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Dryden ever ready for Shuttle landingsJay LevineX-Press Editor Space Shuttle Atlantis appeared on eight big screens and one larger, main screen in Dryden's Blue Control Room. A handful of people, wearing headsets at the control consoles, were requesting responses from engineers or technicians, or responding to queries directed to them. The large screens displayed runway and map data, radar information and at least three different camera angles when the orbiter came into view. Dryden's long range optical camera and two specially equipped television vans were focused on the descending orbiter approaching Edwards Air Force Base Feb. 20. During the Atlantis landing, Don Borchers, who coordinates range assets such as radar, telemetry, communications, video and post landing video, was at one station. Dryden's Dr. James Moeller, seated at another console, coordinated medical services. Starla Carroll, range control officer, coordinated camera angles. Bill Griese, Edwards Shuttle program manager, went through his checklist ensuring Team Edwards support personnel were ready to go. "We are an extra set of eyes and ears for the landing," said Joe Ayers, who has worked a number of Shuttle landings and was filling in for Shuttle Manager Joe D'Agostino. Ayers flipped page by page through the 6-inch thick manual, which contained a complete set of instructions for Shuttle landings. As each part of the operation progressed, he flipped a page. A number of maneuvers reduced Atlantis' speed during its descent from orbit. A double boom shook the Center as Atlantis continued its approach and landed on Edwards Runway 22 at about 200 knots, or 220 mph. "Atlantis, this is NASA Houston. Thanks for placing Destiny in Space," was the message from Johnson Space Center's mission control. Dryden's own mission control functions in Building 4800 were activated three hours before the de-orbit burn that set the Space Shuttle's return to Earth. The control room continued operations until after the orbiter was towed to the Mate/Demate Device. In fact, the Center's initial role of establishing and coordinating Dryden and Edwards Shuttle landing requirements ensured the safe landing. In particular, the Microwave Scanning Beam Landing System, Precision Approach Path Indicator Lights and Zeon Lighting systems located on Runway 22 operated flawlessly. During the descent and landing, Dryden responsibilities included operating and monitoring all facets of the Space Shuttle's landing aids as well as various convoy ground support equipment. If an anomaly cropped up, it would be immediately reported to either the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) NASA Convoy Com-mander (NCC), located in the convoy command vehicle at the end of the runway, or the Landing Support Officer (LSO), located in the Johnson Space Centers' (JSC) Flight Control Room. Depending on the anomaly, the NCC or LSO would initiate a contingency plan to mitigate the anomaly. When an orbiter is clear of the launch tower, responsibility for the mission, flight crew and orbiter is passed to JSC from KSC. Immediately after landing, responsibility for turnaround processing, and readying the orbiter for launch and its next mission, is returned to KSC. "We all share the same mission, and work together as a finely oiled machine when it's show time," D'Agostino said. After the orbiter stopped on the runway, support personnel ensured the vehicle was safe and did not have external leaks. Workers used specialized tools to sniff for ammonia, hydrazine and hydrogen to make sure the thrusters were not leaking. When the procedure was completed, stair trucks, cool and purge units, a crew transport vehicle and various other support vehicles rolled up to the Shuttle. The astronauts were transported for their post flight physicals and overnight accommodations were made for them. Following the egress of the astronauts, Atlantis was towed to Dryden's Shuttle Area A and an umbilical cord data line was attached to keep the vital on-board systems data flowing to engineers. Together, the KSC/Dryden ground operations management team monitored and controlled all technical landing and turnaround aspects of the orbiter from the Shuttle Ground Operations Control Room, located in the Shuttle Hanger (building 4833). This control room, activated prior to the Call to Stations, was utilized until the orbiter departed Dryden on top of the NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The control room is capable of monitoring all the orbiter's critical on-board systems. The primary role of the Shuttle Support Offices is to "manage, operate and maintain those facilities and equipment necessary to ensure the safe landing and turnaround of the orbiter" said Larry Biscayart, Dryden Shuttle Support Specialist. This includes a matrix of facilities and equipment located both inside and outside of Shuttle Area A, Biscayart said. "We maintain the Shuttle Control Room, Mate/Demate Device, Postflight Science Support Facility, Postflight Receiving Facility, Payloads and Flight Crew equipment destow facilities as well as the facilities required to house temporarily displaced personnel," he said. "We also are responsible for the Shuttle specific landing aids on Edward's main runways (Runways 22 and 04), as well as lakebed runways (Runways 15, 33, and 18L)," Biscayart said. "During landing and turnaround operations we provide 24/7 assistance to our temporarily displaced customers from around the world through the Edwards Airfield Support Coordinators (EASC) console in the control room. We strive to be prepared to assist in any way and to what at times can be interesting requirements," Biscayart said. "For example, a meteoroid strike in one of the front windows during a past Shuttle landing required a mold impression to determine if the vehicle could be ferried. Although the specific mold material was not available … it turned out that standard dental mold was a compatible substitute. I contacted the Edwards dental clinic, which provided the material for the mold that kept us on schedule," he said. "Our job, although it appears routine, is if someone needs assistance, we need to know who the right person is, where the resources are, and what support exists," D'Agostino said. "It's about doing the right thing, in a timely fashion, to preserve something for the future." In other words, if a scientist or engineer forgets a critical tool, or has a unique requirement, D'Agostino's team will find a solution. The team has demonstrated a tremendous knowledge at trouble shooting problems. "We have the right people and resources to get the job done – whatever it requires," D'Agostino said. |
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Responsible NASA Official: John Childress For questions, contact: Dryden Web Group Page Curator:WD-Team Modified: March 26, 2001 |
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