![]() ![]() Since the Space Shuttle’s retirement, OPF-1 is now currently being used for the Air Force’s processing of the X-37B unmanned spacecraft in between flights. Space Shuttle orbiters underwent maintenance between flights. Once the Shuttle preparation had been completed, the Orbiter Vehicle would be moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building to be mated with the External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters and then to the launchpad where she would take to the skies. Orbiter Processing Facility ( OPF) is a class of hangars where U.S. This turnaround process usually lasted between 2-4 months depending on what needed to be completed. The modular payload bay would be reconfigured for the next mission and the shuttle prepped. Modifications to the orbiter were completed at this time as well such as upgrading systems and hardware. All 3 OPF’s were located just west of the Vehicle Assembly Building.Īfter a shuttle had completed a mission, it was moved into one of the three hangars where it would undergo maintenance and processing. Scaffolding would be setup around the Shuttle’s aft section to allow technicians access to the main engines which would be removed and rebuilt before every mission. Any repairs that were needed on the orbiter’s thermal protection system including the thermal blankets and thousands of tiles was completed. Any refuse and other waste products including draining of the potable water system were offloaded and the fuel cell tanks were drained of remaining cryogenic reactants. In Orbiter Processing Facility 2 at NASAs Kennedy Space Center, members of space shuttle Endeavours STS-126 crew participate in a crew equipment interface test, or CEIT.From left are Mission Specialists Shane Kimbrough and Steve Bowen.The CEIT provides hands-on experience with hardware and equipment slated to fly on their mission. There were 3 Orbiter Processing Facilities called OPF-1, OPF-2 and OPF-3. Anaylses performed for ground processing, both expendable and reusable. Photo credit Ken Kremer.The Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) was a hangar at Kennedy Space Center where the Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles underwent maintenance in between flights. , the Combustion Tunnel Facility and the. Rollover of Discovery from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Later in the day, Discovery will be hoisted and mated to the other shuttle components to complete the stack which will be launched to orbit for her 39th and final flight on Nov. I was on hand to witness the entire beautiful event. The orbiter was parked about half way through the trip so the employees could pose for photo ops with Discovery.ĭiscovery finally reached the VAB at about 11 AM and was hauled inside – nose first. missiles that struck the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of KSC employees who process the orbiter for flight gathered to witness the event along with the media. production facility will provide Israel the ability to finance the. 9) as she was backed tail first out of the processing hanger. Select from 30 premium Orbiter Processing Facility 3 of the. ![]() ![]() The trip was delayed a day by the water main break which shut down KSC on Wednesday (Sep 8).ĭiscovery’s short trip on a wheeled transporter began shortly before 7 AM this morning (Sep. Find Orbiter Processing Facility 3 stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Ken Kremer: Space Shuttle Discovery was moved a few hundred yards from her processing hanger at the Kennedy Space Center to the Vehicle Assembly Building where she will be joined to the giant orange external fuel tank (ET) and twin solid rocket boosters (SRB) which will power the orbiter for her final trip to space. ![]()
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