Star Treatment : ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET FOR THE SHUTTLE

When the space shuttle Atlantis blasts into the sky, all eyes will be focused on its historic rendezvous with the Russian Mir space station

But on an arid, desert lake bed north of Lancaster, several dozen men and women will be focused on a task more down-to-earth, yet no less critical, than the shuttle’s mission in space.

In the event that bad luck or weather prevents the shuttle from landing at its planned runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA maintains a small ground crew at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

From the moment of launch, the 60-person crew at NASA/Dryden is on standby, prepared to receive the shuttle.

“They’re prepared to help land the orbiter on short notice,” said Denney Gagen, NASA’s top shuttle landing coordinator. “As we approach the planned landing day, the flight team at Kennedy looks at the weather forecast and they make a decision whether they need Dryden’s help or not.”

If the decision is made to land at Edwards, usually 24 hours before landing, a second ground team of about 100 from Kennedy will fly to California to assist the Dryden team. After the shuttle lands, Kennedy will send another 130 technicians, bringing the total shuttle ground crew to nearly 300.

Twenty-four hours a day for the next five days, the shuttle technicians will work feverishly to power down the orbiter, expunge its engines of dangerous gases, unload the shuttle’s crew and cargo and load the spacecraft atop a modified 747 airplane for the return flight to Florida.

From landing to ferry, this dizzying spectacle at Dryden costs NASA about $1 million. But it’s a small price to pay, some NASA officials say, to keep the show going in space.

1. Getting into Position

The orbiter is rotated into a tail-first postition. The shuttle’s orbital naneuvering engines are used to decrease velocity and start its descent. Blended reaction control jets and aerodynamic surfaces control the shuttle during entry.

2. Returning to Earth

The unpowered orbiter glides to earth and lands on the runway. Touchdown speed varies from 213 to 225 miles per hour.

3. Testing for Danger

Nearly 300 launch operations team members are on hand to work on the shuttle. Ground team members wearing protective suits approach the spacecraft when it stops rolling. They test the atmosphere in the vicinity of the shuttle to ensure it is not explosive. A truck carrying a large fan will be moved into the area to diffuse gas concentrations and prevent a possible explosion.

4. Cooling Down

Air-conditioning units are attached to the shuttle to cool the orbiter and dissipate heat generated by re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

5. The Crew’s Exit

The flight crew exits down stairs pulled alongside the shuttle. The orbiter and ground support convoy move from the runway to the orbiter mate and demate facility. Located here are medical and debriefing personnel for the crew members, as well as scientists to receive materials and results of experiments performed in space.

6. Powering Down

After the flight crew has safely exited, the ground crew powers down the spacecraft. The ground support vehicles are detached and moved away, and the orbiter tractor tow vehicle prepare to tow the shuttle to the cage.

7. Checking for Damage

The shuttle is towed to the Dryden Flight Research Center’s Area A and put in to the “cage,” a structure designed to securely suspend the spacecraft during inspection. Any remaining fuel is removed, and the shuttle’s protective skin of thermal tiles is examined. Any damaged tiles are repaired, in preparation for the flight back to Florida. When the shuttle is ready, NASA begins to watch the weather.

8. Piggybacking the Shuttle

A specially modified 747 jet is pulled into position under the suspended shuttle. The crane operator carefully lowers the 4.5-million pound shuttle onto brackets on the 747’s back, where it is bolted for the journey back to Florida. All passenger seats in the 747 have been removed, to reduce weight.

Viewing a Landing

When NASA decides to land the shuttle at Edwards, the public is often invited. However, getting there requires some planning. Less than one hour’s notice is usually given before a landing. Amenities are scant, bring your own water and protection from the sun. There are no telephones at the site, but portable sanitation facilities are provided. Be aware that other natural visitors, such as rattlesnakes, may be present.

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