NASA News              
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
321 867-2468
	Lisa Malone
Dec. 21, 1999
	(321) 867-2468

	KSC Release No. 153-99

SANTA TO CHECK OUT NEW VEHICLE HANGAR AT SHUTTLE RUNWAY  
Sleigh Commander Considers Hangar Rest Stop For Next Year 

The Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) is preparing for
a visitor on Christmas Eve.  Rumors are strong that Santa Claus may flyby
the landing strip to check on the progress of the $8 million Reusable
Launch Vehicle (RLV) Support Complex currently under construction. 

The groundbreaking took place on Dec. 18, 1998, just before Santa's visit
last year. The sweeping curve of the facility's roof is plainly visible
now to the center's employees from State Road 3.

Located on the tow-way at the south end of the SLF, the complex will
include a multi-purpose RLV hangar and adjacent facilities for related
ground support equipment and administrative/technical support.  Intended
to support the Space Shuttle and other RLV and X-vehicles, the new complex
is jointly funded by NASA's Space Shuttle Program, KSC and the Spaceport
Florida Authority.   The complex is scheduled for completion by mid-2000,
in time to support possible test flights of the X-34 RLV technology
demonstrator and other future vehicles.

Santa is particularly interested in anything that has to do with reusable
launch vehicles since, technically, his sleigh falls into that category of
transportation. It has been upgraded with state-of-the-art precision
landing equipment compatible with the Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN)
system and Microwave Scanning Beam Landing System (MSBLSS) in place at the
runway for use during Space Shuttle landings.  However, Santa still relies
on the tried-and-true reindeer propulsion system he has always used to
deliver presents to good children worldwide every holiday season.

These automated landing systems will be left on in the automatic mode at
both the SLF and the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Station when the
facilities close down for the holidays.  "No government expense is
involved in leaving these landing strips ready to support any emergency
Santa may experience while in the Central Florida area," said Bill Plutt,
the Airfield Services Manager for Space Gateway Support.  "We're glad to
continue this tradition that started shortly after the opening of the SLF
in the 1970s."

Special care will be taken to inspect the runway prior to Discovery's
planned landing on Dec. 27 at the conclusion of STS-103, the third Hubble
Space Telescope servicing mission.  Although it has never been confirmed
that Santa has made a pit stop at KSC, a routine sweep of the runway to
remove debris after the holidays last year produced one defective sleigh
bell, some tattered red ribbon, and a pile of what appeared to be cookie
crumbs.
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