View of the Landing Aids Control Building

SLF54

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A new control tower is nearing completion at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility. It will replace the old tower in use since 1987. The old tower stands only 20 feet above the runway surface, too low to see the launch pads to the east. During nighttime landing operations, those inside the tower have been hindered by the eight-billion candlepower xenon lights that illuminate the runway. The new control tower is built atop an existing mound, rising nearly 100 feet over the midpoint of the runway. The height gives controllers a spectacular 360-degree view of NASA-KSC and northern Brevard County. The new facility will also replace the SLF Operations Building. The operations building is home to the Military Radar Unit that monitors NASA-KSC airspace 24 hours a day, as well as runway light controls, navigational aids, weather and wind speed instrumentation, and gate controls. In the new tower, the computer displays will be fully modernized to Federal Aviation Administration standards with touch-screen technology. Construction on the new facility began in February 2003 and is nearly ready for occupancy. Only some final inspections and approvals remain. A support building and Public Affairs viewing deck, to be used for observing future landing operations, will be added and are already in work.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The existing control tower seen here at the edge of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility is being replaced. In use since 1987, the old tower stands only 20 feet above the runway surface, too low to see the launch pads to the east. During nighttime landing operations, those inside the tower have been hindered by the eight-billion candlepower xenon lights that illuminate the runway. The new control tower is built atop an existing mound, rising nearly 100 feet over the midpoint of the runway. The height gives controllers a spectacular 360-degree view of NASA-KSC and northern Brevard County. The new facility will also replace the SLF Operations Building. The operations building is home to the Military Radar Unit that monitors NASA-KSC airspace 24 hours a day, as well as runway light controls, navigational aids, weather and wind speed instrumentation, and gate controls. In the new tower, the computer displays will be fully modernized to Federal Aviation Administration standards with touch-screen technology. Construction on the new facility began in February 2003 and is nearly ready for occupancy. Only some final inspections and approvals remain. A support building and Public Affairs viewing deck, to be used for observing future landing operations, will be added and are already in work.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A new control tower is nearing completion at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility. It will replace the old tower in use since 1987. The old tower stands only 20 feet above the runway surface, too low to see the launch pads to the east. During nighttime landing operations, those inside the tower have been hindered by the eight-billion candlepower xenon lights that illuminate the runway. The new control tower is built atop an existing mound, rising nearly 100 feet over the midpoint of the runway. The height gives controllers a spectacular 360-degree view of NASA-KSC and northern Brevard County. The new facility will also replace the SLF Operations Building. The operations building is home to the Military Radar Unit that monitors NASA-KSC airspace 24 hours a day, as well as runway light controls, navigational aids, weather and wind speed instrumentation, and gate controls. In the new tower, the computer displays will be fully modernized to Federal Aviation Administration standards with touch-screen technology. Construction on the new facility began in February 2003 and is nearly ready for occupancy. Only some final inspections and approvals remain. A support building and Public Affairs viewing deck, to be used for observing future landing operations, will be added and are already in work.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two control towers are seen at the edge of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, the old one in front and the nearly completed new tower in back. The old tower stands only 20 feet above the runway surface, too low to see the launch pads to the east. During nighttime landing operations, those inside the tower have been hindered by the eight-billion candlepower xenon lights that illuminate the runway. The new control tower is built atop an existing mound, rising nearly 100 feet over the midpoint of the runway. The height gives controllers a spectacular 360-degree view of NASA-KSC and northern Brevard County. The new facility will also replace the SLF Operations Building. The operations building is home to the Military Radar Unit that monitors NASA-KSC airspace 24 hours a day, as well as runway light controls, navigational aids, weather and wind speed instrumentation, and gate controls. In the new tower, the computer displays will be fully modernized to Federal Aviation Administration standards with touch-screen technology. Construction on the new facility began in February 2003 and is nearly ready for occupancy. Only some final inspections and approvals remain. A support building and Public Affairs viewing deck, to be used for observing future landing operations, will be added and are already in work.

KSC-2013-1076

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a new 12-inch water main is being installed as part of a water/wastewater revitalizing plan. The main will provide water to the area around the shuttle landing facility's Landing Aids Control Building and fire station. NASA’s space shuttle runway is a unique national asset designed to enable the recovery of the agency’s fleet of space shuttle orbiters. The shuttle landing facility is a single, 15,000-foot long concrete runway oriented to the southeast and northwest. Air traffic control is provided from a control tower built to FAA standards. Fire and emergency response services are also available from an onsite facility. For more information, visit http://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov/slf.htm Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs

KSC-2013-1078

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a new 12-inch water main is being installed as part of a water/wastewater revitalizing plan. The main will provide water to the area around the shuttle landing facility's Landing Aids Control Building and fire station. NASA’s space shuttle runway is a unique national asset designed to enable the recovery of the agency’s fleet of space shuttle orbiters. The shuttle landing facility is a single, 15,000-foot long concrete runway oriented to the southeast and northwest. Air traffic control is provided from a control tower built to FAA standards. Fire and emergency response services are also available from an onsite facility. For more information, visit http://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov/slf.htm Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs

KSC-2013-1073

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a new 12-inch water main is being installed as part of a water/wastewater revitalizing plan. The main will provide water to the area around the shuttle landing facility's Landing Aids Control Building and fire station. NASA’s space shuttle runway is a unique national asset designed to enable the recovery of the agency’s fleet of space shuttle orbiters. The shuttle landing facility is a single, 15,000-foot long concrete runway oriented to the southeast and northwest. Air traffic control is provided from a control tower built to FAA standards. Fire and emergency response services are also available from an onsite facility. For more information, visit http://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov/slf.htm Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs

KSC-2013-1077

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a new 12-inch water main is being installed as part of a water/wastewater revitalizing plan. The main will provide water to the area around the shuttle landing facility's Landing Aids Control Building and fire station. NASA’s space shuttle runway is a unique national asset designed to enable the recovery of the agency’s fleet of space shuttle orbiters. The shuttle landing facility is a single, 15,000-foot long concrete runway oriented to the southeast and northwest. Air traffic control is provided from a control tower built to FAA standards. Fire and emergency response services are also available from an onsite facility. For more information, visit http://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov/slf.htm Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs

KSC-2013-1075

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a new 12-inch water main is being installed as part of a water/wastewater revitalizing plan. The main will provide water to the area around the shuttle landing facility's Landing Aids Control Building and fire station. NASA’s space shuttle runway is a unique national asset designed to enable the recovery of the agency’s fleet of space shuttle orbiters. The shuttle landing facility is a single, 15,000-foot long concrete runway oriented to the southeast and northwest. Air traffic control is provided from a control tower built to FAA standards. Fire and emergency response services are also available from an onsite facility. For more information, visit http://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov/slf.htm Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs

KSC-2013-1074

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a new 12-inch water main is being installed as part of a water/wastewater revitalizing plan. The main will provide water to the area around the shuttle landing facility's Landing Aids Control Building and fire station. NASA’s space shuttle runway is a unique national asset designed to enable the recovery of the agency’s fleet of space shuttle orbiters. The shuttle landing facility is a single, 15,000-foot long concrete runway oriented to the southeast and northwest. Air traffic control is provided from a control tower built to FAA standards. Fire and emergency response services are also available from an onsite facility. For more information, visit http://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov/slf.htm Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs

From the air over KSC can be seen the Shuttle Landing Facility. Orbiter landings at the Kennedy Space Center are made on one of the largest runways in the world. The runway is located 3.2 km (2 miles) northwest of the Vehicle Assembly Building and is 4,572 meters (15,000ft) long and 91.4 meters (300ft) wide -- about as wide as the length of a football field. It has 305 meters (1000ft) of paved overruns at each end and the paving thickness is 40.6cm (15 inches) at the center. At left in the photo is the Aircraft Ground Equipment Shed; in the center is the Landing Aids Control Building (LACB) which supports landing operations and houses operations personnel. Located at the northeast corner of the parking apron is the Mate/Demate device (MDD) used to raise and lower the orbiter from its 747 carrier aircraft during ferry operations. The open-truss steel structure is equipped with hoists, adapters and movable platforms for access to certain orbiter components and equipment. It also is equipped with lightning protection devices. The MDD is 45.7 meters (150ft) long, 28.3 meters (93ft) wide and 32 meters (105ft) high. On the landing area in front of the SLF is a T-38 jet airplane.

KSC-2010-5090

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-133 Pilot Eric Boe puts on his orange flight suit in the Shuttle Landing Facility's Landing Aids Control Building, which is on the south end of the facility's runway. Boe and Commander Steve Lindsey are preparing to practice landings in Shuttle Training Aircraft, modified Gulfstream II business jets that mimic the shuttle's handling during the final phase of landing. Practice landings are part of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT), which provides each shuttle crew and launch team an opportunity to participate in various simulated activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training at the launch pad. Space shuttle Discovery and its STS-133 crew will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for Nov. 1 at 4:40 p.m. For more information on the STS-133 mission, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KSC-2010-5089

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey puts on his orange flight suit in the Shuttle Landing Facility's Landing Aids Control Building, which is on the south end of the facility's runway. Lindsey and Pilot Eric Boe are preparing to practice landings in Shuttle Training Aircraft, modified Gulfstream II business jets that mimic the shuttle's handling during the final phase of landing. Practice landings are part of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT), which provides each shuttle crew and launch team an opportunity to participate in various simulated activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training at the launch pad. Space shuttle Discovery and its STS-133 crew will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for Nov. 1 at 4:40 p.m. For more information on the STS-133 mission, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller