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Recent concern over runway roughness resulted in studying various techniques to smooth the surface. All methods were unacceptable for one reason or another, and the subsequent nosewheel steering system upgrade significantly lowered the tire wear concern. It should be noted that no KSC landings have been made to date that have used the nosewheel steering system to demonstrate a reduction in the tire wear.

KSC obtained the services of T. R. (Shug) Wathen from the army Corps of Engineers to serve as a runway design consultant and as a construction supervisor. He had built more runways for the military than any other man. The KSC runway was built to the Space Shuttle design requirements which exceeded all FAA requirements and was coordinated extensively with the Air Force, DFRC, NASA Headquarters, JSC, KSC, the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and the Army Corps of Engineers, and was constructed by A&E-Griner Engineering and Morrison-Knudson, Inc., both well-qualified companies and experienced in runaway construction.

In summary, KSC and Space Shuttle management felt that the KSC runway was the best runway that the world knew how to build at that time.

XIV. TURNAROUND OPERATIONS

Turnaround operations picks up at the point when the crew has exited the Orbiter and the MCC in Houston has released control of the vehicle to the convoy commander from KSC. The turnaround operation is complete after the Orbiter has been delivered to KSC and demated, and after the tail cone had been removed for the beginning of the towing operation to the KSC Orbiter Processing Facility.

The convoy operation performs a post landing safety assessment of hazardous gases, aids the crew's egress, provides ground support (cooling, electrical power, etc.) and special cargo support operations to retrieve samples. It also provides towing and vehicle security at the landing site and enroute to KSC.

The turnaround operation prepares the Orbiter for the ferry flight to KSC. The tasks involve a range  of operations using special GSE equipment, some of which is present at EAFB, and other equipment which must be shipped for each operation. Once the Orbiter is at the mate/demate device (MDD), it is jacked and leveled to ease the operation, and a TPS inspection is made. TPS repairs will be planned at KSC based upon this inspection. If the Orbiter is not powered up, it will be at the MDD, the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) will be purged, and the cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen plus the propellant hypergolics will be safed, but not unloaded, unless required for ferry weight control. If the brakes were not removed on the runway by the convoy team, they will be removed at the MDD. The main propulsion system (MPS) will be purged of propellants. The water will be sampled and lines drained. The hydraulic system will be operated to position the aerosurfaces and main engines. After main engine positioning is complete, the tail cone is installed. This latter operation and the Orbiter mate are very wind-sensitive and delays are easily encountered

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Transcription Notes:
Nosewheel - should be two words or hyphenated KSC - Kennedy Space Center demated - correct word. Used in aeronautics to indicate move (a space shuttle orbiter) off the back of an aircraft that can carry it.