Orbiter Processing Facility

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/orbiter-processing-facility

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary function?Comprehensive processing, maintenance, and preparation of Space Shuttle orbiters for flight missions
2. Why does NASA need a big garage for space shuttles?NASA needs a big garage because the shuttle is very large and heavy, and it needs special equipment and a clean, controlled environment to fix and prepare it for the next flight.
3. How do they lift the space shuttle inside the facility?Inside the facility, giant cranes that can lift hundreds of tons move the shuttle and its parts. They help lift the engines and big sections of the shuttle so workers can repair them.

Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF): A large, specialized building designed for the maintenance, repair, and preparation of spacecraft.
Thermal Protection System (TPS): A system of heat-resistant tiles and materials that shield the orbiter from extreme temperatures during atmospheric re-entry.
Turnaround Process: The sequence of operations performed on a spacecraft between its return from a mission and its readiness for the next launch.
Commercial Crew Program: NASA initiative to develop and contract with private companies for human spaceflight transportation to the ISS.