- In response to your recent entry concerning space shuttle
post-flight debris found in the STS-109 that caused the early possible
abort of that mission, I would like to enter this for the entire nation
to understand and realize.
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- I worked most of my life at the Kennedy Space Center,
Florida (1958-1992). My final years there were associated with the Space
Shuttle as a ScO (Spacecraft Operator) at the OPF-3 (Orbiter Processing
Facility of which there are three). At these OPF facilities, the returning
Space Shuttles landing at KSC following a mission are taken to be refurbished
and prepared for another flight. In turn, those missions landing at NASA
Dryden/Edwards AFB, California are mated upon a large Boeing 747and returned
to KSC for the same OPF processing. Space shuttles are all prepared for
flight at KSC.
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- The shuttles that were sent to California for system
up-grades of advanced technology, avionics, manipulating arms, hydraulics,
etc., were eventually returned to the KSC OPF(s) for inspection and preparation
for new mission assignments by NASA. Upon each Orbiter arrival at KSC by
Boeing 747, de-mating and arrival at the specific OPF, we continued other
very detailed back-up re-inspections of the reworked craft to detect anything
that may have been overlooked by technicians and engineers at the Palmdale,
California facility. We purged ALL shuttle fuel lines, environmental control
systems, tested batteries, engines, RCS (Reaction Control System), crew
cooking microwave, food storage, toilet, potable water, sleeping bunks
attached to the bulkheads, etc., for total functional reliability. NOTHING
on the specific shuttle was by-passed. Crew safety and all systems functional
reliability were and is the top NASA priority.
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- Eventually, following the terrible Challenger accident
in 1986, NASA announced that another and final space shuttle would be constructed
to replace it. The newly built Space Shuttle Endveavour (OV-105) was flown
to and accepted at KSC in May 1991.
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- However, since it was being the last to be built it made
some of the Palmdale, California shuttle construction facility crews of
technicians, welders, engineers, etc., very dismayed at the potential of
losing their highly paid jobs. In fact, a small number were upset enough
to take it out on the very advanced craft they had built - Endeavour. When
this highly advanced shuttle with updated computer systems, hydraulics,
etc., arrived at KSC, we at the OPF immediately began to discover "problems"
with the various systems and especially with debris in the fuel lines,
environmental systems, etc. We discovered wrapped uneaten and partially
consumed sandwiches, cakes, old rags, hats and anything that could clog
the very lines that our astronauts would actually place their lives on
for reliability. It could even be called sabotage.
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- Those reported problems while in orbit with the recent
STS-109 Columbia Shuttle are reminiscent of those days with the arrival
of Endeavour. Why? Because NASA announced weeks ago that the future upgrading
of all shuttle systems will now be transferred to KSC, Florida. This, in
all likelihood means the end of work for thousands in Palmdale, California.
So I ask - was their anger taken out on Columbia in the same way it was
on Endeavour?
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- Men and women without jobs take extreme measures at times
and this seems to fit those recent space shuttle problems during the mission
that recently ended. Thank God the mission was successful and without dangerous
incident.
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- It pains me to admit that there are those who would jeopardize
astronauts and space vehicles when faced with losing their very livelihood.
Terrorists are not the only people we must guard against. It's human nature.
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- We must not have another Challenger occur with all the
aftermath and possibly shut down shuttle flights and service to the International
Space Station.
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- The men and women I personally worked with at KSC were
very loyal and exceptionally proud of working on such leading edge technology
and science. I will be forever proud of being allowed the privilege of
such an association for my nation and the human race that spanned from
1958 to 1992. I thank my government and you, the tax paying public.
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- Clark C. McClelland
Former ScO, Space Shuttle Fleet, KSC, Florida
clark002@hotmail.com
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