America’s gateway to the universe. Leading the world in preparing and launching missions to Earth and beyond.

April 12, 2001

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Spaceport Newshttp://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/snews/snewstoc.htm

Vol. 40, No. 8

(See LAUNCH, Page 8)

Team members look back 20 yearsFirst Shuttle launch anniversary – April 12, 2001

STS-1Crew: John W. Young, Commander

Robert L. Crippen, Pilot

Backup: Joseph H. Engle, Commander Richard H. Truly, Pilot

Rollout: Columbia rolled to Pad39-A on Dec. 29, 1980.

Launch: Columbia launched onApril 12, 1981, at 7 a.m. EST

Landing: April 14, 1981, at 10:21 a.m.PST, Edwards Air Force Base,Calif.

Mission duration: 37 orbits, two days, sixhours, 20 minutes, 53 seconds

When Columbia lifted off the padthe morning of April 12, 1981,becoming the first Space Shuttle tolaunch – thousands of KennedySpace Center team memberswatched with fervent emotions.

The launch of an orbiter strappedto an external tank and two solidrocket boosters was a spectaclethat had never been seen before.

KSC workers knew they hadcontributed to the success of a newvehicle that would transform thespace program.

The new Space TransportationSystem program had been underdevelopment for 10 years, and thelaunch was a tremendous payoff.

This space vehicle was no “one

SPACEPORT NEWS April 12, 2001Page 2

Launch director kept team ‘keyed up’Despite the computer trouble that scrubbed

the first launch attempt of Columbia on STS-1,George Page said the Kennedy Space Centerteam still felt fully prepared.

“I felt a tremendous relief when Columbia didlaunch on the second attempt. We had workedvery hard, and I spent most of my awake timeout here. To see it go so well was very satisfy-ing,” said Page, who served as launch directorfor the first three flights of the Shuttle program,starting with STS-1 in April 1981.

Page had already worked for NASA for 18years, as a spacecraft test conductor on theGemini Program; chief spacecraft test conductorfor Gemini and Apollo launch operations; chiefof Spacecraft Operations Division for Apollo,Skylab and ASTP launch operations; director ofCargo Operations; and director of ShuttleOperation

The biggest challenge to make that firstlaunch “was keeping everyone keyed up andready to go,” Page said. “The schedule haddragged out – the original schedule was veryoptimistic and we worked under a lot of pressureto meet it. We had trouble installing tile on thevehicle, the solids of that size were new to us,there were new hardware and new systems. It

was a challenging time. Everyone involveddeserves a lot of credit.”

The distant future wasn’t a concern for thoseworking to launch the first Shuttle. “Most of usthen were so wrapped up doing the job wedidn’t think much into the future,” said Page.“We didn’t think, though, that we would still beflying Shuttle. We thought it would haveprogressed to other vehicles.”

Page retired from NASA in 1984. He remainson the Space Coast with continued interest inthe Shuttle launches and evolving program.

That interest must be an inherited trait since,said Page, “my son works on the Shuttleprogram for NASA in California and my grand-son works on launches from the firing room atKSC.”

When asked for any final thoughts aboutlaunching STS-1, Page stated, “It was the mostsatisfying program I ever worked on. To see itgo and know it was safely on orbit, and then seeit come back to Earth – incredible.”

– Anita Barrett

“(STS-1) was the mostsatisfying program I everworked on. To see it go andknow it was safely on orbit,and then see it come backto Earth – incredible.”

George PageLaunch Director, STS-1

KSC director led processing effortsDick Smith was KSC’s director when Columbia

rolled out to the pad for her first launch.Of course, it was a big media event, and the

reporters wanted a quote from the CenterDirector. He gave them one, but Smith, origi-nally from Decatur, Ala., asserts that they got itwrong. “I said ‘Ain’t it purty,’ but they quotedme as saying ‘Ain’t it pretty.”

Center Director at KSC from September 1979to August 1986, Smith first arrived just shortlyafter Columbia was delivered to KSC. Smith hadbeen deputy director of the Marshall SpaceFlight Center, but was serving as the deputyassociate administrator for Space Transporta-tion Systems at NASA Headquarters before hearrived at KSC.

He was in much better condition than Colum-bia, though, which still needed a lot of process-ing before its first launch.

Smith remembers talking to one KSC em-ployee, a grandfather, who fondly recountedbringing his young grandson out to the ShuttleLanding Facility to witness history unfolding:Columbia perched atop the Shuttle CarrierAircraft before its move into the Orbiter Pro-cessing Facility.

His grandson was unimpressed, however, andobserved “that airplane sitting on top is sick.”

One of the biggest challenges of theworkforce during Smith’s tenure as director wasdeveloping the ground processing routines andprocedures for the orbiters that have become sostreamlined today. It was a slow, painfulprocess.

Every procedure was being done for the firsttime. Every step was like pulling a tooth. “Wehad a lot of toothaches,” Smith laughed. Then,as now, KSC was very fortunate to have thequality and dedication of the employees.

“What brings people together is a crisis

because they forget the trivial things,” Smithobserved. “KSC is unique in that a launch islike a crisis, a scheduled crisis. If you watch theteam closely, you see petty quarrels andsquabbling fade away as the team heads into alaunch. The team pulls together to handle thecrisis.”

– Kay Grinter

One of the biggest chal-lenges of the workforce dur-ing Dick Smith’s tenure asdirector of Kennedy SpaceCenter was developingground processing routinesand procedures for the or-biters that have become sostreamlined today. It was aslow, painful process.

Former KSC Director Dick Smith is pictured inthe Vehicle Assembly Building during theprocessing of Columbia for STS-1.

STS-1 Launch Director George Page speaks tothe media after the first Space Shuttle launch.

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3April 12, 2001

Reyes’ team met tile challengesErnie Reyes was enjoying his job

in payload planning in 1979,working with both expendablevehicles and to transitiondeployable payloads to the SpaceShuttle program.

His goal was to develop aground support system to meet thecustomer need for payloads toarrive at the pad as close to launchas possible.

Columbia, however, was to drawReyes away from that task after acall from George Page, the SpaceShuttle launch director. Theinstallation of the thermal protec-tion tiles had run into difficulty andwas behind schedule.

Making good progress on thepayload ground support system,Reyes was reluctant to changeassignments. But Page wantedReyes to become the KennedySpace Center “tile czar.”

“We don’t need any payloads ifthe Space Shuttle doesn’t work,”launch director Page remindedReyes.

Good point, and Reyes becamethe NASA-KSC Thermal ProtectionSystem lead. His job descriptionwas simply to get all the tiles in-stalled on Columbia before launch.

Initially the tiles were notpassing a required “pull test,” arigorous test to assure the tileswould not fall off Columbia duringits first launch.

“Because the tiles had theconsistency of Styrofoam, we werepopping them right off,” recalledReyes.

He joined the Thermal ProtectionSystem team, NASA and RockwellInternational engineers assigned tosolve the tile-bonding problem. Aspecial gray-colored slurry coatingwas developed that could beapplied to the underside of the tile.

After curing overnight, there wasfound to be dramatic improvementin the bonding characteristic of thetile. As a result, an enormousproject called “tile densification”began for all of the more than31,000 tiles that were beingattached to Columbia.

“The pull test then showed thatwe were able to far exceed thestrength we needed,” said Reyes.

The tile work for STS-1 was atremendous undertaking. At thattime there were no computers tohelp with the job. It was all donewith books of drawings, pencil,paper and colored crayons. Tagswere affixed to tiles indicatingsome stage of repair or the statusof other work in progress.

The technicians became proud ofworking on what looked like a hugejigsaw puzzle, wearing shirts thatread “Power to the Puzzle People.”

“Not near enough credit has everbeen given to all the people at theend of the rope. We had strongtechnicians doing the job and astrong shop to support them. Theywere really dedicated to what theywere doing,” said Reyes. “TheNASA and Rockwell managementwere also very dedicated. It was thebest possible example of a jointgovernment/industry team workingat KSC.”

After STS-1 only 16 tiles of themore than 31,000 had come off.

By STS-2, none came off. But bythen Reyes had returned topayloads becoming the deputydirector of payload operations –and he got to finish that payloadground support system.

– George Diller

“Not near enough credit has everbeen given to all the people at theend of the rope. We had strongtechnicians doing the job and astrong shop to support them.”

Ernie Reyes,Thermal Protection System Lead for STS-1

Processing Columbia for the first Shuttle launch was a steeplearning curve for everyone, especially those in tile installation.

“Tile installation was the most demanding, tedious process atKSC, “ recalled Dick Smith, director of the Kennedy Space Centerwhen Columbia was being prepared for launch for the first time.

A 15-minute test flight of the orbiter-Shuttle Carrier Aircraftcombination at Edwards Air Force Base resulted in extensivedamage to the tiles on Columbia. As the 747 took off, parts of theplastic-foam dummy tiles, attached by tape to the areas aroundthe windows, fuselage sides, wings and midtail began to fall off.

When the flight ended, the orbiter had lost not only some of thedummy tiles, but some of the 26,000 real tiles already bonded inplace, as well. Problems with the tile adhesive alone would keepemployees busy for months until it was resolved.

Many young people were hired to do the tile work. They werehigh school graduates who were given on-the-job training.

Jeff Andress was one of those hired. He was 20 years old in1979, and his career at KSC has centered around tile installationand manufacturing.

“We were very critical of what we were doing. Everyone whoworked with the tiles back then remembers the first time hedamaged one,” Andress said.

– Kay Grinter

Tile technicians had hands full

Jeff Andress, now a Thermal Protection System manager withUnited Space Alliance, was one of the first tile technicians hired.Above, he takes a look at Columbia’s modern tile system.

A view of Columbia in an OrbitalProcessing Facility at KennedySpace Center before the firstShuttle launch. The orbital’s exteriorlooks damaged because it had lostmany of its Thermal ProtectionSystem tiles during a test flightaboard its carrier aircraft atEdwards Air Force Base.

Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS April 12, 2001

Liftoff of C“With the first Shuttle launchbeing such an historic event,the atmosphere on Centerwas very festive. At the timeof liftoff, the feeling was boththat of excitement andapprehension.”

Jim JenningsKSC Deputy Center Director

“At that time, I was thefacility manager for the OPF.I viewed the launch on thetowway in front of the OPF.The launch was unbelievable!It was thrilling.”

Ann MontgomeryDeputy Director, Safety, Healthand Independent Assessment

“I grew up here and was usedto the Apollo launches. STS-1was a different experience.The Apollo vehicles would liftslowly off the pad; the Shuttlejust hopped off the pad!”

Ray LugoActing Director, Joint Perfor-mance Management Office

“I was excited and nervous. Iwas also proud, because Icould go back to school in thefall and tell all my friends thatI was a member of the teamfor the launch that madehistory.”

Michele TaylorElectronics Engineer, SpaceportEngineering and Technology

A jubilant launch team celebrates the successful launch of Columbia on STS-1 April 12, 19

A crowd gathered at Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral to watch the first Space Shuttle launch. continues to be a popular site for watching Shuttle and rocket launches.

Page 5SPACEPORT NEWSApril 12, 2001

olumbia!“It was so nice to be launch-ing again after the transitionbetween the Space Shuttleprogram and the ApolloSoyuz Test Project and thegap in launching.”

JoAnn MorganDirector, External Relations andBusiness Development

“At the time of STS-1, I wasthe VAB Site Manager. Wecouldn’t wait to get out to thepad. Everybody was sodedicated. Everyone recog-nized this is a milestone thatwill go down in history.”

Conrad NagelChief, Shuttle Project Office

“STS-1 was my very firstlaunch and I was excited andrelieved at liftoff. It was wild!Everyone was ecstatic! Allthe testing, meetings, reviews,and hard work paid off.”

Ruth HarrisonTechnical Assistant, ShuttleProcessing

“I viewed the launch fromhome with my children. Thefeeling I experienced wastremendous pride. Hard workreally does pay off. I also wasnervous, hoping everythingwould go O.K.”

Ping YuChief, Mechanical/Civil DesignBranch, Spaceport Services

81, with an eruption of flag waving in Firing Room 1 at Kennedy Space Center.

Silhouetted by the morning sun and rising Shuttle, viewerstrack Columbia’s ascent on the first Space Shuttle launch.

The park

April 12, 2001 SPACEPORT NEWS Page 6

Launch tradition gets its startA much-celebrated Kennedy

Space Center launch traditionbegan with STS-1.

Since that first Shuttle liftoff,launch controllers have enjoyedbeans and cornbread as animmediate payoff for a successfullaunch.

Former NASA Test Director ChiefNorm Carlson started the traditionwith one small crock pot ofnorthern beans for his hungry staff.

The tradition grew in popularityand Carlson turned the cookingover to KSC’s food servicecontractor.

Now, hundreds of launch teammembers, managers and dignitariesswarm the Launch Control Centerlobby after each launch dippinginto twelve 18-quart cookersbrimming with beans.

This popular tradition wafts thearoma of launch success throughair ducts, into the elevators, out theautomatic doors and into theparking lot.

As time passed, workers en-joined new customs and diversionsfrom a demanding line of work.

“We have a very professionaland focused team here, but wedon’t have to wait for launch dayto blow off a little steam,” saidDave King, KSC’s Shuttle Process-ing Director. “We like to celebratethe smaller victories along the wayas well.”

In the early days, a NASA flowmanager started bringing indoughnuts to celebrate the rollover of the Shuttle from the OrbiterProcessing Facility to VehicleAssembly Building (VAB).

As we became more healthconscious though, some chose tobring in bagels.

Why doughnuts and bagels?Maybe because they are round likea wheel and the Shuttle is rolling tothe VAB. No one seems to know.Whatever the reason, it’s quite atreat to watch the Shuttle creepingtoward the VAB while snacking ondoughnuts or bagels.

At KSC, any excuse to have abarbecue is acceptable, but teamaccomplishments make them thatmuch sweeter. Whether KSCmanagers are thanking workers fora job well done, or technicians and

their families are hanging out withastronauts after two days ofShuttle and payload inspections, acookout brings everyone down toearth. When every face is coveredwith sauce, titles don’t matter asmuch and everyone gets treatedlike family.

“These traditional gatherings aregood for morale and introduceworkers to the crew that’s about to

fly in their Shuttle,” explains JimHalsell, Shuttle launch integrationmanager. “As an astronaut, thecookouts gave me an opportunityto say thanks face to face.”

One of the few KSC traditionsthat excludes eating is the cuttingof a rookie’s necktie after launch. Acustomary practice among aviatorsfollowing their first solo flight,launch directors, NASA test

directors and engineers humblyendure this borrowed ceremony.

Only a few minutes after mainengine cutoff, a KSC manager usesscissors to hack off the necktie justinches below the knot – in front ofthe entire launch team. If food wasallowed in the firing room, acookout would likely top-off thistradition as well.

– Joel Wells

Successful Launch BeansCourtesy of Norm Carlson, former NASA Test Director Chief

Put 6 lbs. of dried Great Northern Beans in an 18-quart electric cooker.Cut 10 lbs. of smoked ham into cubes.Add ham and ham bones to beans.Add ½ shaker of lemon pepper.Add 3 lbs. chopped onions.Add 2 stalks chopped celery.Add 1 tsp. liquid smoke.Cover with water and cook for at least 8 hours.Enjoy!

Famous Launch Day CornbreadMartha White Self-Rising Corn Muffin MixFollow directions on box.

Above, launch team members and guests enjoy beans and cornbread after a successful launch. The traditionbegan with STS-1. At right, another launch tradition: KSC Director Roy Bridges cuts Mike Leinbach’s tie after thelaunch of STS-106, Leinbach’s first launch as Launch Director.

SPACEPORT NEWSApril 12, 2001 Page 7

Program evolves over yearsIt has been two decades since

the first Space Shuttle roared intohistory. How things in the programhave changed since then.

“Initially we saw a tendency todocument everything” recalls RonPhelps of the Shuttle ProcessingDirectorate Business Office. “Wehad to videotape each individualtile after the landing and compare itto how they’d been configuredbefore launch. Nowadays, some ofthose areas we’re not as concernedabout because we’ve proven thereliability of the vehicles’ systems.”

Tom Overton, Multi-FlowIntegration Manager, saw compara-tive changes involving the vehiclewhen the crew size was bumpedfrom two astronauts to fourcrewmembers.

“For the first four flights, therewere only two crewmembers,”Overton said, “and they each hadan ejection seat. I was a ‘forwardobserver’ on those first four flights.We looked through binoculars afterthe orbiter cleared the swing arm,watching the Shuttle for fires oranything else. It was excitingbecause the guys could bail out ifthey had to.”

A touch of nostalgia always slipsinto the voices of those who haveseen the program evolve.

“I grew up in this area, and whenthe first Shuttle launched, I was stilllooking at it through a young man’seyes,” recalls Rick English,resource manager in the ShuttleProcessing Directorate BusinessOffice. “Since then, I’ve watchedlaunches from many differentperspectives. No two are alike, andall of them are beautiful to watch,but the first was the most impres-sive. It’s like eating a good steak. Ialways enjoy it, but it was reallyinteresting the first time.”

Of the many changes in theprogram, likely the most visible isthe designated preferred landingsite. STS-1 was always slated toland at Edwards Air Force Base,Calif. But over the course of the lifeof the Shuttle program, landings atKennedy Space Center’s ShuttleLanding Facility have becomecommonplace while landings atEdwards have become rare.

“The focus was to land out atEdwards, where you had plenty ofroom in case of a problem duringlanding,” Phelps said. “But as weadded nose wheel steering,improved braking systems, andchutes, we became a lot morecomfortable landing here at KSC.”

In fact, the entire program hasmatured, Phelps acknowledged.

“The Space Shuttle is at thepoint that while we know it still hasits hazards, we also know theShuttle has proven itself over thepast 20 years to be a very reliablepiece of hardware.”

– Anna Heiney

First Flight Facts

• The original April 10, 1981, launch date ofSTS-1 was postponed to April 12 because ofa timing skew between the primary andbackup general computers.

• The STS-1 launch was the first of 24 liftoffsfrom Pad 39A.

• After the STS-1 launch, Columbia landed atEdwards Air Force Base on April 14 and thenreturned to KSC on April 28.

• Major Shuttle systems tested successfullyon the first flight of the Shuttle TransportationSystem.

• Columbia sustained tile damage on launchfrom an overpressure wave created by thesolid rocket boosters. Subsequentmodifications to the water sound sup-pression system eliminated the problem.

Multi-Flow Integration Manager Tom Overton has seen many changes in the Space Shuttle Program since STS-1days when he was working as NASA’s lead operations engineer in charge of rollout and mate of the orbiter.

“The Space Shuttle is atthe point that while weknow it still has its haz-ards, we also know theShuttle has proven itselfover the past 20 years tobe a very reliable piece ofhardware.”

Ron PhelpsShuttle Processing

Page 8 SPACEPORT NEWS April 12, 2001

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Managing editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce BuckinghamEditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Hagood

Editorial support provided by InDyne Inc. Writers Group.NASA at KSC is located on the Internet at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov

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Spaceport News

Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center andis published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest ofKSC civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks beforepublication to the Media Services Branch, XAE-1. E-mail submissions can besent to Katharine.Hagood-1@ksc.nasa.gov

LAUNCH ...(Continued from Page 1)

Columbia, then and nowColumbia, the first Space Shuttle

ever launched, recently returnedfrom The Boeing Co.’s Palmdale,Calif., plant where it was refur-bished and upgraded.

More than 100 major modifica-tions were made over 18 months tomake the vehicle safer and moreefficient and reliable, as well as toexpand its capabilities.

Modifications included installa-tion of a $9 million “glass cockpit”with high-tech electronic instru-ments and flat-panel displays.

The orbiter’s weight was reducedto increase its payload capacity toorbit and it was equipped withbetter space-debris protection.

Other modifications:• A Global Positioning System

(GPS) satellite navigation receiverwas installed.

• Columbia’s thermal protectionsystem tiles were upgraded.

• The orbiter was modified to beable to allow for possible SpaceStation missions.

The recent overhaul wasColumbia’s fourth visit the orbiterhas made to Palmdale. On its firsttrip, Columbia was outfitted forlong-duration flights. Modifica-tions included an improved toilet,extra stowage, a carbon dioxideremoval system and additionalhydrogen and oxygen tanks.

Columbia is the only orbiteroutfitted to stay in space up to 30days. Its longest duration flight sofar is nearly 18 days.

– Kathy Hagood

shot” wonder. It would launchagain and again to lift payloads toorbit and provide a orbitingmicrogravity laboratory.

Columbia and other members ofthe Shuttle fleet have launchedmore than 100 times during the past20 years.

STS-100, scheduled at presstimeto launch aboard Endeavour April19, will be the 104th Shuttle launchand the 9th International SpaceStation mission.

The Shuttle team members who

watched that first launch couldonly imagine what amazingpayloads the new vehicle would liftinto orbit and what new discoveriesthe new program would allow.

Twenty years later, SpaceportNews is giving voice to those firstShuttle Program team members whoworked at KSC to revisit thewonder of the beginning of aprogram that continues to makehistory. Much has happened sincethen, but the excitement of workingon a team that launches Shuttlescontinues.

– Kathy Hagood

At left, Columbia is readied on Pad 39-A for the firstShuttle Space launch on April 12, 1981. The Shuttle’ssignature orange external tank was painted white, apractice that ended with STS-2 because of the addedweight of the paint. Above, a modernized Columbiareturned to KSC last month after 18 months ofrefurbishment in Palmdale, Calif. More than 100 majormodifications were made to the orbiter. At bottom left,STS-1 astronauts Robert Young and Bob Crippenreview Columbia’s cockpit controls before theirmission. Below, Columbia’s newly installed $9-million“glass cockpit” is seen while the orbiter is beingprocessing in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1.