Meet: Jon Blitch

Who I Am and What I Do
My name is Jon Blitch and I am a Quality Assurance Manager. I work for United Space Alliance, a contractor at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. I have worked at the Space Center (known here as "the Cape") since 1979 . I began my career here as a shuttle systems mechanic and was responsible for the installation and repair of all facets of external insulation on the space shuttles.

Now, I manage a team of people who inspect the Thermal Protection System (TPS) on each of the shuttle orbiters. They are required to perform intense inspections to look for damages that result from re-entry, landing, and everyday processing. It is important to make sure that the Reusable Surface Insulation, or RSI (tiles, blankets, FRSI, fillerbar, thermal barriers, and gapfillers) is free of damages, installed correctly, and in the proper locations.

RSI is installed on each orbiter (space shuttle) as a means of protection from the incredible heat (up to 3,000 degrees!) encountered upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. It keeps the underlying aluminum skin of the orbiters cool. Without it, the shuttles would burn up during the re-entry phase of the mission. We have a saying out here that goes, "TPS, can't get home without it." It's really true and that is why we inspect each element very closely.

Likes About Career
I love the fact that my job is diverse. It allows me to interface with many different people on a daily basis. Quality Control personnel, or QCs, not only inspect the work of many technicians but also perform required inspections written by Shuttle engineers. In addition to our inspections, QCs, along with a team of people from other related systems, are required to walk down the launch pad surface area and inside the flame trench to insure the absence of any debris which might harm the TPS during liftoff. Since the pads are situated on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and near the Atlantic Ocean, many different and interesting kinds of debris and wildlife can be found.

I was a member and also have team members now who are on the Offsite Recovery Crew. This means whenever a shuttle lands somewhere other than KSC, they have the opportunity to travel to wherever it may be. When I was on the team, I traveled to the Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base in California many times and to White Sands, New Mexico. It is just incredible to be so close to, sometimes standing on, space shuttle orbiters. Even after so many years of working here, I still am in awe of the shuttles and what they can do.

Occasionally, I get to meet the astronauts as they tour the Orbiter Processing Facilities. I have talked one-on-one with them about their mission and what it is like up there in space! It is also cool when dignitaries and celebrities come through on tours. To name a few, we have seen Prince Charles, Jacques Cousteau, Larry Bird, Leonard Nimoy (Spock), and even shook hands with Jim Carrey... (that guy is a lot taller than I thought!).

Personal Information
I live in Orlando, Florida now but grew up in Titusville, Florida, known as "the gateway to the stars." Every time there is a shuttle launch scheduled, the town of Titusville becomes a haven for tourists from all over the country. The shores of the Indian River become dotted with tents, campers and motor homes and the excitement can be felt all over the downtown area.

I have a daughter, Jenifer, who attended Stetson University in Florida and Liberty University in Virginia. She is currently a singer at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando and also tours as a singer with a national Women's conference .

I enjoy spending time with my daughter when I can, going to the movies, working out, and just hanging out with good friends. Orlando is a great place to live and a fun place for vacations. The weather is usually sunny and warm and there are many lakes for fishing and great parks for camping. There are also art museums, theme parks (Sea World, Universal Studios, & Disney World, to name a few), sports arenas (home of the Orlando Magic), and theaters where top name performers are featured...all of that and only 45 minutes from Kennedy Space Center.

If you get the chance to come to Central Florida, be sure to check us out at KSC! There is a Space Museum, 3-D Imax Movies, and exciting tours of the Space Center.