B9_and_B59_-_SVMF.pdf

SPACE VEHICLE MOCKUP FACILITY TOUR FOR MSOC

Hello, and welcome to the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. A quick reminder to everyone: Please no pictures, video or audio recording, also please silence your cell phones. Be aware that we may enter areas that are being used for operations; please help us minimize the disruption by keeping any talking between the members of the group to a minimum in these areas. Thank you.

A safety item before we begin today: If an emergency occurs and evacuation is required, please follow your group escort out of the building. Please keep in mind that we may not exit out of the same door we entered. Follow the group to 75 feet from the building and please wait for additional instructions.

I will be walking you through the FOD portion of this high bay area, which is about 2/3 of the area of the building. I’ll briefly describe how this facility is used, and the Mission Systems contractor’s role in

Facility Operations, Maintenance, and Projects. We will be making a circle around the facility with a few stops at key operational locations.

For the purposes of our tour today, I will describe functions that are currently performed by the SVMF contractor. These are functions that will be performed by the Mission Systems contractor under MSOC unless otherwise stated.

The SVMF is used for Training, Real Time Mission Support, Engineering development and evaluations in support of Human Space

Flight. While it is an Operational facility, it is also used as a strategic location for tours and special events. You’ll see various PAO exhibits as you tour the facility.

The mockups you see in front of you are full scale mockups of

International Space Station modules. When discussed together, the ISS module mockups are commonly referred to as “the stack.” The Mission

Systems contractor coordinates scheduling, completes the event setup and teardown, manages the volume of tours, and coordinates all use of the mockups.

The Mockups are outfitted with varying levels of flight-like-ness, which we call fidelity. By utilizing different levels of fidelity, we are able to safely and cost efficiently meet the required training or mission support objectives. The Japanese Experiment Module, or JEM, and the

Columbus Module are examples of relatively low fidelity mockups.

High fidelity mockups of these modules are not required because extensive training on the systems and payloads in these modules is not performed in the SVMF. You can contrast that with the rack trainers will see in a few minutes where astronauts and flight controllers require high fidelity mockups to perform the required, detailed training.

The JEM has a relatively low level of fidelity. It includes some representative payloads for visitors. It also includes high fidelity communication and computer network systems to allow for emergency and routine operations training. The Mission Systems Contractor is responsible for upkeep of the mockup and has recently completed some improvement projects to enhance both the look and feel. Notice that the mockups include accurate labels, handrails, and stowage capability.

I’ll point out that there is a large Conference Room outside of the

Controlled Access Area on the 2nd floor that is used by SVMF users and external users. Mission Systems contractor personnel support external events by getting the room configured for use. Sometimes that involves logistics such as manipulation of tables and seating to support specific user requests. Next to the conference room there is a small office and a studio for the public outreach organization. However, the equipment and personnel in the public outreach areas are not the responsibility of the Mission Systems contractor.

Now we will make our way to our electrical tech and 3D printing area.

The SVMF has three 3-D printers, two print using ABS or Nylon and the third is a poly-jet capable of printing a range of materials. The

3-D printers are used to create or enhance training mockups, prototypes, and other needs for the Directorate. There is also a cleaning station that includes a safety shower.

Now we’ll move to Loose Equipment…

This is the Loose Equipment area. The Mission Systems contractor is responsible for gathering all hardware and tools requested for the setup of the day’s activities. These requests are in the form of a

Facility Utilization Request, or FUR. Sample FURs are provided in the

MSOC technical resources library.

One FUR is provided for each event setup and teardown to return the mockups to their default configuration after the class. The

Instructor, Flight Controller, or Event owner is required to submit a FUR to perform an SVMF event. The FUR specifies the type of the event, the specific mockups required, the date and time of the event, a detailed description of hardware and support equipment needed, and any unique safety considerations. For new training events and unique test configurations, the SVMF conducts a Safety Review and or a Training

Readiness Review with support from the Mission Systems contractor and other stakeholders to assure that all processes and safety considerations have been established and are followed.

Many of the tools and hardware utilized in the SVMF are housed in this area. In preparation for an activity, the Mission Systems contractor Ops Technicians gather the required equipment as identified in the FUR, then move and setup the equipment in the event location as specified in the FUR. All inventory is tracked and maintained by the

Mission Systems contractor. Sometimes SVMF equipment is loaned to outside requestors for return at a specified date.

Our next stop will be the Instructor Operations Station…

This area is the Instructor Operations Station, or IOS. This location is where teams of instructors conduct some of the more complex activities in the building. These events can utilize the SVMF’s simulation capability thereby adding an enhanced level of realism to the training session.

The interfaces to the ISS mockup’s communication system, the simulator, the computer network, and the various malfunction capabilities are accessed from the IOS. In addition, there are video cameras in most of the mockups with audio and video monitoring capabilities. The network readiness and simulation platform are the responsibility of the Mission Systems contractor.

This is the Window Observational Research Facility, or WORF rack.

It is used with the science window in the US lab on the ISS. On several occasions in the past, the principal investigator has brought flight hardware into the SVMF for use with this rack. The SVMF does not have bonded storage, so it is the responsibility of the users to secure their equipment. In addition, the SVMF does not guarantee the accuracy of the mockup interface to flight hardware and provides no assurance that the mockup won’t damage the flight hardware. The users assume this responsibility.

This is the Waste Hygiene Compartment, or WHC trainer. This mockup is a specialized trainer for toilet in the US segment on the ISS.

The trainer has some specialized malfunction capability that has been added by the Mission Systems contractor. The mockup is NOT a working toilet, but the functional pump can flow water for training purposes.

Some of the mockups in the SVMF are built by the Mission

Systems contractor. Some of the mockups are specially built by external organizations for the SVMF. And some of our mockups are engineering units or test articles that have been repurposed for training. The cupola is an example of a test article that was repurposed for training use. In order to utilize it for training, the Cupola has been outfitted with additional hardware provided by the Mission Systems contractor.

We’ll now move over to our rack training area…

These ISS racks are standalone mockups developed for specific part task interface training. Having the racks on the floor outside of the module mockups allows easy access to the backside of the mockups that would not be possible inside a module without a complicated system to support the weight of the rack as it is pivoted to provide access to the back of the rack. The floor area also allows the opportunity to schedule classes on the floor and in the modules simultaneously.

The SVMF periodically upgrades the rack internal hardware in order to effectively train objectives that evolve as experience grows or onboard systems change. For example, a troublesome onboard system that requires frequent maintenance may have its corresponding mockup in the SVMF upgraded to improve crew training, to facilitate procedure development, and to support engineering evaluations.

Here is a good example of how the SVMF manages its fidelity.

Inside the stack, there are only low fidelity, light weight hatches, primarily designed for ease of use in one G. The only high fidelity hatch in the SVMF is here in the VOT. There is a counter balance system that assists in moving the hatch so that it can operate as it would in zero gravity.

Here is an example of a special setup for evaluation purposes.

This non-flight like configuration allows users to evaluate the ability to perform ISS emergency training for times where a US crewed vehicle is docked to the ISS. If the evaluation is successful, the mockup can be moved to the front of Node 2 with the assurance that the time and money spent to permanently reconfigure the stack will be used effectively.

Now we’ll move over to the precision air bearing floor.

This is the precision air bearing floor. It is comprised of extremely flat stainless steel plates. The floor is elevated to allow heaters underneath the floor to warm it and minimize any condensation from the humid air that we sometimes get in the building. Specialized chairs or carts have JSC provided shop air pumped into pads that float the chairs or carts above the floor similar to an air hockey table providing simulated zero gravity in two axes. This facility is not currently used for training, but it is occasionally used for engineering evaluations and for outreach events.

We’ll continue our tour by moving to the Operations Control

Center or OCC…

The OCC is the communication and coordination hub of the SVMF activity. The OCC is staffed by Mission Systems contractors and manages the people entering, calling, or emailing the building to request information. The OCC provides or arranges support in scheduling, accessing, locating or assisting with events or tours. The

SVMF hosts 5 – 15 activities each day, not including tours. There is currently an online tour calendar for requesting and approving tours.

The OCC handles tour approvals based on the information provided and the availability of the requested mockups. They also support walk-up, self-guided floor tours via a sign in sheet provided on the console. The

OCC is also responsible for monitoring persons entering the mockups and for personnel buzzing the doors requesting access to the building.

On the other side of the OCC are our Suit Rooms. Suited operations begin in these rooms. Bathrooms in the back of the rooms are used to get ready before and to get changed after suited operations. The rooms are also used as classrooms and conference rooms. We have two Suit Rooms to support multiple individuals and or multiple events simultaneously. The rooms a separated by partition that can be opened to create a larger, single room.

This part of the building also has office space and a moderate sized conference room on the third floor. There is no elevator access to these areas.

Obviously, the Space Shuttle Crew Compartment Trainer, or CCT, is no longer used for crew training. However, the CCT is still scheduled for tours and still maintained by the Mission Systems contractor. More recently, the CCT has also been used for evaluations of US crew vehicles.

This is the Orion mockup. This mockup includes the shell and outfitting of varying fidelity including seat pallets, seats, umbilical interface panels, struts, and storage. Today, it is used primarily for

Orion engineering evaluations, but it will be used for crew and flight controller training as the mission transitions into its operational phase.

The Mission Systems contractor supports Orion pressurized suited operations and operations involving manipulation of the docking hatch.

They also provide some of the outfitting in coordination with the cockpit working group.

The far side of the building is the responsibility of the Engineering

Directorate. The boundaries between the two areas and a “keep clear” zone are marked on the floor. FOD has a Memorandum of

Understanding, or MOU, with Engineering regarding the boundaries and keep clear areas. The Mission Systems contractor provided Facility

Manager is mainly responsible for the FOD portion of the facility.

However, the Facility Manager does communicate with their

Engineering Facility Manager counterpart on issues of mutual interest such as water outages, fire alarm system issues, etc.

Along the north wall of the building is the visitor’s catwalk for

Space Center Houston guests. The Mission Systems contractor provided Facility Manager works with Center Operations and FOD management on safety issues with the catwalk or with the guests as required.

Building 9 includes two 20-ton overhead cranes for logistics support that reach both ends of the facility. They are maintained by

Center Operations Directorate, but can be operated by SVMF personnel, Engineering personnel, or COD personnel. We also have a forklift and manlift maintained and operated primarily by the Mission

Systems contractor but shared with ER to support their operations.

Now we’ll head over to our SVMF logistics facility, Building 59.

While we’re crossing the street, you should be able to see the SVMF laydown yard located about 300 feet northwest of Building 9. The laydown yard is used to store large hardware that can be exposed to the elements. There are also several shipping containers or Conex boxes in the laydown yard that provide additional, non-climate controlled storage.

Building 59 serves as the primary logistics and storage facility for the SVMF. FOD utilizes approximately 50% of this air-conditioned warehouse. I’ll briefly describe how this facility is used, and the Mission

Systems contractor role in Facility Operations.

This building and the SVMF have the same Mission Systems contractor provided facility manager. Building 59 is about 10 thousand square feet. In general, Engineering occupies the floor space on the west side of the easement The common Easement is kept clear for access to the various shelving areas, though it is often used for temporary storage as hardware is moved around. There is an MOU with Engineering regarding use of the space and the easement.

This is the shop area. The Mission Systems contractor uses the light shop to build, assemble, or maintain mockups or hardware. There are many specialized machines in this area that require operator certifications or checkout to use. In addition, all property is maintained and tracked by the Mission Systems contractor. There are also storage drums that serve as a satellite accumulation area for environmental waste. The SVMF facility manager monitors this waste collection location and requests that the drums be emptied as required.

The northern end of FOD’s portion of Building 59 houses these multi-level rack structures for storage of equipment and parts that can be utilized for facility operations or that serve as spare parts. There is space to store large equipment or special event hardware that may be used operationally but is not yet configured or installed. The space is also used to temporarily store equipment that is planned for excess.

We’ll now return to Building 9 for the rest of the tour…

These two US lab module mockups and the operations area are the Payload Development Laboratory, or PDLs. The PDLs are not integrated into the rest of the stack and are utilized primarily for payloads training, unlike the rest of the large SVMF mockups which are used primarily for systems training.

The PDLs are maintained by the Mission Systems contractor but the primary user is the Human Health and Performance organization and Marshall Space Flight Center Payloads personnel. These organizations sometimes provide new hardware for the mockups.

We’ll continue the tour over by the Partial Gravity Simulator...

The Partial Gravity Simulator, or POGO, suspends humans or large pieces of hardware from an air-controlled piston that rides on an air-bearing overhead rail. This simulator is used for crew training and evaluations that require gravity effects less than 1G. Special training is required to operate POGO. Once an event is approved, Mission Systems contractor personnel will operate POGO and provide technical support for the duration of the event.

The SVMF also has sewing capability that is the responsibility of the Mission Systems contractor.

This is our Soyuz mockup. This mockup and the SpaceX stowage trainer that we’ll walk by in few minutes are examples of training hardware provided by external organizations. SVMF civil service management works with the external organizations and develops

MOUs or other agreements that define the level of support these mockups require. Support could range from scheduling only to maintenance to outfitting.

With almost all Soyuz training provided in Russia, this mockup is not frequently used for training. However, because of its prime location, the Soyuz platform is one of the most common locations for public affairs events such as interviews and other public outreach.

We’ll now move over to our Airlock Mockup.

The Airlock Mockup is one of our higher fidelity mockups. It has three primary purposes. First, the airlock is used as part of the rest of the stack for training routine operations and emergency response scenarios. Second, the airlock’s life support system hardware is used for interface training. Finally, we use the mockup for crews to practice the timeline and procedures that occur just before and after they perform a space-walk. These sessions are called Prep and Post events.

Mission Systems contractor personnel run the breathing gas system in support of pressurized suited events in this mockup and may provide a

Test Director for the event as requested by NASA. The Suit Rooms mentioned earlier are used for suited Airlock operations.

We’ll now head back to where we started our tour.

The facility includes a break room on this side for users and employees.

This is the SpaceX stowage trainer. We have a Space Act

Agreement to manage the use of this mockup.

Thank you for joining us and for your interest in the Mission

Systems Operations Contract. That concludes our tour of the SVMF.