National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Kennedy Space Center’s 

Annual Report

FY2011
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 1

Table of Contents

3 Center Director’s Message

4 Vision, Mission & Core 

Competencies

6 Significant Events

16 Launch Vehicle Processing

20 Ground Processing

22 International Space Station 

Ground Processing & 

Research

25 Launch Services Program

28 Commercial Crew Program

30 Ground Systems 

Development & 

Operations Program

32 Center Planning & 

Development

34 Engineering & Technology

36 Environmental Leadership

38 Education

44 Outreach to the World

48 Kennedy Business Report

CFO Report

Economic Impact

Workforce Overview

Procurement Report

Space shuttle Discovery pauses for photos during its move called “rollover” from Orbiter Processing Facility-3 to the nearby Vehicle Assembly 

Building on Sept. 9, 2010.
Bathed in xenon 

lights, space shuttle 

Atlantis embarks on 

its final journey from 

the Vehicle Assembly 

Building to Launch 

Pad 39A at 8:42 p.m. 

EDT, May 31, 2011.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 3

Center Director’s Message

During fiscal year 2011, a dedicated and 

diverse workforce at Kennedy Space Center 

helped to process NASA’s last three space 

shuttle missions and bring to a close 30 years of 

Space Shuttle Program flights. 

At the same time, Kennedy began transitioning 

from a historically government-only launch facility, 

which supported shuttle missions and construction 

of the International Space Station, to a multipurpose spaceport, supporting research and 

development aboard the space station and serving 

different types of missions, rockets and spacecraft, 

both governmental and commercial.

Kennedy and the world watched as space shuttles 

Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis launched on their 

final missions, all to the International Space Station. 

Final payloads processed in Kennedy’s Space 

Station Processing Facility, including the Permanent 

Multipurpose Module and the Alpha Magnetic 

Spectrometer-2, were delivered to the space station. 

The long-established Launch Services Program 

(LSP) based at Kennedy oversaw the launch of three 

NASA missions from the east and west coasts, 

including the Aquarius/SAC-D observatory, Juno 

mission to Jupiter, and the twin Gravity Recovery 

and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft, named 

Ebb and Flow, bound for the moon. LSP also spent 

the year preparing the Mars Science Laboratory 

(MSL) for launch in November 2011 and is scheduled 

to arrive at Mars in August 2012.

As we move forward, Kennedy is leading efforts 

in two newly-established programs and a new 

center office that are among several supporting 

NASA’s next steps in space exploration. These are 

the Ground Systems Development and Operations 

Program, the Commercial Crew Program and the 

Ground Processing Directorate. 

In the last several years leading up to the shuttle 

program’s retirement, we’ve emphasized that 

partnering is the key to the center’s future. In 

fiscal year 2011, Kennedy’s Center Planning and 

Development Office was involved in discussions 

on dozens of agreements, many of which are 

partnerships with commercial companies. 

Kennedy also will take the lead in some areas 

of technology capabilities with assistance from 

other NASA centers. These capabilities include life 

sciences and habitation systems, space launch 

and suborbital technologies, and tracking, timing, 

communications and navigation techniques.

NASA marked the 10th anniversary of continuous 

human presence on the International Space Station 

in November 2010. Men and women from 15 nations 

have lived and worked together on the station and 

conducted more than 600 research and technology 

experiments. 

These are just a few highlights of the many 

accomplishments that were achieved by the 

outstanding workforce here at Kennedy Space 

Center.

Robert D. Cabana

Center Director
4 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Vision, Mission &

Core Competencies

KSC Vision

KSC is the world’s preeminent launch complex for government and commercial 

space access, enabling the world to explore and work in space.

KSC Mission

KSC safely manages, develops, integrates and sustains space systems through 

partnerships that enable innovative, diverse access to space and inspires the 

nation’s future explorers.

KSC Core Competencies

•	 Acquisition and management of launch services and 

commercial crew development

•	 Launch vehicle and spacecraft processing, launching, landing 

and recovery, operations and sustaining engineering

•	 Payload and flight science experiment processing, integration 

and testing

•	 Designing, developing, operating, and sustaining flight and 

ground systems, and supporting infrastructure

•	 Development, test and demonstration of advanced flight 

systems and transformational technologies

•	 Developing technology to advance exploration and space systems

6 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Significant Events

1. Oct. 11, 2010: Commercial Crew Program becomes NASA’s future

President Obama and Congress approve the creation of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and future direction of the 

agency with the signing of the 2010 NASA Authorization Act.

2. Oct. 19, 2010: Memorial to fallen employees dedicated

A memorial was dedicated to those who died on the job at Kennedy and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in service to 

America’s space program. Sponsored by the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation and located in Space View Park in 

Titusville, Fla., their names are engraved on one of the Apollo memorial’s pylons.

3. Nov. 2, 2010: NASA marks 10th anniversary of life on space station

NASA celebrated 10 years of continuous living on the International Space Station (ISS) and 

the completion of 57, 361 orbits of Earth, or about 1.5 billion miles. Men and women from 

15 nations have lived and worked together on the station and conducted more than 600 

research and technology experiments.

4. Nov. 11, 2010: NASA awards new engineering services contract

NASA selected QinetiQ North America of McLean, Va., to provide engineering services and products at Kennedy.

5. Dec. 8, 2010: First COTS Program flight test a success

SpaceX tested its Falcon 9 rocket and a fully functioning Dragon spacecraft combination 

during a brief mission launched from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral 

Air Force Station in Florida. The flight was the first for NASA’s Commercial Orbital 

Transportation Services (COTS) Program.

6. Jan. 20, 2011: LEED Platinum building unveiled

Kennedy unveiled its newest environmentally friendly building, the Propellants North 

Administrative and Maintenance Facility. It qualified for the U.S. Green Building Council’s 

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Platinum status, which is the 

highest of green building certifications. The new building will help Kennedy prepare for 

future projects.

7. Feb. 24, 2011: Discovery lifts off on its last mission

Space shuttle Discovery roared off Launch Pad 39A at 4:53 p.m. EST to begin the last of its historic missions, STS-133. 

The launch originally was scheduled for Nov. 5, 2010, but was delayed by a problem with the ground umbilical carrier 

plate (GUCP) and a crack in the orange foam near the top of the external fuel tank’s midsection.

8. March 1, 2011: NASA implements 2010 Authorization Act

with creation of Commercial Crew Program Office

NASA announced that Kennedy Space Center will lead the way in enabling commercial human spaceflight capabilities 

with the establishment of the Commercial Crew Program Office, the first at the center for human spaceflight.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 7

9. March 9, 2011: Discovery ends illustrious career

with return from space

Discovery touched down at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility at 11:57 a.m. EST to 

complete the 13-day, 5.3-million-mile STS-133 mission to the International Space Station.

The shuttle and its crew of six astronauts delivered the last pressurized module to the 

U.S. side of the orbiting outpost, a large closet of sorts called the Permanent Multipurpose 

Module. Discovery, the longest-serving veteran of NASA’s space shuttle fleet, flew 39 

missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited Earth 5,830 times and traveled 148,221,675 

miles since 1984.

10. March 11, 2011: Kennedy-sponsored Pink Team wins Florida 

FIRST competition

The Kennedy-sponsored Pink Team participated in the regional For the Inspiration and 

Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition at the University of 

Central Florida in Orlando. The team, made up of students from Rockledge, Cocoa Beach 

and Viera high schools, was the winning alliance in the Florida FIRST Robotics Competition,

where they also took home the Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors.

11. April 12, 2011: Retirement locations of space shuttles announced

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden announced on the 30th anniversary of the first space

shuttle launch, that shuttle Atlantis will remain on permanent exhibition at the Kennedy 

Space Center Visitor Complex.

12. April 17, 2011: New weather instrumentation activated 

on Launch Pad 39B

A new comprehensive weather instrumentation system installed on the lightning protec

towers at Launch Pad 39B is providing up-to-the-second and extremely accurate 

measurements at different locations and altitudes. The improvements are expected to 

produce increasingly detailed launch criteria that could lead to more on-time liftoffs for a 

variety of rockets in the future.

13. April 18, 2011: Companies chosen for NASA’s Commercial Crew Development effort

NASA awarded approximately $270 million to four commercial companies to continue development of commercial 

rockets and spacecraft capable of safely flying astronauts into orbit and to the International Space Station. The award 

was the second phase of the agency’s Commercial Crew Development effort, known as CCDev2.

14. May 5, 2011: 50th anniversary of the first U.S. manned spaceflight

commemorated

More than 200 workers from the original Mercury Program joined NASA Administrator 

Charlie Bolden and Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana on Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Station for a re-creation of Alan Shepard’s flight and recovery to commemorate the 50th 

anniversary of the first U.S. manned spaceflight.

15. May 7, 2011: U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame induction

Former astronauts Karol J. “Bo” Bobko and Susan J. Helms were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Their 

inductions brought the total number of space explorers enshrined to 79.

16. May 16, 2011: Endeavour launches on final mission

Space shuttle Endeavour launched for the 25th and final time from Launch Pad 39A at 8:56 a.m. EDT on the STS-134 

mission to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and critical supplies to the space station.

tion 
8 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

17. May 26, 2011: U.S. Honor Flag presented to NASA

The U.S. Honor Flag was presented by James Loftus, director of the Miami-Dade Police 

Department, to Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana for flight aboard shuttle Atlantis on 

its final mission. The flag has traveled throughout the world honoring heroes who lost their 

lives while serving their community and country to include police officers, firefighters, 

members of the Armed Forces and astronauts.

18. June 1, 2011: Endeavour sails to home port for the final time

Space shuttle Endeavour and its six-astronaut crew sailed home for the final time, ending 

a 16-day journey at 2:35 a.m. EDT at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility. STS-134 was the 

last mission for the youngest of NASA’s space shuttle fleet. Since 1992, Endeavour flew 25 

missions, spent 299 days in space, orbited Earth 4,671 times and traveled 122,883,151 

miles.

19. June 10, 2011: NASA’s Aquarius/SAC-D observatory rockets into 

space from California

NASA’s “Age of Aquarius” dawned with a launch on a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg 

Air Force Base (VAFB) in California at 10:20 a.m. EDT. The international satellite carried 

the agency-built Aquarius instrument that will measure the saltiness of Earth’s oceans to 

advance our understanding of the global water cycle in order to improve climate forecasts.

20. June 15, 2011: New Ground Systems Development and Operations Program

NASA’s new Ground Systems Development and Operations Program, formerly the 21st Century Ground Systems 

Program, was officially stood up at Kennedy.

21. June 16, 2011: The final space shuttle payload is delivered to the 

launch pad

The payload canister carrying the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module for the 

final space shuttle mission, STS-135, arrived at Launch Pad 39A for transport to the 

International Space Station aboard shuttle Atlantis.

22. July 7, 2011: NASA and Sierra Nevada Corp. Space Systems enter into agreement

NASA and Sierra Nevada Corp. Space Systems of Sparks, Nev., enter into a Space Act Agreement (SAA) that will offer the 

company technical capabilities from Kennedy’s uniquely skilled workforce.

23. July 8, 2011: Atlantis roars off Launch Pad 39A on the final space 

shuttle mission

Space shuttle Atlantis launched at 11:29 a.m. EDT on the STS-135 mission carrying the 

Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module to deliver supplies, logistics and spare parts to the 

International Space Station.

24. July 13, 2011: U.S. Senate acknowledges end of the Space Shuttle Program

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed Resolution 233, honoring America’s space agency and its workers. The Senate 

acknowledged that the Space Shuttle Program has driven innovation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and 

mathematics to benefit the people of the United States and all of humankind.

25. July 18, 2011: NASA begins commercial partnership with United Launch Alliance

Through a new, unfunded Space Act Agreement, United Launch Alliance (ULA) will provide technical information to NASA 

about using the Atlas V rocket to launch astronauts into space as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Development 

Round 2 activites.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 9

26. July 21, 2011: Atlantis completes STS-135, the final spaceflight in 

the shuttle program

Space shuttle Atlantis completed its final spaceflight mission, STS-135. Wrapping up 

30 years of unmatched achievements and blazing a trail for the next era of U.S. human 

spaceflight, NASA’s Space Shuttle Program came to a “wheels stop” at 5:57 a.m. EDT, 

concluding its 135th mission. Since 1985, Atlantis few 33 flights, spent 307 days in space, 

orbited Earth 4,848 times and traveled 125,935,769 miles.

27. Aug. 5, 2011: Juno spacecraft starts its five-year journey to Jupiter

Juno was launched atop an Atlas V rocket at 12:25 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 

41 at CCAFS on its way to Jupiter on a mission to look deep beneath the planet’s swirling 

curtain of clouds.

28. Aug. 29, 2011: NASA and KT Engineering enter into agreement 

A non-reimbursable Umbrella Space Act Agreement (SAA), signed by Center Director Bob Cabana and KT Engineering in 

Madison, Ala., will help the agency acquire the knowledge necessary to develop a multi-user ground system architecture 

for launching nontraditional, low-cost vehicles. 

29. Sept. 9, 2011: CASIS to manage station’s U.S. national laboratory

The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) was awarded management of 

the portion of the International Space Station that is operated as a U.S. national laboratory. 

CASIS will base its efforts at Kennedy’s Space Life Sciences Laboratory and help ensure 

the space station’s unique capabilities are made available to the broadest possible crosssection of U.S. scientific, technological and industrial communities.

30. Sept. 10, 2011: Twin GRAIL probes launch to lunar orbit

A United Launch Alliance Delta II heavy rocket successfully sent NASA’s twin moon-bound 

Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft on their way from Cape 

Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida at 9:08 a.m. EDT.

31. Sept. 13, 2011: NASA and ATK enter agreement

NASA entered into an unfunded Space Act Agreement with Alliant Techsystems (ATK) that could help speed up the 

availability of U.S. commercial crew transportation capabilities to the International Space Station and low Earth orbit. 

The agreement will allow a partnership on the development of ATK’s Liberty launch system as part of the agency’s 

Commercial Crew Development Round 2 activities.

32. Sept. 19, 2011: NASA releases Commercial Crew draft RFP

NASA unveiled an outline of its acquisition strategy to procure transportation services from private industry to carry U.S. 

astronauts to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station. The agency also announced the addition of optional 

milestones for the Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) initiative.

33. Sept. 30, 2011: NASA awards new security and support contract

NASA selected Chenega Security and Support Solutions LLC of Ashburn, Va., to provide services at Kennedy.
Xenon lights illuminate space 

shuttle Discovery and create a 

mirror image in the Turn Basin 

as the space vehicle rolls out 

to Launch Pad 39A from the 

Vehicle Assembly Building on 

Jan. 31, 2011.
In a swirl of billowing smoke and steam, space 

shuttle Discovery’s liftoff is reflected in the water 

as it roars off Launch Pad 39A at 4:53 p.m. EST on 

Feb. 24, 2011, on its final flight to the International 

Space Station on the STS-133 mission.
In the Vehicle Assembly Building, 

space shuttle Endeavour is 

lowered into place where it is 

being attached to its external 

fuel tank and solid rocket 

boosters, already positioned on 

the mobile launcher platform 

March 1, 2011.

Vapor trails follow space shuttle 

Atlantis as it approaches 

Runway 15 on the Shuttle 

Landing Facility for the final 

time, July 21, 2011.
Space shuttle 

Endeavour began 

its slow trek 

from the Vehicle 

Assembly Building 

to Launch Pad 

39A at 7:56 p.m. 

EST on March 10, 

2011.
Space shuttle Atlantis’ main engines and solid rockets 

boosters ignite on Launch Pad 39A as it lifts off past the 

tower into the clouds at 11:29 a.m. EDT on July 8, 2011, on 

its final flight, STS-135, to the International Space Station.
Thousands of 

Kennedy Space 

Center employees 

stand side-by-side 

to form a full-scale 

outline of a space 

shuttle orbiter outside 

the Vehicle Assembly 

Building on March 

18, 2011. The unique 

photo opportunity was 

designed to honor 

the Space Shuttle 

Program’s 30-year 

legacy and the people 

who contributed to 

safely processing, 

launching and landing 

the vehicle.
16 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Launch Vehicle Processing

During Fiscal Year 2011, Kennedy Space 

Center’s Launch Vehicle Processing 

Directorate and the ground operations 

processing team prepared space shuttles Atlantis, 

Discovery and Endeavour for their final missions into 

space and completed 30 years of NASA’s Space 

Shuttle Program. These final three missions, one for 

each orbiter, also completed the final assembly of 

the International Space Station. 

Several challenges were overcome, including those 

of a technical nature and the implementation of 

personnel reductions as the Space Shuttle Program 

came to a historic and successful completion. 

Now, transition and retirement work is being 

performed on NASA’s three space shuttles to 

preserve them for display at locations around 

the country. 

FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE MISSIONS

Mission STS-133/Discovery 

The shuttle processing team overcame several 

technical challenges as Discovery was prepared 

for its final mission. Discovery first rolled out to 

Launch Pad 39A in September 2010; however, a 

fuel leak during propellant loading was discovered. 

The teams quickly analyzed and corrected the 

leak, but subsequent analysis on the external 

fuel tank structure determined that a return to the 

Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) was required to 

accommodate required modifications to fix the 

structural issues. After the modifications were 

completed, extensive testing performed and a great 

deal of engineering analysis conducted by teams 

across the Space Shuttle Program, Discovery once 

again returned to the pad in February 2011. 

Discovery launched Feb. 24, 2011, at 4:53 p.m. 

EST, on its 39th and final mission. It was the 133rd 

space shuttle mission and the 35th mission to the 

International Space Station.

On its third day of flight, Discovery docked with 

the space station and delivered the Expedite the 

Processing of Experiments to the Space Station 

(ExPRESS) Logistics Carrier. The crew also delivered 

the Permanent Multipurpose Module Leonardo to 

the station. Extensive outfitting and cargo transfers 

then were conducted during the next several days. 

Mission specialists performed two spacewalks 

during the flight. 

Discovery touched down at Kennedy’s Shuttle 

Landing Facility at 11:57 a.m. EST 

on March 9, after spending 13 

days in space. 

Upon landing, Discovery 

was retired after completing 

an amazing career of 

accomplishments. Discovery flew 

39 successful missions during 

its 27 years in service, having 

first launched from Kennedy 

on Aug. 30, 1984. NASA’s third 

On Launch Pad 39A, technicians reattach 

the vent line to the ground umbilical carrier 

plate on space shuttle Discovery’s external 

fuel tank for the STS-133 mission to the 

International Space Station.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 17

operational orbiter carried 252 crew members, flew 

365 days in space and more than 148 million miles, 

the most of any orbiter. 

Mission STS-134/Endeavour

During Endeavour’s STS-134 mission processing 

flow, the team overcame several challenges that 

enabled Endeavour to make its final journey to 

Launch Pad 39A on March 10, 2011. The illuminated 

rollout from VAB high bay 3 was witnessed by 

thousands of Kennedy employees, their families and 

invited guests. 

Endeavour began the STS-134 mission with a 

spectacular early morning launch on May 16, 2011, 

at 8:56 a.m. EDT. After a flawless ascent into orbit, 

Endeavour arrived at its destination, the International 

Space Station, on Flight Day 3. That same day, the 

crew removed the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier from 

Endeavour’s payload bay and attached it to the 

space station.

Mission specialists helped attach the Alpha 

Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) to the space station 

on the fourth day of the mission. The AMS unit is 

a particle physics detector that contains a large 

permanent magnet which is designed to search for 

antimatter and investigate the origin and structure of 

dark matter. 

Mission specialists also 

transferred the Orbiter 

Boom Sensor System 

(OBSS) from Endeavour 

for permanent use on the 

station. It will be used 

to reach places that 

the Canadarm2 can’t 

get to on its own. The 

crew performed three 

spacewalks to further 

complete the outfitting and 

assembly of the station.

Endeavour safely touched 

down with a nighttime 

landing at Kennedy’s 

Shuttle Landing Facility at 

2:35 a.m. EDT on June 1, 

2011, completing a 16-day 

mission. 

Endeavour was retired 

after completing a historic list of accomplishments. 

Endeavour flew 25 successful missions during its 19 

years in service, having first launched from Kennedy 

on May 7, 1992. NASA’s fifth and newest orbiter 

carried 173 crew members, flew 299 days in space 

and traveled more than 122 million miles. 

Mission STS-135/Atlantis 

Processing of the last flight of the Space Shuttle 

Program began with the arrival of the final flight 

components. External fuel tank 138 (ET-138) left the 

Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on the 

Pegasus barge and arrived at Kennedy on July 13, 

2010. After offloading, the tank was transported into 

a checkout cell inside the VAB. 

Stacking operations of the solid rocket boosters 

for the mission commenced in March 2011. As a 

historical note, the upper cylinder on the left booster 

flew previously on STS-1, the maiden flight of space 

shuttle Columbia on April 12, 1981. 

Atlantis began its journey to the VAB on May 17, 

2011, and was attached to ET-138 and the twin 

solid rocket boosters on May 18. Space shuttle 

Atlantis rolled out, for the final time, to Launch Pad 

39A on June 1. As Atlantis was traveling to the pad 

overnight, Endeavour was touching down a few 

miles away on the Shuttle Landing Facility following 

In Orbiter Processing Facility-2, United Space Alliance mid-body shop mechanical technicians remove the 

main landing gear brakes on space shuttle Endeavour to prepare for the STS-134 mission. The shuttle’s tires 

were replaced following each flight, and the brakes were replaced after every eighth flight.
18 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Workers and the crew of STS-135 hold up a “We’re Behind You Atlantis” banner during the final planned move of shuttle Atlantis from Orbiter 

Processing Facility-1 to the Vehicle Assembly Building on May 17, 2011.

its highly successful STS-134 mission. 

A tanking test performed at the pad revealed a fuel 

valve leak, which was successfully repaired. 

The final launch of the space shuttle occurred 

July 8, 2011, at 11:29 a.m. EDT. Atlantis climbed 

flawlessly into orbit, and the Atlantis crew began 

in-orbit operations. The crew of the International 

Space Station welcomed the shuttle crew upon its 

arrival on Flight Day 3. The following day, the multipurpose logistics module (MPLM) Raffaello was 

unberthed from the payload bay and attached to the 

space station. Throughout the course of the docked 

portion of the mission, 9,403 pounds of cargo was 

transferred to the space station and 5,666 pounds of 

cargo was loaded into the MPLM for return to Earth. 

After traveling more than 5.2 million miles in orbit, 

Atlantis completed the 135th and final space shuttle 

mission by touching down at Kennedy’s Shuttle 

Landing Facility on July 21, 2011, at 5:57 a.m. 

EDT. The pre-dawn touchdown heralded the end of 

NASA’s 30-year Space Shuttle Program. 

Upon landing for the final time, Atlantis was 

retired after completing a remarkable history of 

spaceflights. Atlantis flew 33 successful missions 

during its 26 years in service, having first launched 

from Kennedy on Oct. 3, 1985. NASA’s fourth orbiter 

carried 207 crew members, flew 307 days in space, 

completed 4,848 orbits of the Earth and traveled 

more than 125 million miles.

Beginning with the STS-1 mission, that launched 

April 12, 1981, 355 individuals from 16 countries flew 

on the space shuttle. More than 2,000 experiments 

In the Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing Facility, one of six 

space shuttle main engines is prepared for Endeavour’s STS-134 

mission. Postflight inspections and maintenance of each engine were 

conducted in the facility between shuttle missions by Pratt & Whitney 

Rocketdyne aerospace technicians.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 19

in the fields of Earth, astronomy, biological and 

materials sciences were conducted aboard the 

space shuttle.

Combined, all five of NASA’s space shuttles 

(Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavour and 

Atlantis) have traveled more than 542 million miles 

and made more than 21,000 Earth orbits. 

TRANSITION AND RETIREMENT

Almost immediately after each space shuttle 

landed, work began in the orbiter processing 

facilities and the VAB to prepare them for permanent 

public display. 

Discovery now is on display at the Smithsonian’s 

Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington, D.C. On April 17, 

2012, Discovery was transported atop the Shuttle 

Carrier Aircraft from Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing 

Facility to the Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Endeavour is being prepared for public display at 

the California Science Center in Los Angeles.

Atlantis is being prepared for display at the 

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. 

A July 2013 grand opening is targeted for Atlantis’ 

new exhibit hall.

Transition and retirement work included removal 

of the space shuttle main engines from each vehicle. 

The main engines will be retained for possible use 

on NASA’s Space Launch System vehicle. Replica 

shuttle main engines (RSMEs) were created in the 

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne engine shop. RSMEs 

created for Discovery were made to look like they 

had just returned from space in order to satisfy 

specific historical requirements for the Smithsonian.

Each vehicle’s orbital maneuvering system (OMS) 

pods and forward reaction control system (FRCS) 

were removed and sent to White Sands Space 

Harbor in New Mexico where they underwent a 

complete deservicing and cleaning. They were 

returned to Kennedy and reinstalled on the orbiters.

Other components of each vehicle are being 

removed and retained for possible future use on 

NASA’s Space Launch System. This includes the 

main propulsion system that was recently removed 

from Endeavour’s mid-body.

Transition and retirement work also includes the 

safing and turnover of facilities. Hundreds of facilities 

and tens of thousands of property items, such as 

ground support equipment, are being transitioned 

from Space Shuttle Program usage. Some of these 

assets will be used to support future programs. n

In a unique nose-to-nose view, space shuttle Discovery, at right, switched places with Endeavour on Aug. 11, 2011, as part of transition and 

retirement work. Discovery was heading from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Orbiter Processing Facility-1, while Endeavour was heading 

from OPF-1 to the VAB.
20 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Ground Processing

The Ground Processing Directorate began 

operations in August 2011 as part of the 

network of new organizations built to 

streamline Kennedy Space Center’s transition to 

a versatile and innovative spaceport that can host 

many kinds of rockets and spacecraft. 

The organization drew its staff of about 200 people 

from several directorates, including Launch Vehicle 

Processing, Launch Integration, International Space 

Station and Spacecraft Processing, Constellation 

Project Office and Engineering. It began formal 

operations Aug. 14. 

Ground Processing supports processing 

operations management, maintenance, sustaining 

engineering and logistics, as well as strategies and 

techniques to launch what could be a variety of 

rockets and spacecraft from Kennedy in the future. 

The directorate will focus mainly on projects with 

NASA’s new Human Exploration and Operations 

Directorate, which covers operations supporting the 

International Space Station orbital replacement unit 

(spare parts), supplies and research processing, 

shuttle transition and retirement, Launch Services 

Program, along with support to the Ground 

Systems Development and Operations Program 

and the Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket. 

The directorate also will work with the Center 

Planning and Development Office for host support to 

potential and new center customers, and integration 

of launch complex operations. 

The organization is part of Kennedy’s evolving 

network focused on establishing a multi-user 

spaceport. This is a unique calling for the center that 

has operated as the launch site of a single crewed 

launch vehicle at a time since the first American flew 

into space in 1961. 

The work for the Ground Processing Directorate 

will include developing strong, cohesive 

relationships with many customers. The relationship 

is expected to pay off with several kinds of rockets 

and spacecraft 

being processed 

and launched 

at Kennedy. 

Along the way, 

Kennedy’s expertise 

is expected to 

be called on 

for developing 

the machinery 

of successful 

processing and 

launches for craft 

that are not always 

alike. n

Workers monitor the progress of space shuttle Atlantis as it is backed out of Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida 

on May 17, 2011. Atlantis was on its final planned move to the Vehicle Assembly Building for the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station.
Space shuttle Atlantis soars past the 

American flag after lifting off Launch Pad 

39A at 11:29 a.m. EDT on July 8, 2011.
22 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

International Space Station

& Ground Processing Research

During Fiscal Year 2011, the International 

Space Station Ground Processing and 

Research Project Office at Kennedy Space 

Center processed the remaining U.S. components 

and several science and research experiments for 

delivery to the space station aboard NASA’s final 

three space shuttle flights.

In November 2011, the center celebrated the 

10-year anniversary of continuous human presence 

aboard the space station. On Nov. 2, the station 

completed 57,361 orbits of the Earth and traveled 

about 1.5 billion miles. Men and women from 15 

nations have lived and worked together on the 

station. 

On Oct. 25, 2011, the station set a record for being 

the longest continuously inhabited spacecraft. More 

than 600 research and technology experiments have 

been conducted on the station. 

Payload Processing

Two unpressurized Orbital Replacement Units, or 

ORUs, were processed in Kennedy Space Center’s 

Space Station Processing Facility. The ORUs were 

the Flex Hose Rotary Coupler, or FHRC, and the 

Cargo Transportation Container, or CTC, which is a 

box containing five smaller ORUs. 

The processing team integrated the FHRC to its 

flight support equipment and checked for continuity 

to ensure it was functioning properly and performed 

a gaseous nitrogen, or GN2, purge. Similar 

processing was completed for the CTC and then the 

smaller ORUs were integrated inside of it. 

They were then shipped 7,500 miles by land, air 

and sea for final processing in Tanegashima, Japan, 

and transported to the space station aboard the 

Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle in January 2011 

for the HTV2 mission. It was the first time two 

unpressurized ORUs were 

delivered to the space 

station by a launch vehicle 

other than the space 

shuttle.

Payloads processed 

for Discovery’s STS-133 

mission included the 

Permanent Multipurpose 

Module (PMM) and the 

ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 

4 (ELC-4). 

One of the multi-purpose 

logistics modules was 

processed and prepared 

for permanent installation 

on the space station and 

was renamed the PMM. 

One of the more unusual 

payloads on the STS-133 

mission was a dexterous 

humanoid astronaut helper, 

known as Robonaut 2 (R2). 

In the Space Station Processing Facility, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) is positioned to provide 

better access for work to be performed on its avionics box. AMS was delivered to the International Space 

Station aboard space shuttle Endeavour’s final flight, the STS-134 mission.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 23

NASA’s R2 was checked and readied for packing 

and stored in the PMM for delivery to the station. 

Although R2 initially will participate in operational 

tests aboard the station, upgrades could eventually 

allow the robot to realize its true purpose—helping 

spacewalking astronauts with tasks outside the 

orbiting laboratory. 

For the STS-134 mission, the Alpha Magnetic 

Spectrometer-2 (AMS), the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 

3 (ELC-3) and a myriad of station hardware and 

middeck experiments were processed and prepared 

for launch aboard space shuttle Endeavour. Some of 

the payloads processed and secured on ELC-3 were 

an ammonia tank assembly, a high-pressure gas tank, 

the special purpose dexterous manipulator and an 

orbital replacement unit. 

During the mission, AMS was attached to the 

station and became the first magnetic spectrometer 

in space. AMS, with its nine different science 

detectors, will collect information from cosmic 

sources emanating from stars and galaxies millions 

of light years beyond the Milky Way. 

For the STS-135 mission, space shuttle Atlantis 

carried more hardware, supplies and logistics, and 

science components by weight in its payload bay 

and middeck than any other space shuttle mission.

The multi-purpose logistics module Raffaello and 

an external carrier that holds the Robotic Refueling 

Module (RRM) were processed and prepared for 

STS-135 in the SSPF. The refueling module was 

developed at Goddard Space Flight Center in 

Greenbelt, Md., and transported to Kennedy for final 

testing and processing.

During the mission, the RRM remained on the 

station and will be used to demonstrate robotic 

refueling of spacecraft as well as general space 

robotic repair and servicing operations.

Kennedy’s operations and engineering teams 

developed a late cargo stowage plan for some 

enhanced pumps and equipment that arrived late for 

stowage on space station system racks.

ISS Research

The ISS research project management and 

science support provides the integration of research 

and science experiments to flight hardware through 

In the Space Station Processing Facility, technicians installed insulating blankets to the hatch of the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to 

protect it from the harsh environment and temperatures of space. The PMM was delivered to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle 

Discovery’s final flight, the STS-133 mission.
24 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Workers in the Space Station Processing Facility monitor the progress of the Heat Rejection Subsystem as is was transported by an overhead crane 

toward the Express Logistics Carrier-4, or ELC-4. Space shuttle Discovery delivered the ELC-4, filled with external payloads and experiments, to the 

International Space Station on its final flight, the STS-133 mission.

the entire research life cycle, including design, 

manifesting, flight operations products, ground 

controls and postflight processing as it relates 

primarily to plants but includes microbial and other 

biological systems as applicable.

Among the research and science experiments 

was a plant experiment developed and prepared for 

flight at Kennedy’s Space Life Sciences Laboratory. 

The Biological Research in Canisters-Symbiotic 

Nodulation in a Reduced Gravity Environment 

(BRIC-SyNRGE) was the first of its kind to fly on a 

space shuttle.

During the STS-135 mission, crew members 

monitored the temperature of the BRIC-SyNRGE 

samples, 40 petri dishes in eight canisters, added a 

fixing liquid to half of the samples to preserve them 

for ground analysis in their in-orbit state and left the 

other half for other ground analysis. The purpose 

of the experiment was to study the symbiotic 

relationship between plants similar to alfalfa, which 

is in the legume family, and specific nitrogenreacting bacteria in microgravity.

Another experiment developed in collaboration 

with Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., 

and processed at Kennedy for STS-135 was 

the Forward Osmosis Bag, which is a modified 

commercial off-the-shelf product designed to 

convert untreated water into a potable drink. 

Research hardware continues to be improved. 

For example, the Biotube’s imaging capability 

is being improved, and the Control and Data 

Management System and user interface are being 

upgraded. 

As part of the development of flight research 

equipment for use on the space station, the Kennedy 

team made substantial progress on the BioTube, 

VEGGIE and Advance Plant Habitat (APH) flight 

systems. A critical design review was completed for 

VEGGIE and final design efforts began on the APH 

experiment. BioTube and VEGGIE are expected to 

be deployed to the space station during Fiscal Year 

2013 and APH is expected to be deployed during 

Fiscal Year 2016. n
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 25

Launch Services Program

During the year, LSP provided advance 

planning for more than 30 future expendable 

launch vehicle missions for NASA’s Science 

Mission Directorate and Human Exploration and 

Operations Mission Directorate, and is actively 

procuring launch services for future NASA missions.

The office supported NASA’s Science Mission 

Directorate during its announcement of opportunities 

for the Discovery 12, Explorers, Earth Venture and 

New Frontiers programs, as well as advanced 

planning for numerous science missions in early 

stages of design and development. 

LSP continued its collaboration with the U.S. Air 

Force and the National Reconnaissance Office, 

particularly for launch vehicle certification approach 

and processes. It also continued to serve in a 

technical advisory role for the International Space 

Station Program’s Commercial Resupply Services, 

the Commercial Crew Program and various 

science missions like the James Webb Space 

Telescope, Global Precipitation Measurement and 

Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer 

missions. LSP also promoted numerous partnership 

initiatives for the development and implementation 

of Poly-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (PPOD) 

systems, supporting current and future missions for 

the CubeSat Initiative.

GRAIL

The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory 

(GRAIL) mission to the moon launched on NASA’s 

last scheduled Delta II Heavy rocket from Launch 

Complex 17B at CCAFS on Sept. 10, 2011, at 9:08 

a.m. EDT.

GRAIL was processed at the Astrotech facility in 

Titusville, Fla. The processing flow was completed in 

tandem with preparing and processing NASA’s Mars 

Science Laboratory for its mission. 

In March 2012, GRAIL’s twin spacecraft, Ebb and 

Flow, began high-quality gravity field mapping of 

the moon to determine its interior structure. GRAIL 

will fly in tandem orbits around the moon for several 

months to measure its gravity field in great detail. 

The spacecraft’s primary science objectives will be 

to determine the structure of the lunar interior, from 

crust to core, and to advance understanding of the 

thermal evolution of the moon. Grail also will extend 

knowledge gained from the moon to the other 

terrestrial planets. The new information will help 

when targeting a landing site for any future missions. 

Each spacecraft will carry multiple cameras aboard 

to document their views and to allow students and 

the public to view observations from the satellites. 

Flames and smoke from the engines surround the United Launch 

Alliance Delta II rocket at liftoff carrying NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery 

and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission off Space Launch Complex 

17B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The spacecraft 

launched at 9:08 a.m. EDT Sept. 10, 2011.
26 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

JUNO

Juno, a mission to Jupiter, launched aboard an 

Atlas V rocket on Aug. 5, 2011, at 12:25 p.m. EDT, 

from Launch Complex 41 at CCAFS. Juno is part of 

NASA’s New Frontiers Program. The spacecraft is 

the first mission to Jupiter that is powered by solar 

energy. 

The LSP team met the challenge of processing a 

spacecraft with very large solar arrays and a launch 

vehicle that utilized more solid rocket motors than 

previous missions on an Atlas V launch vehicle. 

About two years after launch, Juno will return 

to Earth for a gravity-assist flyby that gives the 

spacecraft the huge boost it needs to coast all the 

way out to Jupiter.

In July 2016, the solar-powered spacecraft will 

reach Jupiter and enter a highly elliptical orbit 

around the planet’s poles that brings the spacecraft 

as close as 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) above 

the planet’s cloud tops. The mission’s primary goal 

is to improve our understanding of the formation, 

evolution and structure of the planet Jupiter. With its 

suite of nine instruments, Juno will investigate the 

existence of a solid planetary core, map Jupiter’s 

intense magnetic field, measure the amount of water 

and ammonia in the deep atmosphere and explore 

the planet’s auroras.

AQUARIUS/SAC-D Mission

Aquarius/SAC-D is a cooperative Earth Science 

project with NASA and Argentina’s Comisión 

Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE). The 

Aquarius spacecraft launched aboard a Delta II on 

June 10, 2011, at 7:20 a.m. PDT (10:20 a.m. EDT) 

from Space Launch Complex 2 at VAFB.

NASA’s Juno planetary probe, enclosed in its payload fairing, launches 

atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch 

Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It’s fiveyear journey to Jupiter began at 12:25 p.m. EDT Aug. 5, 2011.

At Astrotech’s Hazardous Processing Facility in Titusville, Fla., 

technicians using an overhead crane lower NASA’s Juno spacecraft to 

a fueling stand where the spacecraft was loaded with the propellant 

necessary for orbit maneuvers and the attitude control system on June 

27, 2011. 
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 27

NASA provided the primary instrument Aquarius, 

and launch services, while CONAE supplied the 

SAC-D spacecraft and ground system. The SAC-D 

spacecraft also carried a suite of seven other 

instruments with various science objectives.

For the first time in more than 10 years, the 

integrated processing facility called the Spaceport 

Systems International at VAFB was used to process 

the spacecraft. 

During its prime three-year mission, Aquarius 

will provide unprecedented data to produce global 

maps of sea-surface salinity, measuring changes 

equivalent to about a “pinch” (1/8 of a teaspoon) 

of salt in one gallon of water. Within a few months, 

Aquarius will collect as many sea-surface salinity 

measurements as the entire 125-year historical 

record from ships and buoys.

Glory 

NASA’s Glory spacecraft launched on a Taurus 

XL rocket on March 4, 2011, at 5:09 a.m. EST, from 

Space Launch Complex 576-E at VAFB, but failed 

to reach orbit. The mission would have been the first 

of its kind dedicated to improving our understanding 

of how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles called 

aerosols affect Earth’s climate. n

In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians work beneath NASA’s Mars 

Science Laboratory mission aeroshell, containing the compact car-sized rover Curiosity, which was mated to the cruise stage, on 

Oct. 11, 2011.

In Space Systems International’s Payload Processing Facility at 

Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, technicians rotate the 

Aquarius/SAC-D spacecraft into a vertical position for testing on April 

12, 2011.
28 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Commercial Crew Program

For the first time since opening its doors 50 

years ago, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is 

spearheading a program for launching men 

and women into space with the emergence of the 

Commercial Crew Program (CCP). 

Working with a mandate to establish a fully 

functioning program capable of organizing a 

combined effort to send astronauts into low Earth 

orbit on privately funded and operated rockets, the 

Space Transportation Planning Office morphed into 

CCP in April 2011. 

The program is ready to carry the torch of the 

Space Shuttle Program by human-rating commercial 

launch vehicles and spacecraft so America can 

routinely and affordably journey to the International 

Space Station and other low Earth orbit destinations 

around the middle of the decade. Currently, CCP 

is working with a roster of potential commercial 

space transportation providers, achieving significant 

milestones and setting goals for itself and the 

companies it is working with.

Building off the planning office’s Commercial Crew 

Development Round 1 (CCDev1) activities, CCP 

hit the ground running in Fiscal Year 2011 with the 

release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for space 

transportation 

systems on 

Oct. 25, 2010. 

The proposals 

were received in 

mid-December, 

followed by 

$269.3 million 

in awards in 

April 2011 to 

four companies 

to continue 

maturing 

systems for 

Commercial 

Crew 

Development 

Round 2 (CCDev2). 

The industry 

partners selected 

during that second 

phase were Blue 

Origin of Kent, 

Wash., Sierra 

Nevada Corp. of 

Louisville, Colo., 

The Boeing Co. 

of Houston, and 

Space Exploration 

Technologies 

(SpaceX) of 

Hawthorne, Calif. 

Later in the year, 

the agency awarded 

$46.2 million in 

optional milestones 

pre-negotiated 

as part of some 

of the original 

CCDev2 Space Act Agreements to help accelerate 

development. 

The program also entered into unfunded Space 

Act Agreements under CCDev2 to establish a 

framework of collaboration with other aerospace 

companies. As part of the agreements, NASA began 

to review and provide expert feedback to Alliant 

Techsystems Inc. (ATK) of Promontory, Utah, United 

Launch Alliance (ULA) of Centennial, Colo., and 

Excalibur Almaz Inc. of Houston on overall concepts 

and designs, systems requirements, launch vehicle 

compatibility, testing and integration plans, and 

operational and facilities plans. 

Late in 2010, CCP helped NASA’s Exploration 

Systems Mission Directorate develop an extensive 

set of safety requirements, standards and processes 

that will be applied to any NASA or NASA-sponsored 

commercial crew transportation mission. They are 

safety requirements that a system would have to 

meet before flight, rather than a traditional set of 

ATK

ULA
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 29

requirements and solutions that would be levied down to every 

nut and bolt of a system. 

The goal of CCP is to drive down the enormous cost of 

space travel by allowing aerospace companies the freedom 

to let technological ingenuity flourish in developing and 

demonstrating space transportation capabilities. NASA’s 

technical expertise and resources will be accessible to 

companies from concept to implementation, balancing 

industry’s own innovative capabilities with the agency’s five 

decades of human spaceflight experience. In order to operate 

in this new fashion, the program drafted a Procurement System 

Review (PSR) in 2011 to identify the insight and oversight 

approach it will take with providers. 

NASA tasked industry providers in September 2011 to 

deliver four astronauts and their equipment to the International 

Space Station and return them to Earth at least twice a year. 

A provider also must assure a crew’s safety in the event of 

an emergency at the pad and during launch and ascent. The 

chosen spacecraft also must demonstrate it can serve as a 24-

hour safe haven during an emergency in space and be able to 

stay docked to the station for at least 210 days.

CCP also introduced another partnership in FY11. In October 

2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set up shop 

at Kennedy to provide training in commercial space statutes, 

regulations, licensing processes, safety reviews and range 

integration. 

The long-term goal of that partnership is to eventually license 

space transportation systems to provide flights much like an 

airline is licensed to fly planes around the globe. This could 

lead to NASA buying a transportation service to low Earth 

orbit in order for the agency to focus on what it takes to get to 

destinations in deep space, such as Mars or asteroids. It also 

could open up the market for other scientists, engineers and 

teachers who want to perform research and experiments in the 

weightlessness of space and could spur a future space tourism 

industry as well.

The next step for CCP will be to award competitive Space 

Act Agreements in 2012 for integrated design capabilities, 

under a phase called CCiCap. Those would be followed by a 

competitively awarded contract for a certification phase, which 

will ensure that a design fully meets the safety and performance 

requirements for a NASA mission. n

Blue Origin Sierra Nevada SpaceX Excaliber Boeing
30 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Ground Systems Development

& Operations Program

During Fiscal Year 2011, the Constellation 

Ground Operations Project transitioned 

into the Ground Systems Development and 

Operations Program (formerly the 21st Century 

Ground Systems Program) at Kennedy, making 

significant progress toward enabling a variety of 

future spaceflight endeavors. The advent of the new 

program helps usher in the major transformation 

of the center into a multi-user spaceport that is 

capable of supporting a broad range of government 

and commercial space and launch activities. 

The program’s mission is to be a driving force 

that transforms Kennedy into the world’s premier 

multi-user launch and landing spaceport. The 

transformation, now under way, involves facilities, 

capabilities and spacecraft ground support 

equipment, as well as a reengineering of management 

and business systems.

The program is leading 

Kennedy’s physical 

transformation in support of the 

new Space Launch System, or 

SLS. Announced this year, the 

SLS is designed to be the most 

powerful U.S. rocket since the 

Saturn V took astronauts to the 

moon in 1969. The SLS Program, 

along with support from other 

NASA centers, will serve as the 

cornerstone for NASA’s future in 

human space exploration.

To support the SLS vehicle, 

the crawler-transporter, Vehicle 

Assembly Building, Launch Pad 

39B, the Launch Control Center’s 

Young-Crippen Firing Room, 

and the new mobile launcher 

are being prepared for their new 

roles in support of human space 

exploration.

The Orion multi-purpose 

crew vehicle that will carry 

Two 5.5-million-pound crawler-transporters 

await the opportunity to support NASA’s 

future spaceflight programs. The crawlers 

originally were built to support the Saturn 

rockets for NASA’s Apollo lunar landing 

program.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 31

The mobile launcher, or ML, stands at Launch Pad 39B on Nov. 28, 2011. Data on the ML will be collected from structural and functional engineering 

tests and used for the next phases of construction overseen by NASA’s Ground Systems Development and Operations Program.

astronauts aboard the SLS will be processed in 

Kennedy’s refurbished Operations and Checkout 

(O&C) Building. Hardware for the Orion test article, 

called EFT-1, already is being built and is scheduled 

to start arriving at Kennedy in early 2012. The 

state of Florida previously provided $35 million for 

refurbishment of the O&C high bay, and the facility 

is fully operational and certified for Orion final 

assembly and checkout. 

The most visible transformation among Kennedy’s 

facilities has been at Launch Pad 39B, where the 

infrastructure and equipment unique to the space 

shuttle have been removed. Pad B will provide all 

the fluids, electrical and communications services 

to the SLS mobile launcher. The pad’s generic 

infrastructure and equipment are being modernized 

and refurbished, paving the way for a launch pad 

capable of supporting multiple launch vehicles. 

Kennedy has a 50-year history serving as our 

nation’s gateway to exploring the universe. Taking 

the knowledge and assets of our successful space 

history, the Ground Systems Development and 

Operations Program arrived at year end with a vision 

of launching the world’s most powerful, advanced 

launch vehicles and spacecraft. n

In the Multi-Payload Processing Facility, NASA astronauts Shane 

Kimbrough, left, and Marsha Ivins, participated in a crew egress 

evaluation from an Orion mock-up Oct. 14, 2010. The exercise focused 

on whether astronauts and their rescue crews could exit the vehicle 

quickly in the event of a pad emergency.
32 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Center Planning & Development

Kennedy Space Center has made significant 

strides this year towards becoming a 

multiuser launch complex serving both 

government and commercial space industry. The 

future will see a diversity of launch systems being 

accommodated at Kennedy, including orbital and 

suborbital flights. To accomplish that vision, the 

Center Planning and Development Office (CPDO) 

continued throughout the year to work with the 

nation’s space launch industry on transforming the 

center and enabling the provision of services to 

government and commercial users.

In January 2011, CPDO released a formal Notice 

of Availability (NOA) and Request for Information 

to identify potential industry interest for space 

processing and support facilities at Kennedy that are 

currently or may become underutilized as a result 

of the transition from the Space Shuttle Program 

to future mission activities. Thirty responses were 

received and evaluated from the NOA to identify 

opportunities to repurpose Kennedy facilities to 

support the commercial space industry.

Throughout FY2011, the center developed 

partnership agreements with the growing 

U.S. commercial space industry to support its 

development and operations. Among the companies 

with which Kennedy is actively working are Sierra 

Nevada Corp. (SNC) of Sparks, Nev., KT Engineering 

of Rancho Dominguez, Calif., Space Florida of Cape 

Canaveral, Fla., Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., 

and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) 

of Hawthorne, Calif.

On July 7, 2011, Kennedy and SNC, which is 

developing a reusable spacecraft, the Dream Chaser, 

entered into a Space Act Agreement (SAA) for the 

company to use Kennedy’s unique engineering 

expertise, facilities and services to develop 

commercial space systems. SNC is evaluating 

the feasibility of operating at Kennedy for future 

commercial crew launch services and other lines of 

space-related business.

In September 2011, an Umbrella SAA was signed 

between Kennedy and KT Engineering that will help 

the agency acquire the knowledge necessary to 

develop a multiuser ground system architecture for 

launching nontraditional, low-cost vehicles. One of 

these low-cost vehicles possibly being developed 

is KT Engineering’s Radially Segmented Launch 

Vehicle that has the potential to be processed and 

launched from Kennedy.

Through a historic facility use agreement, Kennedy 

negotiated with Space Florida, the aerospace 

economic development agency of the state of 

Florida, to exclusively occupy, use and modify 

Orbiter Processing Facility-3, the Space Shuttle 

Main Engine Processing Facility and the Processing 

Control Center for a 15-year term. Space Florida 

is leasing the facilities to The Boeing Company to 

manufacture and test the company’s Crew Space 

Transportation (CST-100) spacecraft and to provide 

mission operations, training and program offices. 

This effort is expected to create up to 550 jobs 

for the Space Coast by 2015. Boeing recently 

announced it is locating its Commercial Crew 

Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, left, Mark Sirangelo, 

head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems of Sparks, Nev., and NASA 

Administrator Charlie Bolden pose for a photo after signing a Space 

Act Agreement July 7, 2011, that will offer the company technical 

capabilities from Kennedy’s uniquely skilled workforce.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 33

program headquarters at Kennedy. 

Kennedy and Orbital Sciences Corp. signed an 

agreement providing access to the center’s facilities 

and support services. Kennedy signed an additional 

agreement with SpaceX to use certain buildings 

and land. Several companies also have entered into 

agreements with Kennedy to use the Shuttle Landing 

Facility for testing purposes.

Early in 2011, at the Exploration Park site, 

crews began clearing land and preparing for the 

construction of a new connector road that will 

enable commercial access to the existing Space 

Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL), making it the 

cornerstone facility of the park. Exploration Park’s 

initial 60-acre phase, located just outside the 

security gates of Kennedy, will accommodate about 

350,000 square feet of planned office, research, 

lab and light manufacturing space with high bay 

capability in up to nine separate LEED-certified 

buildings. Space Florida is actively engaged in 

discussions with a number of potential tenants 

as they prepare the site for the start of vertical 

construction in FY2012.

A NASA cooperative agreement was awarded to 

the Center for Advancement of Science in Space 

(CASIS) in September 2011. The SLSL is the new 

home to the organization that will manage the 

portion of the International Space Station that 

is operated as a U.S. national laboratory. The 

independent, nonprofit, research management 

organization will help ensure the space station’s 

unique capabilities are made available to 

the broadest cross section of U.S. scientific, 

technological and industrial communities.

During FY2011, the CPDO’s staff of partnership 

developers and spaceport planners engaged in 

direct discussions with more than 80 potential 

industry partners regarding their company-specific 

needs and requirements that might be met by 

utilizing the center’s unique facilities and capabilities. 

By year-end, CPDO had obtained more than 15 

additional agreements. n

In the Orbiter Processing Facility-3 (OPF-3), Gov. Rick Scott speaks to the audience during a ceremony Oct. 31, 2011, announcing the signing of an 

innovative agreement between NASA and Space Florida. NASA announced a partnership with Space Florida to occupy, use and modify OPF-3, the 

Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing Facility and Processing Control Center.
34 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Engineering & Technology

Research and innovation flourish in Kennedy 

Space Center’s Engineering and Technology 

Directorate, which continues to drive 

development of technologies and procedures critical 

to future human space exploration.

A state-of-the-art lightning detection system 

went to work at Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39B 

during the fiscal year. The system can determine the 

location of direct strikes at an accuracy of no more 

than two meters, and nearby strikes at five meters 

or better. In addition to high-speed video of lightning 

incidents, the system takes direct measurements of 

incident currents and estimates magnitudes and rise 

times of currents and electromagnetic fields of direct 

and nearby strikes.

A Tilt-Up Umbilical Arm was manufactured and 

delivered to the Launch Equipment Test Facility 

(LETF) at Kennedy. The umbilical arm is used to 

provide fuel and communication to a vehicle at the 

launch pad. The arm will undergo testing at the LETF 

and will be the first test article using the newlyinstalled Vehicle Motion Simulator. This testing 

will help to validate computer models used during 

design, and the test results will help to improve 

umbilical designs for the agency’s new Space 

Launch Systems vehicle.

The linear-mate ground carrier plate and electric 

solenoid-actuated collet are two key mechanisms 

developed by Kennedy engineers which may be 

used on NASA’s new Space Launch System vehicle. 

The umbilical plate is a unique, two-piece design 

with an outer plate that is aligned and locked to 

the vehicle. An inner plate translates to engage the 

commodity connectors. The collet can be unlocked 

without the use of a pyrotechnic device, which 

represents a huge operational and cost benefit. 

Kennedy engineers designed a cold helium 

heat exchanger which was fabricated by Eden 

Cryogenics in Plain City, Ohio, and delivered to 

Kennedy during the fiscal year. The exchanger 

provides three circuits of gaseous helium colder than 

-360 degrees F and will be used to support future 

programs that use the J-2X engine. It was originally 

designed for use in the Ares I upper stage for liquid 

oxygen pre-press, liquid hydrogen prepress and cold helium bottle fill, each 

with unique flow rates and temperature 

requirements. 

The heat exchanger was then shipped 

to Marshall Space Flight Center in 

Huntsville, Ala., for full-scale hydrogen 

testing during the summer of 2011. 

The test results revealed that the outlet 

temperature requirements were exceeded 

by margins of 10 to 15 percent. The 

testing anchored the heat transfer 

models used in design and will enable 

the design team to meet future cold 

helium requirements with a more efficient, 

compact design. 

Kennedy’s Engineering and Technology 

Directorate received 78 awards, 

representing approximately $50,000 in 

dollar value, and earned 28 Tech Brief 

The NASA payload is installed on the prototype rover Artemis Jr. for the Regolith and 

Environment Science and Oxygen and Lunar Volatile Extraction, or RESOLVE, project in a test 

facility behind the Operations and Checkout Building.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 35

Awards, 18 Software Release Awards, 16 Patent 

Application Awards and 16 Board Action Awards.

One significant award went to the Launch Reliable 

Ground Coolant System, which increased reliability 

in the highly critical ground cooling unit that removed 

heat from the orbiter’s onboard avionics. The original 

ground cooling unit, in place since the advent of 

the Space Shuttle Program, had difficulty handling 

the variety of heat loads it frequently encountered 

throughout the course of a countdown. Redesigned 

based on a constant heat load, the new technology 

provided a simple and reliable refrigeration system 

capable of accommodating load variations. The 

improved system was highly economical for use in 

space shuttle launch preparations, where maximum 

reliability was essential.

Another project to receive an award is the Wireless 

Orbiter Hang Angle Instrumentation System. This 

high-precision, wireless inclinometer was designed 

to monitor the suspension angle of the orbiter 

while it hung inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, 

awaiting attachment to the external tank and solid 

rocket boosters. Previously, the orbiter’s hang 

angle was measured manually using a hand-held 

inclinometer. The new wireless inclinometer was 

attached to a plumb reference point outfitted with 

a wireless interface, ensuring consistent, accurate 

measurements that could be repeated throughout 

the operation while eliminating hazardous elements.

Technology 

The Forward Osmosis Bag (FOB) is a portable 

water-purification system designed to recycle 

wastewater by forcing it through a semipermeable 

membrane that blocks impurities, resulting in safe, 

drinkable water. The technology was tested on STS135, the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program. 

Mission Specialist Rex Walheim performed the 

experiment, in which six FOB kits plus one spare 

were filled on one side with artificial wastewater 

containing blue dye and a salt solution, and filled 

on the other side with a fluorescent-dyed sugar 

solution. Post-flight analysis showed the bag was 

nearly as effective in space as on Earth. The FOB 

design tested in space was based on the X-PackTM, 

a commercial product manufactured by Hydration 

Technology Innovations of Albany, Ore., and tested 

first at NASA Ames and at Kennedy. 

Another project is the Regolith and Environment 

Science & Oxygen and Lunar Volatile Extraction 

(RESOLVE) for Robotic Lunar Lander Mission. The 

second of two Advanced Exploration Systems 

projects at Kennedy, RESOLVE is now is in its third 

generation. This miniature drilling and chemistry 

laboratory can be included on a lunar rover, enabling 

it to collect and analyze soil in a hunt for volatile 

components such as hydrogen or water. The goal is 

to search for these components below the moon’s 

surface as a payload on a future lunar lander. The 

technology will be field-tested in July 2012 in Apollo 

Valley at Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

NASA’s Desert Research and Technology 

Studies (Desert RATS) is an agencywide effort to 

demonstrate emerging technologies in an analog 

environment. This year marked the testing of the 

first prototype of a Deep Space Habitat that can be 

configured for the microgravity of surface exploration 

missions. Kennedy contributed several systems to 

the project, including communications equipment, 

solid-state lighting, a deployable work platform, and 

general maintenance workstation. The space center 

also provided demonstrations of space-based food 

production, dust-mitigation systems and damagedetection systems.

These and many other Kennedy engineering and 

technology accomplishments have contributed to 

the center’s efforts to prepare for NASA’s future 

space exploration programs. n

A member of NASA’s Desert Research and Technology Studies 

(RATS) mission performs EVA geology while attached to the Astronaut 

Positioning System, Aug. 30, 2011, in the desert near Flagstaff, Ariz.
36 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Environmental Leadership

Kennedy Space Center remained in the 

forefront of environmental leadership during 

FY 2011 with its ongoing commitment to 

preserve and protect the environment.

In line with the federal government’s mandate 

and NASA’s Strategic Sustainability Performance 

Plan, the center created its first-ever Sustainability 

Plan which includes hundreds of ways to reduce 

its footprint and conserve the environment inside 

Kennedy’s gates.

Some of the sustainability goals include reducing 

greenhouse gas emissions; designing and building 

sustainable buildings, facilities and infrastructure; 

conserving and managing water resources; 

minimizing waste and preventing pollution; 

purchasing sustainable products and services; 

managing electronic equipment and data centers 

responsibly; and integrating sustainability into local 

and regional planning.

Kennedy and 

the Medical and 

Environmental Support 

Contractor (MESC) 

received the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Regional 

Directors Conservation 

Award for 2011 

for its outstanding 

contributions to the 

rescue of hundreds of 

sea turtles from across 

the state of Florida 

during the 2010 freeze 

that hit Central Florida 

during the winter 

months. 

Kennedy and MESC 

also participated in the 

Deep Water Horizon oil spill recovery by assisting 

the National Marine Fisheries, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife 

Conservation Commission in relocating sea turtle 

eggs from the Florida panhandle area shoreline to an 

incubation facility set up at Kennedy. The eggs were 

allowed to hatch and released along the Kennedy 

shoreline. Kennedy provides a vitally important 

nesting habitat for several species of endangered 

sea turtles.

The center continued its robust environmental 

remediation program to identify and clean up 

environmental contamination from past actions 

which occurred before the environmental harm from 

these actions was known. Kennedy’s environmental 

remediation actions this year removed more than 

1,139 tons of soil contaminated with chlorinated 

compounds, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, 

and cleaned up 936,000 gallons of groundwater 

contaminated with volatile organic compounds. 

The center incorporated wetlands restoration 

into a project to stabilize the shoreline along the 

On Jan. 5, 2011, an endangered green sea turtle is released into the 

Mosquito Lagoon, which is part of Florida’s Indian River. Workers with 

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Innovative Health Applications and the 

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rescued more than 300 

turtles during the winter’s frigid temperatures.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 37

NASA causeway revetment. After the shoreline 

stabilization was complete, Kennedy took advantage 

of this project to restore a wetlands area along the 

shoreline, thereby creating a new habitat within 

Kennedy’s boundaries.

In order to protect valuable launch assets, 

Kennedy partnered with the U. S. Air Force 45th 

Space Wing to create a secondary sand dune near 

Launch Complex 39, an area subject to severe 

erosion from storms and other natural processes. 

Excess sand donated by the Space Wing was 

used to construct the secondary dune. Besides 

protecting valuable assets from erosion, the 

cooperation had an important additional benefit of 

expanding the available habitat of endangered sea 

turtles, gopher tortoises, and other threatened and 

endangered species. 

Kennedy expanded its waste diversion and 

recycling programs in 2011. More than half of 

all waste collected at Kennedy was diverted for 

reuse and recycling. Materials diverted from landfill 

disposal and reutilized for other purposes included 

about 10,000 tons of concrete from construction 

projects, about 2,900 tons of crawlerway rocks, 

1,156 tons of scrap metals, and 800,000 pounds of 

paper and cardboard. 

Another example of reutilization was Kennedy’s 

transfer of five excess rocket motors to NASA’s 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory to support testing in 

NASA’s Radioisotope Power Systems Program. 

This reutilization saved Kennedy about $150,000 in 

disposal costs and saved NASA more than $1 million 

that would have been required to buy new motors 

for this test.

After the final successful space shuttle mission 

in July and the downsizing of Kennedy’s workforce 

which followed, Kennedy’s Environmental Program 

collected about 346,000 excess office supply items, 

with a combined total value of nearly $115,000, that 

were no longer needed on center and donated them 

to local schools for their use. 

A 1 megawatt (MW) solar power generation 

facility constructed by Florida Power and Light Co. 

at Kennedy provides power back to the center. This 

facility saves Kennedy more than $154,000 in energy 

costs and reduces greenhouse gas production by 

more than 1,000 tons annually. n

The new environmentally friendly Propellants North Administration and Maintenance Facility was completed and opened in January 2011.
38 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Education

Kennedy Space Center’s Education Office 

ventured into nearby communities with great 

success during 2011. By partnering with 

the center’s scientists, researchers and engineers, 

Kennedy was able to inspire students in their 

classrooms and through successful workshops, 

competitions and other goal-centered events 

held on center, reaffirming their commitment to 

NASA’s initiative to interest students in the science, 

technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, 

disciplines.

Kennedy’s K-12 program conducted workshops 

that reached more than 70,000 students and 

educators in 2011, far above the goal for the 

program. The Educator Resource Center, Aerospace 

Education Service Project and Digital Learning 

Network (DLN) engaged in this effort to expand 

NASA’s contact with those in the education field. 

Kennedy Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana 

lent his personal support to several sessions of 

the DLN by discussing science and his spaceflight 

experiences with students.

Local and Partnership 

Initiatives:

•	 NASA Kennedy CubeSat 

pilot project: This initiative 

enables local high school 

students to design, build, 

test and potentially launch a 

small satellite. A Space Act 

Agreement was signed this year 

with Brevard Public Schools 

to work with students from 

Merritt Island High School. 

NASA mentors and students work together 

in teams structured in accordance with the 

work breakdown for a small satellite project. 

Projects focused on areas such as project 

management, payload and spacecraft systems 

design and development, systems engineering, 

and safety and mission assurance. The students 

participated in all phases of the mission life 

cycle and presented their projects to a board of 

NASA engineers during the required reviews.

•	 Brevard Learns About Science and Technology 

(BLAST): Kennedy partnered with the Brevard 

County Public Schools and Delaware North 

Companies Parks and Resorts education 

department to provide every seventh-grader 

attending Brevard County Public Schools the 

opportunity over a 51-day period to experience 

the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and 

participate in STEM learning activities. 

•	 NASA Days at Florida Agricultural and 

Mechanical University (FAMU): NASA 

managers attended briefings and a tour of the 

At the Astronaut Hall of Fame near the Kennedy 

Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, 

fifth- through eighth-grade students and their 

parents create lava lamps and slime in a fluids 

experiment during a NASA family education night 

event, Aug. 28, 2010.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 39

campus thereby gaining insight into FAMU’s 

technologies and FAMU students’ capabilities. 

The participating students received SOLAR 

and Resumix workshops, interacted with senior 

managers and were interviewed for possible 

future intern and co-op positions at NASA 

centers across the country.

•	 Florida Space Day: The Education Office held 

workshops at the Developmental Research K-12 

public school, located on the FAMU campus. 

About 350 students participated in STEMrelated hands-on activities and workshops. 

•	 Kennedy’s Fall Festival: About 1,200 people took 

part in Kennedy’s Education outreach activities, 

some of which were named “Straw Rocket,” 

“Shuttle Glider,” “Stomp Rocket,” “Gee Whiz” 

presentations and edible “Comet on a Stick” to 

appeal to participants of all ages. 

•	 Saturday Academy: A partnership with Boys & 

Girls Clubs of Brevard enabled children from two 

local clubs to attend hands-on STEM workshops 

one weekend a month for eleven months. This 

initiative also included workshops for their 

parents and guardians.

•	 Physics Day with Busch Gardens: Kennedy’s 

Digital Learning Network hosted a show in front 

of a live audience at Busch Gardens which 

reached about 2,280 attendees. It included 

a variety of experiments and demonstrations 

involving physics principles.

•	 Educator Appreciation Day: In partnership with 

Delaware North, 68 educators participated 

in NASA STEM-based workshops, receiving 

Launch Services Program and general NASA 

information and educational materials, and 

enjoyed access to the Kennedy Space Center 

Visitor Complex, the Astronaut Hall of Fame and 

the “Cape Canaveral: Then and Now” bus tour.

•	 Teaching from Space Initiative Joining Forces: 

More than 800 students and 50 teachers, from 

six different bases in the Kennedy region of 

Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico, participated 

in workshops designed to engage students 

in activities to increase their interest in STEM 

careers; facilitate interaction with NASA 

engineers, scientists and educators; provide 

hands-on experiences to promote STEM 

learning and increase awareness of NASA 

education programs. 

•	 Minority Outreach in conjunction with Black 

During the NASA Explorer Schools Symposium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, students and teachers tour the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on 

May 5, 2011.
40 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

History Month: Various elementary and middle 

schools in St. Petersburg and Palm Beach were 

visited to encourage a targeted population of 

young black males to stay in school. This activity 

was in response to the Black Boys Report which 

identifies areas with the highest high school 

drop-out rates amongst African-American males. 

Florida holds four of the top ten spots. Students 

participated in a hands-on STEM-related activity, 

and NASA engineers shared their experiences 

with students. 

•	 NASA’s Summer of Innovation (SoI): This 

national initiative reached thousands of students, 

with Kennedy’s work accounting for some 1,700 

students through six Kennedy collaborations, 

including “Girls Get IT Surf and Science Camp,” 

and events with schools as far away as the 

U.S. Virgin Islands Math, Engineering, Science, 

Achievement (MESA), and the Fernbank Science 

Center in Atlanta. Kennedy also supported eight 

national SoI awardees, reaching about 2,500 

students and 150 educators at each event. 

•	 Minority Student Education Forum: Kennedy 

and Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, 

co-sponsored a minority student education 

forum for more than 375 fifth- through twelfthgrade students. The event provided real-world 

experiences and examples to encourage them to 

become scientists and engineers of the future. 

Designed to motivate minority students to purse 

STEM careers, forum highlights 

included a panel of some of 

NASA’s most notable past 

and current senior managers, 

peer-to-peer ambassador 

roundtable discussions, handson educational activities, and a 

robotics demonstration.

•	 Kennedy also lent support 

for some unusual displays 

of pride in the American space program in 

2011. For example, when the Rock Ranch 

in Thomaston, Ga., created a corn maze by 

carving a spaceman in an EVA suit into their 

cornfield to celebrate 50 years of human 

spaceflight, Kennedy supported the event with 

displays, hands-on activities and planetarium 

shows and interacted with about 1,500 people 

over two days.

Competitions:

•	 In the second annual Lunabotics competition, 

held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor 

Complex, students designed and built remotecontrolled or autonomous excavators, called 

“lunabots,” that could collect and deposit a 

minimum of 10 kilograms of simulated lunar 

material within 15 minutes. The number of teams 

applying to enter the competition tripled from 

2010, and 36 teams from universities around the 

world competed. Thirty of the teams were from 

the United States.

•	 The 2011 Waste Limitation Management 

Recycling (WLMR) Challenge winners were a 

group of girls from Hudson Middle School in 

Wisconsin, selected from a group of 25 teams 

who submitted a final design. The challenge 

called for the team to work together to create, 

build and test innovative water treatment 

strategies that can operate for long periods of 

University students prepare for NASA’s second 

annual Lunabotics Mining Competition at 

the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex 

in Florida on May 23, 2011. The competition 

was held May 26-28 and included 36 teams 

from the United States, Bangladesh, Canada, 

Columbia and India.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 41

time in space environments.

•	 The Planetary Lander Egg Drop Competition 

took place at Universal Studios in Orlando and 

presented STEM hands-on activities for about 

250 students.

•	 In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Human 

Space Flight, Kennedy hosted a student 

competition open to all Brevard County Schools. 

The winning team was Palm Bay Community 

Charter School. The award included a visit by 

astronaut Leland Melvin who presented the 

Junior Space Club’s 10-member team with a 

bound and framed book on future space life.

•	 The For Inspiration and Recognition of Science 

and Technology (FIRST) robotics Pink Team, 

one of Kennedy’s “house teams,” won the 

regional competition in Washington, D.C., and 

participated in the national competition. The 

Pink Team was approached by the Secret 

Service to work on a special project for them 

after seeing the robot the group built for the 

Rockledge Police Department.

NASA Agencywide Initiatives:

Kennedy Space Center’s Education Office 

managed several agency programs in Fiscal Year 

2011 to support NASA’s expanding education 

initiatives. These included the Exploration Systems 

Mission Directorate (ESMD) Space Grant Project, 

the Interdisciplinary National Science Project 

Incorporating Research and Education (INSPIRE) 

Experience, the Experiment Program to Stimulate 

Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and the Minority 

University Research and Education Program 

(MUREP) Small Project Grantees.

ESMD Highlights:

•	 The ESMD Space Grant Project hosted Senior 

Design Training for 28 faculty covering the newly 

developed and tested senior design course 

“Habitats in Extreme Environments,” as well as 

additional topics such as the NASA Systems 

Engineering Process and Senior Design Projects.

•	 ESMD Faculty Fellowships: Four faculty fellows 

worked at a NASA center to become technical 

experts on a NASA project. They also learned 

about systems engineering and how to apply 

that approach to a senior design project.

•	 Industry Interns: Sixty-two student interns were 

placed with industry thanks to funding from the 

ESMD supplemented by the industry partners. 

•	 Systems Engineering Paper Competition: In 

its fifth year, 12 teams entered the competition 

and wrote about using the NASA systems 

engineering process for their senior design 

projects. The papers were judged by systems 

Students listen intently as a laboratory technician describes a research project in Kennedy Space Center’s Space Life Sciences 

laboratory May 12, 2011. High school students from two Orlando, Fla., schools traveled to Kennedy to participate in National Lab Day activities.
42 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

engineers across the agency.

•	 First Nations Rocket Competition: Five 

engineering teams of Native American students 

competed in the rocket competition in 

Wisconsin. A Kennedy engineer supported the 

competition as a judge and mentor.

•	 Women in Engineering: Six women at the 

Montana State University designed and built 

a device to allow broken circuits to repair 

themselves on orbit. The technology will be 

tested aboard a high-altitude balloon, and the 

data will be shared with Marshall Space Flight 

Center in Huntsville, Ala., and the Department of 

Defense. 

INSPIRE Highlights:

INSPIRE is a research-based, multi-tiered student 

pipeline program designed for high school students. 

It provides a vital link between NASA’s elementary/

secondary projects and higher education projects. 

The scope and purpose of INSPIRE emphasizes 

the recruiting of underserved and underrepresented 

students to ensure a diverse pool of candidates 

from throughout the U.S. Students selected to 

participate learn about STEM fields of study and 

careers; participate in the INSPIRE Online Learning 

Community (OLC); and compete for unique, gradeappropriate summer experiences at a NASA facility. 

NASA’s unique mission provides the content for 

the OLC, the centerpiece of INSPIRE. It provides 

a virtual place for INSPIRE students to interact 

with their peers, NASA experts and education 

specialists. Through grade-appropriate educational 

activities, chats and discussion boards, students 

and their families are exposed to the many careers 

and opportunities at NASA. The OLC also provides 

parents and caregivers resources designed to 

help them champion their student’s education and 

career goals. 

EPSCoR Highlights:

EPSCoR is designed to assist states in 

establishing an academic research enterprise 

directed toward a long-term, self-sustaining and 

competitive capability that will contribute to the 

states’ economic viability and development, and 

to develop partnerships between NASA research 

assets, academic institutions and industry. Through 

a merit-based, peer-reviewed competitive process, 

EPSCoR awarded $19.9 million to 27 institutions. 

MUREP Highlights:

MUREP Small Projects funded the Minority 

Innovation Challenges Institute (MICI) which is 

managed by FAMU. This innovative project is 

based on historical evidence of extremely low 

participation of minority-serving institutions in 

NASA challenges. In less than two years, MICI has 

been able to implement a significant change in this 

critical metric. In 2011, MICI selected 10 minorityserving institutions to receive grants of $4,000 

each to participate in NASA university challenges. 

These grantees are in the categories of Hispanic 

Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. n

To celebrate NASA’s 50 years of spaceflight, the owners of the 

Rock Ranch in Thomaston, Ga., created a corn maze by carving a 

spaceman in an EVA suit into their cornfield.
Two white ibises stand parallel at the edge of a pond at 

Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 19, 2011.
44 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Outreach to the World

Kennedy Space Center’s goals and 

accomplishments grabbed the world’s 

attention in 2011, as the space agency’s 

primary launch site celebrated the final missions 

of the space shuttle fleet and extended humanity’s 

knowledge of the solar system by dispatching 

new probes and observatories on groundbreaking 

missions.

A host of Kennedy employees highlighted the 

work by reaching out to people across America and 

around the world through the Internet and speaking 

engagements and by briefing individual legislators 

on what NASA does and how Kennedy’s work plays 

a central role in the agency’s success.

Locations around Kennedy Space Center were 

temporarily turned into a Hollywood studio Oct. 

1-8, 2010, as film director Michael Bay shot scenes 

for the movie “Transformers 3.” Many Kennedy 

employees served as extras to give the movie a 

sense of authenticity.

Kennedy Web Presence

The Kennedy Space Center website continued to 

draw a worldwide audience. The center’s website at 

www.nasa.gov/kennedy attracted close to 35 million 

views this past year. The Kennedy Web 

team also oversaw the shuttle section for 

the agency, www.nasa.gov/shuttle, which 

received more than 59 million views. Both 

sites consistently ranked in the top 10 

most-popular pages within the NASA Web 

portal at www.nasa.gov.

Kennedy’s social media presence, under 

the username NASAKennedy, became the 

stalwart for many to find the latest news 

from the space center, increasing the fan 

base to more than 150,000 friends on 

Facebook and about 269,000 followers 

on Twitter. The NASAKennedy YouTube 

channel climbed to more than 20,000 

subscribers with more than 1.8 million 

video views. 

During the year, the Web team provided launch 

processing and countdown coverage for the final 

three space shuttle flights and five expendable 

launch vehicle missions. An international Internet 

audience was kept up to date during countdowns 

and landings with frequent updates to the mission’s 

main page and to its 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. Kennedy’s Web video 

products included feature videos and podcasts, as 

well as highlights of launches and landings.

News Media Operations

News media representatives from the U.S. and 

around the world, as well as hundreds of Tweeters, 

were provided with timely and accurate information 

about NASA’s last three space shuttle missions 

and expendable launch vehicle launches, special 

events and other center activities. Information 

was channeled via live and taped interviews, news 

conferences, media updates, printed fact sheets 

and newsletters, exhibits and social media outlets, 

including websites, blogs and Twitter updates. Other 

avenues of communication included Kennedy’s highKennedy Space Center employees gathered around characters from the “Transformers 

3” movie, including Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, outside the Kennedy Space Center 

Visitor Complex on Oct. 10, 2010. Paramount Pictures filmed scenes for the movie at 

Kennedy from Oct. 1 through 8.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 45

definition NASA TV broadcasting; streaming video of 

Kennedy events; digital imagery on the multimedia 

gallery, at http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov, which 

received more than 8.5 million page views in Fiscal 

Year 2011; and a full-service office catering to 

professional journalists. Video news releases, still 

photographs, video footage, tapes, CDs and DVDs 

were distributed to media outlets.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor 

Complex

Perhaps nowhere was Kennedy’s story better 

told to the public at large than through the Kennedy 

Space Center Visitor Complex (KSCVC). NASA 

works closely with the visitor complex operator, 

Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts, to 

share stories and artifacts that appeal to a broad 

range of people from around the world. 

More than 1.4 million guests visited the complex 

in 2011. The center reached a national and global 

audience through a combination of exhibits, space 

artifacts, IMAX films and tours of Kennedy’s historic 

grounds.

The year will be best remembered for the space 

shuttle. Thousands of visitors watched the final 

launches of the program through the services 

provided by the visitor complex. The Kennedy 

community and the nation found out April 12 that 

Kennedy Space Center would be the permanent 

home of shuttle Atlantis. A new exhibit for the shuttle 

will be constructed to display the historic spacecraft 

in unprecedented ways.

Delaware North continued to make progress on 

its 10-Year Master Plan and completed designs for 

several large projects. Along with building a new 

home for Atlantis, the center began the work to 

reorient the main entrance to feature the historic 

and iconic Rocket Garden and redesign the LC-39 

Observation Gantry Tour Stop.

The demand for launch viewing opportunities 

through the complex grew significantly as the 

final launches of the Space Shuttle Program were 

successfully completed.

Immediately following the historic final mission of 

the shuttle, STS-135, in July, exciting launches to 

explore our Solar System aboard expendable launch 

vehicles from Cape Canaveral followed, including 

Juno, GRAIL and the Mars Science Laboratory.

The complex collaborated with several partners to 

plan and deliver exciting events to engage the public 

featuring the U.S. Postal Service’s first-day-of-issue 

ceremony for the Project Mercury and MESSENGER 

stamps, the 50th anniversary of U.S. spaceflight 

and induction of the tenth group of Space Shuttle 

Program astronauts into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of 

Fame. Karol J. “Bo” Bobko and Susan J. Helms 

joined the family of American space heroes during a 

weekend of inspiring events in May. 

Members of the media gather near the countdown clock to see the rocket’s red glare for the last time as space shuttle Atlantis roars off Launch Pad 

39A at 11:29 a.m. EDT on July 8, 2011, on the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station. It was the final mission of Atlantis and the 135th 

and final mission of the agency’s Space Shuttle Program.
46 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

The summer season offered exciting events and 

programs, including the support of the second 

Lunabotics Mining Competition held at the KSCVC 

main campus and launch of Sci-Fi Summer where 

science fiction meets science fact.

In collaboration with the Astronaut Scholarship 

Foundation, the 40th anniversaries of Apollo 14 and 

Apollo 15 were honored with festivities at the visitor 

complex.

The “KSC Up-Close” Special Interest Tour once 

again offered a tour of the Vehicle Assembly Building 

featuring the opportunity to go inside the iconic 

facility and get close to one of the flown space 

shuttles being processed for permanent display. 

As part of its community outreach program, 

the visitor complex sponsored the Cocoa Beach 

Fireworks Show on Independence Day. Other 

activities hosted at the visitor complex included “We 

Made History,” a pride-filled celebration honoring the 

end of the Space Shuttle Program.

The visitor complex continued to successfully 

operate two retail stores in the Orlando International 

Airport and offered a variety of robust educational 

programs geared toward inspiring the next 

generation of explorers. More than 84,000 students 

participated in Camp KSC, Overnight Adventures 

and the Astronaut Training Experience. For more 

than 45 years, the visitor complex has operated as a 

self-supporting entity funded solely through revenues 

earned through admission, retail and food sales.

Government Relations

Elected officials from federal, state and local levels 

traveled to Kennedy to tour its grounds and facilities, 

and to learn more about the wide range of activities 

happening at the center in 2011. Kennedy also 

hosted a large number of elected officials for the last 

three shuttle launches and for two Launch Services 

Program launches: Juno and GRAIL. 

The center’s senior management team 

participated in numerous forums and meetings 

throughout Florida concerning the future of 

Kennedy and the space industry in Florida. During 

the year, Deputy Center Director Janet Petro spoke 

before the Brevard State Delegation at their annual 

meeting, to the Florida Senate Committee on 

Military Affairs, Space and Domestic Security, and 

to the Space Florida Board of Directors. 

Thousands of space shuttle workers and their families gathered near the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida 

for the “We Made History!” Shuttle Program Celebration, on Aug. 13, 2011. The event was held to honor current and former workers’ dedication to 

NASA’s Space Shuttle Program and to celebrate 30 years of space shuttle achievements.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 47

Center Director Bob Cabana, senior management 

and industry representatives joined to visit with 

state legislators during Space Industry Day in the 

state’s capital.

Cabana met with members of the Florida 

Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C., 

in support of NASA’s Office of Legislative and 

Intergovernmental Affairs’ annual “Day on the Hill” 

event and detailed Kennedy’s plans and activities to 

the Brevard legislative delegation. 

Exhibits

During Fiscal Year 2011, the Display Management 

Team (DMT) supported 38 events with a total 

attendance of about 1.1 million, double the audience 

size from the previous year. The biggest event was 

the South Florida Fair, which took place in West 

Palm Beach. More than 500,000 people attended 

the event. Other events included Hennac, and the 

Pensacola Air Show.

By participating in more nontraditional events, 

such as home shows, sporting events and others, 

the team was able to educate the general public on 

contributions that the space industry has made to 

everyday life and how those contributions directly 

affect them. 

Guest Operations 

Kennedy’s Guest Operations staff enabled more 

than 21,000 guests of NASA and its center partners 

to safely participate in behind-the-scenes Kennedy 

tours, including educational 

briefings provided by center 

engineers and operational experts. 

As Kennedy successfully flew 

out the shuttle program, thousands 

of the agency’s invited guests 

participated in launch briefings 

and viewing opportunities for the 

final three space shuttle flights. 

An increased effort was made to 

accommodate as many special guests as possible 

to witness these historic shuttle launches from 

Kennedy viewing sites. 

Kennedy also held events for past and present 

employees to honor and recognize their great 

achievements during NASA’s Space Shuttle 

Program era. 

As the shuttle program ended, Guest Operations 

continued to inspire and engage the public by 

hosting nearly 25,000 guests for exciting Launch 

Services Program science missions. Launches of 

Juno, Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory 

(GRAIL), and the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), 

with the Curiosity rover, were viewed by members of 

Congress, business and agency leaders, astronaut 

families, medical and legal professionals, veterans, 

teachers and students.

Speakers Bureau

Kennedy’s extensive network of professional 

engineers, technicians and other experts in rocketry 

took part in the center’s speakers program. In 2011, 

they attended more than 360 events throughout 

Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and even as far away 

as South Africa and the Philippines. They reached 

more than 60,000 children and adults through career 

days, community events and professional talks. 

Their presentations included hands-on activities 

in the science, technology, engineering and 

mathematics, or STEM, disciplines. n

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden speaks to 

about 150 followers of the agency’s Twitter 

account during Juno Tweetup activities inside a 

tent at the Kennedy Space Center Press Site on 

Aug. 5, 2011.
48 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

Budget Highlights

The Kennedy Space Center FY 2011 budget 

totaled nearly $1.7 billion and more than 

$2.3 billion when the Johnson Space Centermanaged Space Program Operations Contract 

(SPOC) and related work performed at Kennedy was 

included. The center also performed $111 million 

in reimbursable work with other government and 

commercial entities.

•	 The Space Shuttle Program (including total 

SPOC impacts) executed a $714 million budget 

by accomplishing the final three shuttle missions 

during FY 2011, all of which carried major 

components or logistics to the International 

Space Station. The FY 2011 activity included 

two shuttle missions (STS-133 and STS-134) 

that slipped into FY 2011 from FY 2010. The 

STS-133 mission carried the fourth Express 

Logistics Carrier with spare parts for the station 

and also delivered the Permanent Multipurpose 

Module (PMM); STS-134 carried the Alpha 

Magnetic Spectrometer; and STS-135, the 

last shuttle mission, carried the Raffaello 

multipurpose logistics module with supplies to 

the space station.

•	 The International Space Station’s $85 million 

budget allowed for the successful processing 

and launch of several station assembly and 

utilization missions. These consisted mainly 

of the following deliveries and hardware 

installations – two Express Logistics Carriers, 

the Permanent Multipurpose Module, the 

Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a multi-purpose 

logistics module, and ancillary supplies and 

equipment necessary to help operate and 

sustain the fully assembled space station. 

•	 The Launch Services Program (LSP) executed 

a $483 million budget (direct and reimbursable). 

LSP supported three successful mission 

launches – Juno and Gravity Recovery and 

Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) from Cape Canaveral 

Air Force Station in Florida, and Aquarius/

Kennedy Business Report

NASA/KSC Budget Authority Summary

FY 2009 through FY 2011 ($ in Millions)
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 49

Kennedy Space Center

FY 2011 Budget Authority ($ in Millions)

FY 2011 KSC Budget by Elements

($ in Millions)

Eighty-two percent of the Kennedy budget is spent through the purchase of goods and services from 

commercial providers. The SPOC, or space shuttle contract, managed by Johnson Space Center in Houston 

is excluded here. Its inclusion would increase the percentage of procured services to 87 percent.
50 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

SAC-D from VAFB, Calif. The program also 

procured launch vehicle services and other 

support services for several manifested missions 

scheduled to launch in FY2012 and beyond. 

•	 The Ground Systems and Operations Program 

budget of $357 million provided for the 

modernization and augmentation of current and 

future ground systems design, development, 

and ground operations infrastructure in order 

to facilitate the activities of future customers 

and stakeholders in NASA’s Space Launch 

System and Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle. 

Other key projects included enhancements to 

the range, payload processing capabilities and 

environmental cleanup activities. 

•	 Kennedy’s Center Management and Operations 

budget provided $358 million in FY2011 to 

maintain the center’s critical mission essential 

facility systems and life safety systems; 

core technical capabilities and supporting 

infrastructure; sustain the center’s safety and 

engineering technical authorities; implement 

agency Chief Information Officer initiatives; 

and provide business systems support with 

improved internal controls.

Space shuttle Atlantis is slowly towed from the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to an orbiter processing facility for the last time after 

touching down on July 21, 2011, at 5:57 a.m. The final mission, STS-135, brought a close to America’s Space Shuttle Program. 

Hundreds of workers welcomed Atlantis home during an employee appreciation event.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 51

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center remains a very 

significant economic driver in Brevard County 

and a major contributor to the economic health 

of the state of Florida. Analysis of the Fiscal Year 

2011 expenditures concludes that overall NASA 

activities and ones specifically related to Kennedy 

across Florida contribute more than $1.7 billion 

in wages and purchases to the state economy. 

Economic models have estimated that both this 

direct spending, as well as the subsequent indirect 

income and job creation, results in a $3.7 billion 

total economic impact to Florida. This impact 

is created through employment of an estimated 

statewide, NASA-related workforce of 26,000, with 

wages of $1.9 billion in income, resulting in nearly 

$400 million in federal, state and local taxes. For 

each Kennedy job, an additional 1.25 jobs are 

supported in the secondary market throughout the 

state. NASA, Kennedy and Florida have a longstanding, demonstrated economic interdependence. 

In this post-shuttle era, Kennedy will continue 

to stimulate the economy with the additions of 

NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems, Ground 

Systems Development and Operations Program 

and Commercial Crew Program, as well as with 

new space research, technology projects and the 

agency’s Launch Services Program.

Economic Impact

The Office of Personnel Management, NASA and Brevard Workforce hosted a job fair for former and current Kennedy Space 

Center aerospace workers, July 26, 2011, at the Radisson Resort at the Port in Cape Canaveral, Fla. More than 60 private industry 

employers and federal agencies were at the job fair attended by more than 1,000 job seekers.
52 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

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 workforce includes people with many skills 

who are dedicated to supporting the nation’s 

space program and NASA’s future explorations. To 

accomplish the agency’s various missions, these 

individuals fulfill a multitude of tasks.

At the end of each year, the center takes a 

snapshot of its workforce. 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 Sept. 30, 2011, the total Kennedy population 

was 9,011. This includes 2,096 NASA civil servants, 

82 NASA students, 5,524 on-site and near-site 

contractor employees, 1,028 tenants and 184 

construction employees on the center. There was a 

43.8 percent decrease in the contractor workforce in 

FY2011. The civil servant skill mix includes scientific 

and engineering, administrative, technical and 

clerical workers.

Workforce Overview

Kenndy Space Center

Workforce Profile (through 9/30/11)

Civil Servants 2,096

Co-ops and Students 82

Total Civil Servants 2,178

Civil Servant Skill Mix

Scientific and Engineering 64%

Administration 30%

Technical 2%

Clerical 4%

On-site Contractor Employees 5,463

Off-/Near-site Contractor Employees 61

Total Contractor Employees 5,524

Total Construction Employees 184

Total Tenants 1,125

TOTAL KSC POPULATION 9,011
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 53

Procurement Report

Industry Partners at a Glance

The companies listed below were some 

of Kennedy Space Center’s top support 

contractors or launch services contractors in 

terms of dollars obligated in FY2011. Following is a 

brief description of their work for the agency:

Boeing Space Operations

Boeing Space Operations 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. As a partner in NASA’s Commercial 

Crew Development 2 (CCDev2) initiative, Boeing 

supports NASA’s goal to foster activity leading 

to the development of orbital Commercial Crew 

Transportation Systems. Under its CCDev2-

funded Space Act Agreement, Boeing is continuing 

development of the CST-100 crew capsule, including 

maturation of the design and integration of the 

capsule with a launch vehicle.

URS Federal Technical

Services, Inc. 

URS Federal Technical Services provided base 

operations support for Kennedy. URS was 

responsible for operations, maintenance and 

engineering for specific Kennedy facilities, systems, 

equipment and utilities. URS Falso was responsible 

for calibration and propellants handling at the center.

Abacus Technology Corporation

Abacus provided communication and information 

technology services under the Information 

Management and Communications Support, or 

IMCS, contract. Abacus supported the majority of 

these requirements at Kennedy, which included 

support to agency programs, such as space 

shuttle, Constellation, payloads, launch services, 

and the International Space Station. Services 

provided include hardware and software integration 

development, computer administration and 

maintenance, voice and data transmission, library, 

graphics, publications, printing and reproduction, 

and IT security.

Analex Corporation

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 in Florida and VAFB in California. Analex 

also provided engineering services and studies, and 

technical services for various ground and flight ELV 

systems, missions and payloads.

QinetiQ North America – 

Mission Solutions Group

QinetiQ North America – Mission Solutions Group, or 

QNA, provided engineering products and services to 

Kennedy’s Engineering and Technology Directorate 

and other center and agency operational customers. 

QNA provided laboratory and developmental shop 

maintenance and operations, technical services, 

spaceflight systems engineering and engineering 

development. QNA also provided technology 

outreach to foster awareness and utilization of 

Kennedy’s unique capabilities.

United Launch Services LLC

United Launch Services, or ULS, a subsidiary 

of United Launch Alliance, brought The Boeing 

Co., Delta Launch Services Inc. and Lockheed 

Martin Commercial Launch Services together. ULS 

provided launch services to NASA using the Delta 
54 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

II and Atlas V vehicles under two of three existing 

multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite 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 

vehicles launch from CCAFS and VAFB.

Orbital Sciences Corp.

Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) of Dulles, Va., 

provided the agency’s Launch Services Program 

with small- and medium-class expendable launch 

services at CCAFS, Vandenberg, Wallops Flight 

Facility in Virginia, and equatorial launch ranges. 

OSC provides launch services on both of the NASA 

Launch Services (NLS) I and II multiple-award 

indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity task order 

contracts.

Space Gateway Support, LLC

Space Gateway Support provided protective 

services at Kennedy under the Interim Protective 

Services Contract. Space Gateway Support was 

responsible for providing firefighting, physical 

security (including law enforcement), and emergency 

management response services to ensure the safety 

and security of day-to-day operations at Kennedy 

and to support launch activity. 

Sierra Nevada Corporation

As a partner in NASA’s CCDev2 initiative, Sierra 

Nevada Corporation supports NASA’s goal to 

foster activity leading to the development of orbital 

Commercial Crew Transportation Systems. Under 

their CCDev2-funded Space Act Agreement, the 

company is maturing the design and development of 

the Dream Chaser Space System.

Space Exploration 

Technologies Corporation

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation or 

SpaceX, supports NASA’s goal to foster activity 

leading to the development of orbital Commercial 

Crew Transportation Systems. Under its CCDev2-

funded Space Act Agreement, SpaceX is developing 

an integrated launch abort system design for 

the Dragon spacecraft and evaluating crew 

accommodations. 

Innovative Health Applications

Innovative Health Applications, or IHA, under the 

Medical and Environmental Support Contract, or 

MESC, provided a broad range of medical and 

environmental services to NASA. IHA operated the 

on-site Kennedy medical clinic, which conducts 

health exams, certifications and emergency medical 

treatment. IHA also performed occupational 

health services, aerospace medicine, industrial 

hygiene, environmental permitting, compliance and 

stewardship, ecological monitoring, and hazardous 

waste disposal. IHA operated Kennedy’s fitness 

centers and provided education outreach to the 

center’s employees.

Blue Origin, LLC

As a partner in NASA’s CCDev2 initiative, Blue Origin 

supports NASA’s goal to foster activity leading 

to the development of orbital Commercial Crew 

Transportation Systems. Under their CCDev2-funded 

Space Act Agreement, Blue Origin is accelerating 

development of their space vehicle, pusher escape 

system and reusable booster system.
FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center 55

Your Procurement Dollars at Work

Geographical Distribution by State

(Fiscal Year 2011 Obligations)

STATE TOTAL DOLLARS

ALABAMA 1,575,989

ALASKA 5,093

ARIZONA 107,373

CALIFORNIA 88,298,472

COLORADO 430,613,970

CONNECTICUT 6,823,625

DELAWARE 4,934

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 837,674

FLORIDA 210,844,264

GEORGIA 509,060

ILLINOIS 1,017,529

INDIANA 111,982

KANSAS 7,674

KENTUCKY 93,923

LOUISIANA 10,208,288

MARYLAND 282,480,970

MASSACHUSETTS 1,193,576

MICHIGAN 689,812

MINNESOTA 844,067

STATE TOTAL DOLLARS

MISSOURI 241,626

NEW HAMPSHIRE 445,464

NEW JERSEY 1,665,817

NEW MEXICO 614,722

NEW YORK 1,288,366

NORTH CAROLINA 2,672,501

OHIO 2,701,072

OREGON 119,262

PENNSYLVANIA 9,347,481

RHODE ISLAND 131,106

SOUTH CAROLINA 4,068

TENNESSEE 7,774,641

TEXAS 122,606,184

UTAH 136,960

VIRGINIA 245,818,243

WASHINGTON 22,132,087

WISCONSIN 39,435

WYOMING 7,090

TOTAL $1,454,014,400
56 FY2011 • Kennedy Space Center

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC 344,586,113 

QINETIQ NORTH AMERICA, INC. 152,674,810

URS FEDERAL TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. 146,748,830

BOEING SPACE OPERATIONS COMPANY 177,747,033

ABACUS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 92,726,273

SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION 84,500,000

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 75,328,375

SPACE GATEWAY SUPPORT, LLC 40,788,969

ANALEX CORPORATION 34,756,012

ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION 27,909,662

INNOVATIVE HEALTH APPLICATIONS, LLC 24,078,078

BLUE ORIGIN, LLC 22,005,000

ASRC AEROSPACE CORPORATION 21,911,134

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION 16,106,487

SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION 15,257,866

AIR LIQUIDE LARGE INDUSTRIES U.S. LP 11,144,769

MILLENNIUM ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATION CO 10,232,907

SPEEGLE CONSTRUCTION II, INC. 9,059,500

REDE-CRITIQUE 7,209,634

BREVARD ACHIEVEMENT CENTER, INC. 6,198,509

SWORD AND SHIELD ENTERPRISE SECURITY INCORPORATED 6,175,133

PRECISION FABRICATING & CLEANING COMPANY, INC. 5,034,569

REYNOLDS SMITH AND HILLS INCORPORATED 5,020,207

PRAXAIR INCORPORATED 4,654,989

IVEY’S CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATED 4,541,600

TOTAL $1,346,396,459

Contractor Dollars

Top 25 KSC Business Contractors for FY 2011
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899

www.nasa.gov

NP-2011-10-207-KSC