Author Topic: OPF-3's conversion into Boeing’s C3PF to begin on September 10  (Read 17181 times)

Online Chris Bergin

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/09/opf-3s-conversion-boeings-c3pf-september-10/

The notes were from today, and it was a good excuse to get a CST-100 article on, as it's a far less media friendly vehicle than Dream Chaser and Dragon.
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Online Lee Jay

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Interesting.

Out of curiosity, how is this work being paid for?

Offline Jim

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Interesting.

Out of curiosity, how is this work being paid for?

By Space Florida

Offline arachnitect

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Good article. Always happy to see coverage of the "other commercial" vehicles on NSF.

I am a little confused though: will Boeing be using OPF for final assembly of CST, just vehicle processing, or both?

Online Chris Bergin

Good article. Always happy to see coverage of the "other commercial" vehicles on NSF.

I am a little confused though: will Boeing be using OPF for final assembly of CST, just vehicle processing, or both?

Thanks! And I believe they will be using it for both, outfitting and processing (like how Orion is in the O&C right now).

The official wording is "to manufacture and test the company’s Crew Space Transportation (CST-100) spacecraft"
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Offline Ike17055

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at last..some cst-100 coverage. I was starting to think they lost their funding instead of winning one of the awards...while I like all the vehicles proposed, and admire all SpaceX has accomplished, cst-100 has to be the most probable candidate if there is a down select to one. But we see almost nothing. Is Boeing not doing any PR?  True, Dreamchaser is sexier and thus gets all the coverage, but it also has to be the least likely craft to be first or only vehicle to fly. :-X

Offline DMeader

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To quote Mike Holmes...

"I've decided to gut it... take it all down".

Offline Skylon

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Can they keep the slits which allowed the orbiter's vertical stabilizer clearance to enter the OPF...just as a reminder that "Orbiters were once here"?

If it doesn't interfere with anything.

Offline Go4TLI

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Can they keep the slits which allowed the orbiter's vertical stabilizer clearance to enter the OPF...just as a reminder that "Orbiters were once here"?

If it doesn't interfere with anything.

Those I'm quite sure will stay.  To remove them would cost more and add time for zero practical benefit. 

Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Quote
KSC’s “wish list” is for all three OPFs to house new vehicles, namely CST-100, as already agreed, Dream Chaser in OPF-2 and the US Air Force’s X-37B in OPF-1.

Seems that wish is one step closer, with Florida Today reporting that the USAF is looking to consolidate X-37 operations to the KSC/CCAFS area.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120928/SPACE/309280017/Mini-shuttle-X-37B-talk-stirs-optimism-Space-Coast

Edit: probably more likely Astrotech since that is where they are processed for launch now.
« Last Edit: 10/18/2012 01:50 am by Ronsmytheiii »

Offline Space Pete

These new pictures have surfaced at the KSC Media Gallery, showing all that is left of OPF-3. All the Shuttle support structures are gone, making it now a "clean floor" bay.

So I suppose I should stop calling it OPF-3, it is now most decidedly the C3PF.

Hi-res versions, and other views, at these links:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=63751

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=63750

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=63749

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=63748

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=63747
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Offline Space Pete

SPACE FLORIDA COMPLETES PHASE 1 OF ORBITER PROCESSING FACILITY RENOVATIONS

Tina Lange
Apr 11, 2013

Facility Being Prepared to Meet Commercial Market Needs

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (April 11, 2013) – Space Florida has completed Phase 1 of its efforts to transform the former Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) into a modern and commercially friendly aerospace facility, now referred to as the Commercial Crew & Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF). This project is the result of a first-of-its-kind partnership between NASA-KSC and Space Florida whereby Space Florida has secured full long-term rights to operate, maintain, and improve the C3PF under purely commercial standards and make it available to commercial tenants.

Phase 1 of the project, initiated in August 2012, was executed by BRPH and Hensel Phelps Construction Company under a $4.5 million contract with Space Florida. This initial phase consisted of a detailed design for facility modernization, as well as demolition of obsolete and abandoned Space Shuttle processing infrastructure including removal of the massive orbiter work stands in the High Bay to make room for a flexible and efficient clean-floor layout.

After carefully preparing the site and removing specialty equipment for re-use in the facility modernization, the steel work stands were removed over the course of four weeks of demolition. Over 98% of the 1,040 tons of steel, aluminum, and other material removed from the facility has been recycled. The remaining High Bay area provides roughly 30,000 sq. ft. of open floor space suitable for class 300K clean room aerospace operations, assembly, or processing.  Two 30-ton bridge cranes remain in the high bay for future use.

Today, Space Florida released a time-lapse vide of the demolition efforts in the High Bay, available at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiEeLHkTlRA&feature=youtu.be

Phase 1 efforts also prepared for commercial operations the attached Low Bay, previously referred to as the Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing Facility. In this area, work stands were removed that previously supported refurbishment of Space Shuttle engines, making way for an additional 30,000 sq. ft. of open-floor clean room operations. Efforts also included minor preparations in the 48,000 sq. ft. processing area and 30,000 sq ft. of second floor office area that join the High Bay and Low Bay, as well as the Processing Control Center, a nearby 99,000 sq. ft. 3-story raised floor office building.

“By leveraging existing infrastructure such as OPF 3, we are able to bring a significant competitive advantage to the marketplace and make it even more attractive to conduct commercial space business here in Florida,” said Space Florida President and CEO, Frank DiBello. “The inherent structure and capabilities of these types of facilities allow us to pass through to commercial tenants an estimated 30% savings under alternative facilities market price, without regard for the unique and advantageous location,” DiBello added.

The C3PF is ideally situated for commercial use, with direct access to the 15,000 ft runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility which lies less than two miles away, as well as close proximity to all commercial, NASA, and Air Force launch pads located at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

“Through the investment the State of Florida is making in this and other facilities, and by marketing them for commercial use, we are sending a strong message to industry that Florida is serious about attracting and retaining a robust commercial space industry” DiBello said. “This project is an excellent example of our unique ability to re-purpose underutilized federal facilities, and give them a new life for commercial operations.”

Space Florida plans to continue market-focused construction efforts on the C3PF this spring, progressing toward a fully modernized aerospace facility that is poised to meet the demands of the growing commercial space sector.

http://www.spaceflorida.gov/news/2013/04/11/space-florida-completes-phase-1-of-orbiter-processing-facility-renovations
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Offline arachnitect

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Boeing finalizes agreement for Kennedy Space Center facility
Quote
Boeing has finalized an agreement with Space Florida to use a processing facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to build the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft, an important step toward restoring the United States’ ability to launch humans into space. Pictured here is the low bay of the former Orbiter Processing Facility-3. Renamed the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF), the building will be modernized to meet requirements to build the Boeing CST-100 capsule.

Full Press Release
Quote
[...]“Boeing and Space Florida continue our partnership in repurposing excess NASA facilities for future use by Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program,” said Frank Dibello, president and CEO, Space Florida. “With phase one complete, we look forward to finishing the next phase of facility modification.”

Space Florida is the state’s independent agency for aerospace development. Phase one of the C3PF renovation was completed in February; phase two began in September with improvements including technology upgrades to the environmental and electrical systems and reflooring the facility. Boeing expects to move into C3PF in spring 2014.[...]
« Last Edit: 10/22/2013 10:05 pm by arachnitect »

Offline jacqmans

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HR images
Jacques :-)

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