadership programs, 

churches and scouting groups, universities, 

civic and professional organizations, and 

retirement communities.

Media Services

The Media Services Division at Kennedy’s NASA News Center increased international awareness by supporting media 

coverage of four shuttle launch and landing events, which included delivering the 

European Space Agency’s Columbus module and Japanese Aerospace Exploration 

Agency’s Kibo module to the International 

Space Station. Support also was provided 

for two expendable vehicle launches from a 

variety of locations and other NASA milestones.

The division interfaced with the world’s 

media and public audience through a variety of communication conduits, including 

Kennedy’s new upgrade to high definition 

for NASA TV broadcasting, streaming 

video of Kennedy events, digital imagery 

on the multimedia gallery, which received 

more than 400,000 page views this year, 

and a full-service Public Affairs Office catering to professional journalists. In addition, the division provided more than 

185,000 multimedia products, including 

fact sheets, news releases, video news releases, live and radio phone-in interviews, 

still photographs, video footage, tapes, 

CDs and DVDs.

Kennedy Web site 

The Kennedy Space Center Web site at 

www.nasa.gov/kennedy continues to draw 

a worldwide audience. The center’s home 

page attracted more than 4.7 million views 

and consistently ranked in the top ten 

most-popular pages out of more than one 

million pages within the NASA Web portal 

at www.nasa.gov.

The “L-1” series of prelaunch web casts 

featured astronaut guests, scientists, launch 

personnel and other experts who provided 

behind-the-scenes details about each highprofile liftoff. Kennedy’s Web team established a partnership with NASA’s Digital 

Learning Network in order to bring a dynamic new perspective and academic audience to Kennedy’s prelaunch webcast series. 

The Web team provided launch processing and countdown coverage for four 

space shuttle missions and two expendable vehicle missions during the year. An 

international Internet audience was kept 

up-to-date during countdowns and landings via frequent updates to the mission’s 

main page, and photo and video galleries. 

NASA’s Launch Blog provided live commentary and up-to-the-minute information straight from a control room console 

to the reader. Combined, this fiscal year’s 

launch and landing blogs racked up more 

than a half-million page views.

Kennedy’s Web video products included feature videos and podcasts, as well 

as highlights from launches and landings. 

Videos earned nearly four million views 

during the year.

During December 2007 and January 

2008, the Kennedy Web site, along with 

the entire NASA Web portal, received a 

fresh look and feel. The Kennedy Web 

team supported the agency’s redesign effort 

by transitioning several sections and pages 

to the new design, helping ensure a seamless browsing experience for NASA Web 

visitors. n

Rock singer Rick Springfield entertained 

crowds of people at the Kennedy Space 

Center Visitor Complex to help celebrate 

NASA’s 50th anniversary.
Colorful fireworks light up the night sky over the Kennedy 

Space Center Visitor Complex’s Rocket Garden during a NASA 

50th Anniversary celebration.
36

KSC Business Report

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

FY 2008 was a successful year for the 

financial and business operations of Kennedy Space Center. The center maintained 

and continued its trend of sustained budget 

growth. The Office of the Chief Financial 

Officer made positive contributions toward 

NASA’s quest in obtaining an unqualified 

financial opinion from independent auditors. Business development agreements this 

past year will yield long-term benefits for the 

center. These and other initiatives contributed to the efficient operation of Kennedy. 

Kennedy Budget 

The Kennedy budget in FY 2008 totaled about $1.4 billion, and more than 

$2.3 billion when the Johnson Space 

Center-managed Space Program Operations Contract, or SPOC, and related work 

performed at Kennedy is included. In addition, the center performed $117 million in 

reimbursable work with other government 

and commercial entities. 

Specifically:

•	 The Space Shuttle Program executed its 

$1.1 billion budget, including SPOC, 

in accomplishing four successful missions during FY 2008, all of which installed major components or logistics 

to the International Space Station. Activities also included preparing for five 

flights in FY 2009, among them the 

Hubble Space Telescope repair mission.

•	 The Launch Services Program’s $362 

million budget included funding from 

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, 

or SMD, and Space Operations Mission Directorate, or SOMD. The program supported the successful launch 

of two missions: Gamma-ray Large 

Area Telescope, or GLAST, from Cape 

Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida 

and Ocean Surface Topography Mission, or OSTM/Jason-2, at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, while 

procuring launch vehicle services for 

several manifested missions scheduled 

to launch in FY 2009 and beyond.

•	 The International Space Station’s $98 

million budget allowed for fulfillment of 

commitments to international partners 

in completing the orbiting laboratory’s 

assembly, including several major component deliveries -- the Node 2 module 

called Harmony, the European Space 

Agency’s Columbus laboratory and the 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s 

Kibo laboratory, and funded the ongoing processing and flow of remaining station components at Kennedy. 

•	 The Constellation Program’s budget 

of $270 million supported continued preparations for the ground operations, launch, landing and recovery of the Ares launch and the Orion 

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

and components of the lunar outpost.

•	 The Kennedy Center Management & 

Operations’ budget provided $323 million to maintain the center’s missionessential facility systems, core technical 

capabilities and supporting infrastructure; sustain the center’s safety and engineering technical authorities; implement NASA’s Chief Information Officer 

initiatives; and provide business systems 

support with improved internal controls. Kennedy successfully competed, 

awarded and transitioned to several new 

institutional services contracts with the 

completion of the Joint Base Operations 

Support Contract, or JBOSC.

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

($ Millions)

SPOC 1,030 983 953

KSC 1,114 1,312 1,369

FY2006

$2,144

FY2007

$2,295

FY2008

$2,322

NASA/KSC Budget Authority Summary 

FY 2006 through 2008 ($ in Millions)

United Space Alliance, 

or USA, is the contractor 

for the Space Program 

Operations Contract 

at Kennedy Space 

Center. The space 

shuttle processing work 

is managed by Johnson 

Space Center and 

performed at Kennedy.
37

Kennedy Space Center

FY 2008 Budget Authority ($ in Millions)

Space Shuttle $211

Space Station $98

Launch Services/Science $362

Constellation $270

Center Management & Operations $323

Other $105

Total KSC* $1,369

* Excludes Space 

Program Operations 

Contract

FY 2008 KSC Budget by Element ($ in Millions)

Labor

$267, 20%

Travel

$8, 1% Direct Procurement

$1,094, 79%

Seventy-nine percent of the Kennedy budget is spent through the purchase of goods and 

services from commercial providers. The SPOC, or space shuttle, contract is excluded 

here. Its inclusion would increase the percentage of procured services to 88 percent.

Financial Systems & Processes

Kennedy’s financial processes and regulations are continually being improved in 

an effort to bridge the gaps identified in 

NASA’s audited financial statements toward achieving an unqualified audit opinion. Toward that end, the CFO office established and staffed a Financial Quality 

Assurance Office to provide oversight and 

monitoring of Kennedy’s internal control 

processes. Further, Kennedy and other centers formalized a Continuous Monitoring 

Program and associated metrics to assure 

the transactions reflected in the agency’s 

financial system are accurate. 

The last two modules of the Integrated 

Enterprise Management Program, or IEMP, 

were implemented in FY 2008 – eTravel 

and Integrated Asset Management. 

eTravel - Continuing to centralize and 

improve NASA’s financial management. 

Kennedy, as the agency’s pilot center, 

implemented the new eTravel solution in 

June 2008. eTravel is one of five e-Gov initiatives launched in response to the President’s Management Agenda. FedTraveler.

com, under the EDS Corp., managed the 

implementation. The new system provides 

NASA with a standardized, comprehensive and integrated tool to support online 

booking, travel planning, travel expense 

reimbursement, payment processing, 

credit card reconciliation, and manage-
38

ment reporting for NASA. FedTraveler.

com will rollout to the remaining NASA 

centers in 2009, benefiting from Kennedy’s 

knowledge sharing events, as well as lessons 

learned and training.

Integrated Asset Management – Integrated Asset Management, or IEM, for 

NASA Property, Plant, and Equipment, or 

PP&E, was implemented agencywide in 

May 2008. This system was developed to 

provide a more reliable financial management of NASA’s assets through the integration of asset accounting and equipment 

management data in one system. Kennedy 

uses this system to manage, track, value 

and account for NASA-owned personal 

property. 

Business and Partnership Development

Several major projects to improve efficient use of Kennedy assets and develop 

new business opportunities from non-traditional partnerships were initiated in FY 

2008. Kennedy had 97 active reimbursable 

agreements, which generated $117 million 

in commercial work for other federal and 

non-federal entities.

Using its authority to enter enhanceduse leases, Kennedy leased a 60-acre site to 

Florida Power and Light, or FPL, Florida’s 

largest power utility, to enable the construction and operation of a 10 megawatt 

solar power generation facility. FPL will 

construct a separate one megawatt solar 

power facility for Kennedy in return. The 

construction for this significant renewable 

energy project will begin in 2009, and will 

contribute to both the national goals of reduced carbon emissions and dependence 

on foreign oil, and help to reduce utility 

costs at the center. 

In December 2008, Kennedy also developed and signed a lease of a 60-acre site 

to Space Florida to enable the development and operation of Exploration Park, 

a planned mixed-use technology and commerce park adjacent to the existing Space 

Life Sciences Laboratory. The project is 

expected to provide an environment that 

fosters opportunities for growing U.S. 

commercial space capabilities to support 

NASA’s mission, to nurture the development and deployment of technology, and 

enables and supports the nation’s exploration and use of space to open up other aspects of space commerce. 

In 2008, Kennedy continued to develop new non-traditional partnerships that 

can bring compatible uses and users to the 

center. Examples include research conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Research and 

Development Center, and the continued 

use of the Shuttle Landing Facility by Zero 

Gravity Corp.’s commercial microgravity 

flights and aerodynamic testing by several 

race car teams. 

Kennedy established the new Center 

Planning and Development Office to focus 

and integrate these and similar activities 

to plan and implement the center’s transition from the shuttle era and its development of a broadened user base supporting 

NASA’s mission and the commercial space 

industry. The Center Development Office, 

working closely with the Kennedy Applied 

Technology Directorate, will lead the development of non-traditional business and 

partnerships, and serve as a new “front 

door” for such business activities with the 

center. These commercial and reimbursable 

activities are beginning to bring in needed revenue to the center, offsetting center 

operating costs, employing a skilled work 

force, and allowing limited investments to 

create additional future commercial opportunities. The center continues to seek out 

and secure commercial and business partnerships as a permanent part of the future. 

Economic Impact

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, facilities and office supplies. 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 Kennedy Space 

Center Visitor Complex, its launch events 

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 2008, of NASA’s $17.3 billion budget, 

Kennedy and other NASA centers injected 

$1.1 billion in wages and $833 million in 

purchases into the local and state economies 

of Florida, which induced a total economic 

impact of $4.1 billion in total output and 

40,802 jobs within the state of Florida. The 

report concludes that every space-related 

dollar spent in Florida produces more than 

double the economic impact; and every 

space-related job creates an additional 1.8 

jobs within Florida economy. Kennedy remains by far the major economic driver in 

Brevard County and a major contributor to 

the economic health of the state of Florida.
39

4,500

4,000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

Output, Income & Taxes in millions of 2008 $

Employment

40,802

34,498

40,403

Output

Area of Economic Impact

Brevard County

Central Florida Region

State of Florida

State of Florida

Central Florida Region

Brevard County

31,000 32,000 33,000 34,000 35,000 36,000 37,000 38,000 39,000 40,000 41,000 42,000

Millions of 2008 $

Output

3,238

4,069

4,150

Income

1,676

2,085

2,104

Federal Taxes

153

234

246

State & Local Taxes

71

98

103

Income Federal Taxes State & Local

Taxes

Brevard County Central Florida Region State of Florida

FY 2008 Total Economic Impact of All NASA Activities

in Florida by Geographic Area

For every job at Kennedy, an additional 1.82 jobs are created elsewhere within the state of Florida, 

each dollar of wages was multiplied into $1.87 in total income and each dollar of total direct spending 

for commodity purchases and wage payments was multiplied into $2.12 of output production.

In FY 2008, the total economic impact of 

NASA in Florida was: 

•	 $4.1 billion in output 

•	 $2.1 billion in household income 

•	 40,802 jobs 

•	 $246 million in federal taxes 

•	 $103 million in state and local taxes 

The vast majority was in central Florida
40

Work Force Diversity

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 future explorations. 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 contractor 

employees chartered to work for Kennedy. 

Other organizations, such as the European 

Space Agency and Patrick Air Force Base, 

have roles here but are not reflected in these 

numbers.

As of September 30, 2008, the total 

Kennedy population was 14,864. This 

includes 2,154 full-time, other-than-fulltime NASA civil servants and students, as 

well as 10,888 on-site and near-site contractor employees. The civil servant skill 

mix includes scientific and engineering, administrative, technical, and clerical workers. There are 390 construction employees, 

and 1,432 tenants on the center.

Total Civil Servants	 2,154

Civil Servant Skill Mix

Scientific & Engineering 63%

Administration 27%

Technical 6%

Clerical 3%

On-Site Contractor Employees 10,757

Off/Near-Site Contractor Employees 131

Total Contractor Employees	 10,888

Total Construction Employees	 390

Total Tenants	 1,432

TOTAL KSC POPULATION	 14,864

ke

(through 9/30/08)
41

Procurement Report

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 2008. Following is a brief description of their work for the agency: 

Space Gateway Support Co.

Space Gateway Support, or SGS, a joint 

venture of Northrop Grumman Corp. and 

Wackenhut Services Inc., provided base 

operations support for Kennedy and Cape 

Canaveral Air Force Station, or CCAFS. 

SGS was responsible for activities, such as 

roads and grounds maintenance, facilities 

maintenance, custodial, fire, security, calibrations and propellants handling.

Boeing Space Operations Co. 

Boeing Space Operations, a whollyowned subsidiary of The Boeing Co., was 

the prime contractor for the Checkout, 

Assembly and Payload Processing Services, 

or CAPPS, contract. Boeing’s primary purpose was to support all aspects of payload 

processing for the International Space Station, space shuttle and expendable launch 

vehicles, or ELVs. 

InDyne Inc.

InDyne provided communication services under the Kennedy Integrated Communications Services, or KICS, contract by 

supporting the space shuttle, payload carriers, launch services and the International 

Space Station. InDyne provided hardware 

and software integration and development 

for voice, video and data communications. 

InDyne also provided motion picture, photographs, digital and video products and 

services for NASA, commercial expendable 

launch vehicle and Department of Defense 

customers, as well as the operation, administration and maintenance of the telephone 

system supporting all Kennedy employees. 

Analex Corp.

Analex was the prime contractor on 

the Expendable Launch Vehicle Integrated 

Services, or ELVIS, contract. Analex was 

responsible for performing and integrating the overall programmatic ELV business and administrative functions, including program and project planning, risk 

management, evaluation and information 

technology. Services provided include the 

management, operation, maintenance and 

sustaining engineering of NASA’s ELV 

communications and telemetry stations located at CCAFS and Vandenberg Air Force 

Base in California. Analex also provided 

engineering services and studies, and technical services for various ground and flight 

ELV systems, missions and payloads. 

Arctic Slope Research Corp.

Arctic Slope Research, or ASRC Aerospace, provided research and engineering 

services and technical support to Kennedy’s Spaceport Engineering and Technology Division and other center operational 

customers. Support ranged in scope from 

engineering development and management of complex research, to engineering 

and technical support of various Kennedy 

laboratories and test beds. ASRC Aerospace 

utilized a consortium of affiliated universities in performing applied research and 

technology development efforts. ASRC 

Aerospace also provided technology outreach to foster awareness and utilization of 

Kennedy’s unique capabilities.

Dynamac Corp.

Dynamac, under the Life Sciences Services Contract, provided a broad range 

of life science services to NASA. These 

include medical operations for shuttle 

and station programs, environmental 

compliance and stewardship, life sciences 

payload operations, support to NASA’s 

Occupational Health Program, biological sciences, life sciences payload development, work force protection, fitness and 

education outreach.

United Launch Services LLC

United Launch Services, or ULS, 

brought The Boeing Co., Delta Launch 

Services Inc. and Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services together. ULS 

provides launch services to NASA using 

the Delta II and Atlas vehicles under two 

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. Principal location for the Atlas vehicle 

assembly is Denver, Colo. Both the Delta II 

and the Atlas vehicles launch from CCAFS 

and Vandenberg.

Lockheed Martin Information 

Technology Services Co. 

Lockheed led the Outsourcing Desktop Initiative, or ODIN, for NASA after 

acquiring the OAO Corp. The ODIN contract is an agencywide long-term outsourcing arrangement that 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 assets include, desktops, 

servers, mobile BlackBerry devices, WebEx 

Web conferencing, Kennedy Unified Dialup Access, or KUDA, and e-mail.

Orbital Sciences Corp. 

Orbital Sciences Corp., or OSC, provided the agency’s Launch Services Program, 

or LSP, with the Pegasus and Taurus small 

expendable launch vehicles at CCAFS, Vandenberg, Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia 

and equatorial launch ranges. OSC was the 

contractor for one of three existing NASA 

LSP multiple-award Indefinite Delivery 

Quantity task order contracts. Additionally, 

OSC provided Pegasus and Taurus vehicles 

to the agency under a second contract, the 

Small Expendable Launch Vehicle contract.
42

United Space Alliance LL

Under a Johnson Space Center contract, United Space Alliance, or USA, was 

the prime contractor for the Space Flight 

Operations Contract. USA’s primary purpose was 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 shuttle at Kennedy.

FY 2008 KSC Dollars Obligated to

Large and Small Business

Large Business Contractors

Small Business Contractors

78.08%

21.92%

Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro cut the ribbon at a 

ceremony July 14, 2008, marking the official opening of the Life Support 

Facility. The facility is recognized as the first NASA-funded building that 

received the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certification, also known as 

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
43

Your Procurement Dollars at Work

Geographical Distribution by State

(Fiscal Year 2008 Obligations)

STATE TOTAL DOLLARS

ALABAMA 4,475,012.17

ARIZONA 213,295.82

ARKANSAS 51,400.00

CALIFORNIA 119,305,951.95

COLORADO 184,096,225.81

CONNECTICUT 11,351,662.17

DELAWARE 32,404.56

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 873,321.02

FLORIDA 291,445,206.88

GEORGIA 446,470.15

IDAHO 33,555.84

ILLINOIS 574,707.57

INDIANA 202,983.80

IOWA 174,516.22

KANSAS 30,888.00

KENTUCKY 256,400.8

LOUISIANA 4,620,647.42

MARYLAND 126,818,132.4

MASSACHUSETTS 1,060,185.16

MICHIGAN 2,354.803.86

MINNESOTA 829,801.00

STATE TOTAL DOLLARS

MISSISSIPPI 11,818.00

MISSOURI 285,605.81

NEW HAMPSHIRE 1,106,777.92

NEW JERSEY 1,599,476.2

NEW MEXICO 731,555.54

NEW YORK 1,702,373.5

NORTH CAROLINA 111,846.75

NORTH DAKOTA 11,744.79

OHIO 3,572,755.76

OKLAHOMA 496,513.21

OREGON 64,715.00

PENNSYLVANIA 8,800,884.9

RHODE ISLAND 69,687.47

SOUTH CAROLINA 7,880.24

TENNESSEE 3,609,015.24

TEXAS 13,755,749.28

UTAH 206,954.54

VIRGINIA 413,789,411.71

WASHINGTON 88,750.85

WEST VIRGINIA 22,065.00

WISCONSIN 820,684.59

TOTAL $1,200,133,839.22
44

uitd launch serv

spae gateway support

hensel Phelps Constr

THE BOEING CO. 1 104,163,803

ASRC AEROSPACE CORP. 1 75,627,423

INDYNE INC. 1 56,242,81

ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP. 1 37,158,946

ANALEX CORP. 2 32,506,424

DYNAMAC CORP. 1 14,561,15

OAO CORP. 3 12,526,414

PRAXAIR INC. 10 10,571,137

REYNOLDS SMITH AND HILLS INC. 13 10,011,64

ASTROTECH SPACE OPERATIONS INC. 14 9,568,594

SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORP. 3 7,979,583

SAUER INC. 9 7,920,767

CANAVERAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC. 9 7,313,42

MILLENNIUM ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATION CO. 2 5,902,133

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INC. 3 5,574,369

SPEEGLE CONSTRUCTION INC. 6 5,385,003

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION CORP. 5 5,255,43

JONES EDMUNDS AND ASSOCIATES INC. 54 4,695,883

REDE-CRITIQUE INC. 21 4,619,451

RUSH CONSTRUCTION INC. 9 3,876,116

AIR LIQUIDE LARGE INDUSTRIES US LLP 1 3,850,711

SHORELINE FOUNDATION INC. 1 3,280,000

TOTAL 174 $1,099,901,301

Contractor	 Number of	 Dollars

Contracts/Orders	

Top 25 KSC Business Contractors for FY 2008
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899

www.nasa.gov

NP-2008-11-160-KSC