john f. kennedy space center brevard county, florida - Environmental ...

Space Shuttle Program Historic Properties 6-41
NASA Kennedy Space Center
The Parachute Refurbishment Facility, originally built in 1964, is located at the southwest
corner of the intersection of E Avenue and 3 rd Street within the Industrial Area of the
KSC. Between March 1978 and March 1979, the building was modified and expanded in
size to 35,758 ft 2 in support of the SSP. Modifications were designed by Sanders and
Thomas, Inc. of Miami, and construction was completed by the Holloway Corporation of
Titusville. Since 1979, the building has been used to receive, clean, refurbish, pack and
store the pilot, drogue and main parachutes. Pilot parachutes, as well as replacements for
parachute/drogue chute deployment bay assemblies that are not recovered, are also made
here. In addition, drag and pilot parachutes for the orbiter are refurbished and packed in
this facility, thermal blankets are refurbished, and parachute ribbon and Kevlar materials
are tested to confirm that they meet NASA’s requirements. From here, the processed
parachutes are transported to the SRB ARF complex for storage and reuse.
Photo 6.34. Parachute Refurbishment Facility, sewing area.
(Source: Archaeological Consultants, Inc., 2006)
Photo 6.35. Parachute Refurbishment Facility, work area.
(Source: Archaeological Consultants, Inc., 2006)
October 2007
Archaeological Consultants, Inc.