PALMDALE RECEIVES LIFT; STUDY FAVORS REGION OVER FLORIDA FOR SHUTTLE REPAIRS.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

A draft report on where space shuttle modification work should be done says Palmdale is better than Florida, giving support to a program that now provides jobs for about 300 Antelope Valley workers.

Doing the modification is more expensive at U.S. Air Force Plant 42, but Kennedy Space Center in Florida could not handle the job and maintain a high rate of shuttle flights, according to a draft of the study by the space fleet's prime contractor.

``Congressman McKeon is hopeful that when this draft study is made final it will put to rest any talk of shuttle modifications being done anywhere other than Palmdale,'' said David Foy, spokesman for Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita. ``Based on the study it's clear that when all the factors are considered Palmdale is the most efficient site.''

Debate on whether modifications should be performed at Palmdale or in Florida has been going on for more than six years, with both states' congressional delegations joining the dispute.

California officials argue that performing the modifications in Palmdale would allow Kennedy to focus on processing orbiters for flight and would maintain a skilled work force in Palmdale in the event another shuttle needs to be built, as happened after the Challenger disaster.

Florida officials say doing the work at Kennedy eliminates the time and expense needed to fly shuttles back and forth between Florida and Palmdale atop a modified Boeing 747.

Modification costs range up to $70 million for each shuttle. The work includes tearing apart each spacecraft to inspect its components for wear and damage, plus modifications to install such things as modern computers and gauges, for example, to replace the 1970s-era technology with which the craft were built.

The latest study was performed at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's request by United Space Alliance, a partnership between Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. that is responsible for day-to-day shuttle operations. NASA's inspector general's office is conducting its own review of where to modify the shuttles.

A draft of the United Space Alliance study, a copy of which was obtained Monday by the Daily News, says it costs about $5.3 million more for each shuttle to do the work in Palmdale rather than in Florida.

However, Kennedy cannot launch nine to 12 flights a year and at the same time perform modifications without building $48.8 million in additional facilities, the study says.

Hiring and training new workers in Florida and maintaining the facilities would cost an additional $7.5 million, the study says.

NASA conducts up to nine shuttle missions a year. However, the rate is expected to increase as construction of the International Space Station begins.

``Construction of a new modification facility at KSC (Kennedy Space Center) is not warranted based on the nominal recurring cost savings achieved by performing this work at KSC,'' the study draft said. ``Successful support of the ISS (International Space Station) assembly will require maintaining maximum orbiter processing flexibility. Conducting OMMs (orbiter major modifications) at Palmdale provides maximum flexibility for the KSC work force and infrastructure to support the manifest.''

The shuttle program also is looking at developing new technologies to keep the orbiter fleet operational through 2030. Such major modifications likely would increase the amount of time a shuttle is grounded for modifications, the study said.

The study assumes that there will be three orbiters modified in a four-year period.

On Thursday, NASA announced that modifications to the orbiter Columbia would be performed at Palmdale in 1999. The work likely will provide about 300 jobs for the Antelope Valley.

In 1991, NASA opted to have the work done in Florida, but strong lobbying by California congressmen, coupled with efforts by Rockwell's Space Systems Division, now part of Boeing, led to return of the work to Palmdale the following year.

Boeing is now performing $70 million worth of modifications to the orbiter Atlantis. Boeing expects to employ up to 350 people on the project, which is scheduled to conclude in late summer.

No cost figures were available for the work to be performed on Columbia.

SPACE SHUTTLE MODIFICATION COMPARISONS

PALMDALE

Advantages: Independent work forces with different perspectives improve overall product quality. Separating processing from modification operations helps to meet launch schedules. Keeps open a major modification-replacement facility. Maintains modification and design expertise.

Disadvantages: Must fly shuttles to and from Palmdale. Extra cost of $5.3 million for each spacecraft.

EXISTING KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FACILITIES

Advantages: No need to fly shuttles to and from Palmdale. $5.3 million less cost for each shuttle.

Disadvantages: Requires tying up one facility now used for preparing shuttles for launch. Increases scheduling complications. Can't use if more than eight or nine shuttle launches are planned a year. Cost of $7.1 million to hire and train new workers.

NEW FACILITY AT KENNEDY

Advantages: No need to fly shuttles to and from Palmdale. Reduced cost of $1.3 million for each shuttle. Provides better flexibility.

Disadvantages: Expense of new facility will not be recouped by lower modification costs. Does not take into account ability to make major structural component repairs or replacements. Cost of $7.5 million for hiring and training new workers, and for facility upkeep.

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: Space Shuttle modification comparisons (see text)