scope:

Description of Driving Event:

The orbiter processing facility (OPF) swing platforms are used to access the space shuttle main engines (SSME's), orbital maneuvering subsystem pods, and engine heat shields. Engine heat shields are removed every flow to perform turbopump torque checks. Heat shields with handling ground support equipment weigh approximately 300 pounds and are very awkward to handle, shaped in a 10- foot semi-circle. High pressure fuel and oxidizer turbopump (HPFTP and HPOTP) LRU operations require the east diving board be extended to provide access to SSME GIMBALLING and to permit pump removal. A design oversight limits LRU lifting operations to one location, level 19 of the OPF. An extended diving board interferes with the direct decent of flight hardware to the floor. To clear the diving boards during pump lowering/raising, the pumps are manually pulled away from the diving board with tag lines. This procedure side loads the hoist, a violation of standard NSS/GO-1740.9. If the tag line operator misjudges the clearance past the diving boards, the pumps will be damaged.