Throttle Down
How Florida’s Space Coast is bracing for the end of the space shuttle program.
- By Tom Harpole
- Photographs by David Burnett/Contact Press Images
- Air & Space magazine, November 2010
Space shuttle Atlantis was poised for its final mission in May as photographers jostled for position.
David Burnett/Contact Press Images
Florida residents live with uncertainty and vulnerability. Chances are good that any family living today on the state’s coast has witnessed the damage caused by a hurricane. Those living along the Space Coast—primarily in Brevard County—have a new storm to weather, though like Florida’s hurricanes, it’s nothing they haven’t seen before. When President Richard Nixon announced the end of the Apollo program in 1972, “people just left the key in the front door and headed to Seattle or Denver to try to get on somewhere else where their skills transferred,” recalls Leroy Solid, then a NASA project manager. Now with the space shuttle program ending, many of the more than 13,000 employees and contractors at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center stand to lose their jobs. (This month, prime contractor United Space Alliance cut its 8,100-person workforce by 15 percent, with 902 jobs lost at KSC.) Though some members of Congress are attempting to add up to two extra shuttle flights, estimates say that up to 9,000 people who have worked on the space program in some capacity will lose their jobs. A domino effect from those losses could cost another 14,000 jobs in retail, local government, and other services. Some KSC workers have eminently transferable skills and will move into other industries. Others, especially those whose jobs are shuttle-unique, confront a bleaker prospect: retraining, forced retirement, or the unemployment line. All face a change in the coming year. Here’s how some will cope.
Tom Harpole, a writer in Avon, Montana, wrote a story about cropdusting, “That Old-Time Profession,” for the Feb./Mar. 2007 issue.
Comments (15)
I haven't been able to finish this article. I have watched some of the faces on NASA TV! This article put the human element on the cancelation. There must be a way to keep this highly skilled workforce intact for the future. What comes shining through, as least on the profiles I've read, is that these people are passionate about what they do. This is what makes NASA such a great example for our young people. I play air to ground transmissions for my students so they can hear the professionalism of everyone in this organization. Thanks for this profile!
Posted by Ann Sederquist on September 19,2010 | 10:03 PM
Why?
We did this in 1972 and now again. We seem to have lost the fever for exploration. I know we have monumental tasks ahead of us on this planet and I believe that we should continue the exploration of the seas that cover the majority of our planet, but have we lost the desire to "go where no man has gone before" And don't think I haven't noticed that the "new" Boeing craft appears to be an exact replica of the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo space craft of 40 - 50 years ago (and yes I am aware of the difference in scale).
Come on; we have to do better than this!
Posted by Harry Hogan on September 21,2010 | 07:23 PM
would like to have the space program keep going for 20 more years...space is our future,,and would just keep adding jobs..
Posted by anthony sabatino senior on September 21,2010 | 08:50 PM
After 49 years 11 months and 19 days, I was laid off. Started in the Redstone days and it is a shame that this adminstration has decided that to kill our projects without a long range plan to continue what we started.
I hope that someone should tell Washington to "KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE"
Posted by Richard Milton on September 22,2010 | 01:40 PM
Does anyone else have an issue with relying on a third party for space access for YEARS? And, what's our confidence level making it commercial is going to work? I hope no one dies, but let's not forget the space shuttle flew for a long time - and still was a risky proposition.
Here we go learning from history again. We're doing the same thing for the Air Force too.
Posted by Pat Viebey on September 22,2010 | 02:44 PM
This is a real tragedy. What is coming of the world when all we strive for is power and greed. The young minds of today need to be able to dream and believe in something. Space exploration is one of those great dreams I know my children are inspired by, and if the government wants to hold back youth and the great minds of tomarrow, then I hope private industry takes a good look at all the advantages that every mission has brought. So many things come from great minds working together to accomplish great things. Looks to me like someone has a great opportunity to carry on the space program without big brother poking his greedy, fat, self-serving nose into it.
Posted by Cindy La Pointe on September 22,2010 | 02:51 PM
Some good pics of Discovery's final rollover and rollout can be found at http://www.rv-103.com/?cat=98.
The blog is run by a former Space Shuttle worker who was laid off last year.
Posted by Rocketman on September 24,2010 | 06:15 AM
Great place to drop some stimulus money. Might even achieve some results.
Posted by Hugh Smith on September 24,2010 | 09:51 AM
Great portrait series!
Posted by Mark on October 11,2010 | 11:03 AM
I, like Ann S, was unable to finish the article. I live in Brevard County. Our community will not only lose great scientists, engineers, and other highly skilled "workers" (such a communist word to this old woman) but we will lose families. Good, strong, wonderful families, full of children with high expectations, desire and ability to do well.
The "ripple effect" is indeed going to hurt us.
Posted by Diana Crell on October 20,2010 | 05:08 AM
Worked with GAO on an audit of the "upcoming" launch of Columbia throughout much of 1980 and was impressed by the energy and technical skills of both NASA and contract employees.Hate to see this pool of talent dispersed by the dictates of planning in Washington.
Posted by Dan Bailey on October 28,2010 | 04:49 PM
I cannot remember having no space program. I remember when sputnik was up and we were getting it into gear to beat the Russians. Now, it's all about self-centeredness and greed.
Posted by Elliott Doland on October 29,2010 | 06:15 PM
i have always wanted to go to KSC to watch the shuttle takes off. but since the shuttle program is going to end soon i will never see it happen. Dont kill the american dream. EDITORS' REPLY: You still have several months.
Posted by wilfred peter on January 1,2011 | 05:08 AM
Being fired from changes in administrative plans is most difficult. I worked at the cape for a large company on the Atlas ICBM program/ This was 1958. I found buying a house was not a wise choice considering the temporary nature of field work. Technical people -engineers must be timely checking on their employers future work opportunities. Advancing educational studies can be helpful . A broad knowledge is good like computer programmers will always be needed. jjdavis
Posted by jj davis on April 20,2011 | 04:41 PM
Being fired from changes in administrative plans is most difficult. I worked at the cape for a large company on the Atlas ICBM program/ This was 1958. I found buying a house was not a wise choice considering the temporary nature of field work. Technical people -engineers must be timely checking on their employers future work opportunities. Advancing educational studies can be helpful . A broad knowledge is good like computer programmers will always be needed. jjdavis
Posted by jj davis on April 20,2011 | 06:32 PM