Shuttle Landing Facility

The Shuttle Landing Facility covers {{convert|500|acre|km2}} and has a single runway, 15/33. It is one of the longest runways in the world, at {{convert|15000|ft}}, and is {{convert|300|ft}} wide. (Despite its length, astronaut Jack R. Lousma stated that he would have preferred the runway to be "half as wide and twice as long"{{cite interview | title = Jack R. Lousma Edited Oral History Transcript | url=https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/LousmaJR/LousmaJR_3-15-10.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017123350/https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/LousmaJR/LousmaJR_3-15-10.htm | archive-date=October 17, 2019 | date=2010-03-15 | access-date=February 18, 2012 | last=Lousma | first=Jack R. | subject-link=Jack R. Lousma | interviewer=Ross-Nazzal, Jennifer | work=NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project}}) Additionally, the SLF has {{convert|305|m|order=flip}} of paved overruns at each end. The Mate-Demate Device (MDD), for use when the Shuttle was transported by the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, was located just off the southern end of the runway.

The runway is designated runway 15, or 33, depending on the direction of use. The runway surface consists of an extremely high-friction concrete strip designed to maximize the braking ability of the Space Shuttle at its high landing speed, with a paving thickness of {{convert|40.6|cm|in|order=flip}} at the center. It uses a grooved design to provide drainage and further increase the coefficient of friction. The original groove design was found to actually provide too much friction for the rubber used in the Shuttle's tires, causing failures during several landings. This issue was resolved by grinding down the pavement, reducing the depth of the grooves significantly.{{cite report|title=Texture Modification of the Shuttle Landing FacilityRunway at Kennedy Space Center|first1=Robert H. |last1=Daugherty |first2=Thomas J. |last2=Yager|url=https://www.cs.odu.edu/~mln/ltrs-pdfs/NASA-97-tp3626.pdf|date=May 1997|publisher=NASA|access-date=December 30, 2022}}

A local nickname for the runway is the "gator tanning facility", as some of the 4,000 alligators living at Kennedy Space Center regularly bask in the sunlight on the runway.{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Howard |title=Foot to the floor, aiming for 200mph |url=https://www.palmbeachillustrated.com/foot-floor-aiming-200mph/ |website=Palm Beach Illustrated |access-date=17 August 2022 |date=10 August 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/alligators/kscovr.html|title=Alligators and Rocketships|publisher=NASA|year=2008|author=NASA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512014453/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/alligators/kscovr.html|archive-date=2009-05-12}}

The landing facility is managed by contractor EG&G, which provides air traffic control services, as well as managing potential hazards to landing aircraft, such as bird life. The Bird Team kept the facility clear of both local and migratory birds during Shuttle landings using pyrotechnics, blank rounds fired from shotguns and a series of 25 propane cannons arranged around the facility.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/clearbirds.html|title=Bird Team Clears Path for Space Shuttles|last=Herridge|first=Linda|date=August 12, 2009|publisher=NASA|access-date=2009-08-13|archive-date=2017-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618004513/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/clearbirds.html|url-status=dead}}

Columbia was the first Shuttle to arrive at the SLF via the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on March 24, 1979.{{cite web|title=Kennedy History Quiz|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/history/quiz_page_prt.htm#17|publisher=NASA|access-date=5 November 2015|archive-date=3 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603122438/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/history/quiz_page_prt.htm#17|url-status=dead}}

The runway was first used to land a Space Shuttle on February 11, 1984, when Challenger's STS-41-B mission returned to Earth. This also marked the first landing of a spacecraft at its launch site. Prior to this, all Shuttle landings were performed at Edwards Air Force Base in California (with the exception of STS-3, which landed at White Sands Space Harbor) while the landing facility continued testing and Shuttle crews developed landing skills at White Sands and Edwards, where the margin for error is much greater than SLF and its water hazards.{{cite web|title=Landing Sites| date=15 November 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XeKS0MeLsA|publisher=NASA|access-date=November 18, 2022}} On September 22, 1993, Discovery was the first Space Shuttle to land at night at the SLF on STS-51. A total of 78 Space Shuttle missions landed at the SLF.

The final landing of a Space Shuttle occurred on July 21, 2011, by Atlantis for STS-135. Discovery and Endeavour took off from the SLF on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for museums in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

In January 2014 it was announced that Boeing would lease the Orbiter Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center to enable the U.S. Air Force to efficiently land, recover, refurbish, and re-launch the X-37B uncrewed spacecraft.{{Cite web |url=http://spaceref.biz/2014/01/boeing-expands-at-ksc-to-support-x-37b-program.html |title=Boeing Expands at KSC To Support X-37B Program |access-date=2020-03-13 |archive-date=2014-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201193403/http://spaceref.biz/2014/01/boeing-expands-at-ksc-to-support-x-37b-program.html |url-status=dead }}

In October 2014, NASA signed agreement for the use of the facility, and Boeing upgraded the OPF-1 for the X-37B program.[https://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/october/nasa-partners-with-x-37b-program-for-use-of-former-space-shuttle-hangars/ NASA Partners with X-37B Program for Use of Former Space Shuttle Hangars]

The X-37B (OTV-4 mission) first used Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 on May 7, 2017 at 11:47 UTC.{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/07/x-37b-spaceplane-returns-to-earth-and-makes-precision-autopilot-landing/ |title=X-37B spaceplane returns to Earth and makes autopilot landing in Florida |work=Spaceflight Now |first=Justin |last=Ray |date=7 May 2017 |access-date=7 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508013454/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/07/x-37b-spaceplane-returns-to-earth-and-makes-precision-autopilot-landing/ |archive-date=8 May 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/07/us/air-force-x-37b-landing-trnd/index.html |title=Air Force's mysterious space plane lands, wakes up Florida |work=CNN |first=Amanda |last=Jackson |date=8 May 2017 |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715191334/http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/07/us/air-force-x-37b-landing-trnd/index.html |archive-date=15 July 2017 |url-status=live}} Subsequently OTV-5 and 6 mission used Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33 for landing.{{Cite web |title=X-37B Information |url=https://x37b.nl/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=x37b.nl}}

In 2012, NASA's Johnson Space Center's Project Morpheus's first vehicle arrived at KSC. Prior to arrival at KSC and throughout the project, Morpheus vehicle tests were performed at other NASA centers; KSC was the site for advanced testing. Multiple tests, including free flight, were performed at the SLF in 2013–2014. Multiple vehicles and iterations of the vehicles were tested, due to upgrades and damages during this experimental test program. During the August 9, 2012, test at the SLF, a vehicle exploded; no one was injured.

The SLF has also been used by commercial users. Zero Gravity Corporation, which offers flights where passengers experience brief periods of microgravity, has operated from the SLF,{{cite press release |title=NASA Hosts Zero-G Flights at Space Shuttle Landing Facility |first=Jessica |last=Rye |date=2005-10-31 |agency=John F. Kennedy Space Center |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/2005/release-20051031.html |access-date=2022-11-14 |archive-date=2023-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705190936/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/2005/release-20051031.html |url-status=dead }} as have record-setting attempts by the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer.{{cite web |title=Kennedy Hosts GlobalFlyer |date=2006-01-13 |work=John F. Kennedy Space Center |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/global_flyer_prt.htm |access-date=2022-11-14 |archive-date=2023-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622140941/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/global_flyer_prt.htm |url-status=dead }}

The SLF has been the site of high performance automobile testing and speed record attempts. In 2010, NASCAR teams used the facility for vehicle testing.{{cite news |title=From Runway to Racetrack: NASCAR Team Tests at Kennedy |first=Steven |last=Siceloff |date=2010-07-06 |work=John F. Kennedy Space Center |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/nascartesting.html |access-date=2022-11-14 |archive-date=2023-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705191004/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/nascartesting.html |url-status=dead }} In 2012, Performance Power's Johnny Bohmer drove his Ford GT modified test car at the SLF,{{cite news |title=Performance Power LLC |author=Information Technology & Communications Services Directorate |editor-first=Anna |editor-last=Ryan |work=Kennedy Space Center Partnerships |url=http://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov/Success-Stories/Partnerships/Performance-Power-LLC |access-date=2022-11-14 |archive-date=2022-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814010807/https://kscpartnerships.ksc.nasa.gov/Success-Stories/Partnerships/Performance-Power-LLC |url-status=dead }} setting the Guinness World Records mark for 'Fastest standing mile – car' with a record {{convert|283|mph|abbr=on}}, which still stands as of March 2023.{{cite web |title=Fastest Standing Mile - Car |date= |work=Guinness World Records|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-standing-mile-%e2%80%93-car |access-date=2022-11-14}} Bohmer impressed the fact that the partnership agreement with NASA and the SLF to test the technology and designs and collect engineering data meant that "[B]y NASA allowing us access to a one-of-a-kind facility, we are given the opportunity to explore these technologies and share their benefits."

In 2014, in an attempt at an unofficial production car speed record at the SLF, a Hennessey Venom GT recorded a top speed of {{convert|270.49|mph|abbr=on}}. In 2021, in a similar attempt at the SLF, the SSC Tuatara recorded a one-way speed of {{convert|286.1|mph|abbr=on}} and a two-way average of {{convert|282.9|mph|abbr=on}}.

In 2019, the Gulfstream G650ER of the multinational One More Orbit flight mission recorded the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth via the north and south poles of 46 h 40 min 22 s.{{cite news |title=World Record-breaking Business Jet Flight Film Set for Release |first=Mike |last=Stones |date=2020-08-19 |website=CorporateJetInvestor.com |url=https://www.corporatejetinvestor.com/news/one-more-orbit-record-bizjet-flight-film-poised-for-distribution-123/ |access-date=2022-11-14}} The Shuttle Landing Facility served as launch and landing site for the world speed record, certified by the Guinness World Records and the World Air Sports Federation Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.{{Cite web |title=Fastest circumnavigation via both Poles by aeroplane |date=2019-07-11 |publisher=Guinness World Records |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-circumnavigation-via-both-poles-by-aeroplane |access-date=2021-06-22}}

File:SLF in 1999.png|Aerial view of Shuttle Landing Facility in 1999

File:ShuttleLandingFacilityMateDemate.jpg|The Mate-Demate Device at the Shuttle Landing Facility

File:STS-122 landing.jpg|Space Shuttle Atlantis landing after STS-122, 2008

File:X-37B OTV4 landed at Kennedy Space Center (170507-O-FH989-001).jpg|X-37B stationary after OTV-4, 2017

• Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Skid Strip
• List of Space Shuttle landing sites

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category-inline|Launch and Landing Facility}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110205010348/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/nasafact/landingfac.htm Shuttle Landing Facility] - NASA.gov fact sheet
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XeKS0MeLsA Space Shuttle Era: Landing Sites] - NASA video on YouTube

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