Special Features
Clearing the path for the future -- Boeing partners with NASA, Florida on processing needs
Susan H. Wells
KSC supports Ground Operations as part of NASA's Constellation Program. KSC Ground Operations includes management of activities related to launch and landing sites, including ground processing, launch, and recovery systems. Instead of building a new structure, the O&C low bay was cleared out in preparation for the processing future space vehicles. The final configuration is very similar to the original design in place for the Apollo Program. To accomplish this challenging project, Boeing Checkout, Assembly, and Payload Processing Services was tasked to manage an integrated project team from various contractors and disciplines.
"Our team planned and coordinated this effort with NASA, the State of Florida, our teammates and subcontractors for months", said Kent Beringer, Boeing Project Lead. "We had the right personnel and resources aligned and made excellent progress. Our focus was on the safe execution of our project objectives."
The O&C Building is a five-story structure containing net 567,000 square feet of offices, laboratories, astronaut quarters, and spacecraft processing bay areas. The facility is located in the KSC Industrial Area between the Space Station Processing Facility and the KSC Headquarters Building.
The O&C facility was built in the early 1960's to process the Apollo modules. The O&C Building cleanroom processing area was initially constructed for assembly and test of the Apollo spacecraft, which resulted in 11 successful manned flights from 1968 through 1972, allowing 12 men to walk on the Moon.
A successful conversion was later made to support cargo management for the Space Shuttle project. At the closeout of the Spacelab program, the O&C Processing area was converted for multiple functions including processing and staging of critical Space Station elements and components. Recently, the O&C was used to store overflow ISS flight hardware, GSE, and support to element leak test.
"This project to restore the O&C is reenergizing our team," said Mike Gisondi, Boeing project manager." The idea of new goals and visions motivates us and working with NASA to support the vision of space exploration is a win-win."
Among the requirements of this undertaking was the relocation of critical ISS flight hardware, the isolation and termination of multiple facility systems, removal of three large 80,000 pound test stands, and reactivation of the West vertical door; which has been inoperable for over 20 years.
Additionally, a clean room is being removed when phase two of this project is approved. This clean room was used during the Apollo days to process laboratory projects flown in space. The challenges with this project include handling of hazardous materials, processing of historical property, working with energized systems, moving large structures, navigating through the complex engineering and property paper trail, and excessing of a wide variety of property and equipment.
"The support from Boeing and their teammates for this project has been outstanding," said Matthew Carroll, NASA project lead. "Their integration efforts have been impressive." Boeing holds NASA's CAPPS contract to prepare all NASA payloads flying into space. Boeing under the CAPPS contract has processed payloads on every space shuttle mission.
