video for embedding at http://scitech.quickfound.net/astro/space_shuttle_news.html Video of Space Shuttle processing operations at Kennedy Space Center by Glenn Benson. Winner of award for 2008 Videographer of the Year, 1st place, documentation category. from "Analysis of Work Measurement Techniques for NASA/KSC's Shuttle Processing" http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19970001722_1996093792.pdf KSC is responsible for preparing Space Shuttles for approximately eight missions per year. This includes all activities that occur between wheel stop at landing of the previous mission and the shuttle clearing the launch tower for the next mission. The fleet that supports this flight manifest consists of four reusable orbiters, refurbished solid rocket boosters (SRB), expendable external tanks (ET) and payloads. The shuttles are processed in parallel for their individual missions. The shuttle processing for each flight includes the testing and checkout of the orbiter, the two SRB's, and the ET. These components are processed separately through several facilities before integration as a "shuttle" in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The shuttle then is rolled-out to the launch pad for final checkout and launch. Shuttle processing usually averages 130 days, depending upon the maintenance activities required for that particular flow. Orbiter processing is normally completed in an average of 90 days. Because of its complexity, expense, consumption of resources, and impact on the shuttle processing schedule, orbiter processing receives the most attention during a flow. During orbiter processing at KSC, data is collected on how long a task has taken, not on how long it should take. This historical data, along with engineering estimates, are used for scheduling work and for high level measurements such as how many days it takes to complete processing an orbiter for flight. Some of these data collection and analysis systems were originally developed prior to the beginning of the space shuttle program, when NASA was launching expendable vehicles. Compared to the current space flight programs, there were fewer missions and no reusable components. The space shuttle program has moved NASA into an environment with increased task repetition. This, combined with a new era of concern about government spending, has prompted KSC to study the incorporation of industrial engineering techniques and tools that have traditionally been applied to manufacturing operations and some service and maintenance industries. also see slide show: "Shuttle Processing" http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110003619_2011001427.pdf Space Shuttle, KSC, Shuttle Processing, Space Shuttle Processing, Kennedy Space Center, NASA, spacecraft, launch vehicle, launch preparation, space, space program