Meet: Mark Weller

Who I Am
Hi! My name is Mark Weller and I am a Facility Systems Electrical Engineer responsible for the electrical power system at Pad-B. I work for the company United Space Alliance. My office is in a small building next to the Gate of launch Pad-B called the Butler Building. After rollout of a shuttle I can view the vehicle sitting on the Launch Pad out of my office window. As the Electrical Engineer for the Pad, I am involved in some way with just about every Pad related operation (Everyone needs Electricity!). There are miles of wiring and conduits which go everywhere at the Pad and because of that I get to go into places few others get to see, like the Catacombs, the Rubber Room, and the PCR (Payload Changeout Room), etc. I appreciate your interest in the Shuttle program and hope I can provide you with some insight into one of the many jobs here at the Kennedy Space Center.

Education
I graduated from Barbe High School in Lake Charles Louisiana in 1983 and began my college education at McNeese University in Lake Charles, Louisiana pursuing Electronic Engineering. I moved to Pensacola Florida in December 1984 and completed my Associate Degree at Pensacola Junior College. In 1986 I transferred to the University of Central Florida in Orlando Florida and completed my Bachelor Degree in Engineering Technology. I hired on with Lockheed in 1989 and have worked with this company until they transferred to United Space Alliance in 1996.

What I do
I began my career at the Kennedy Space Center working as a console operator at the Launch Control Center in the area called the (CCC) Complex Control Center monitoring the many facility system consoles. These systems included the KSC Power Grid, Sound Suppression Water Deluge & Firex, Pneumatics, and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. In this area you are the single point of contact in communication with the many workers in the field operating and maintaining these systems. During launch countdown you work hand in hand with the firing rooms in directing field personnel in performing launch-related tasks.

After approximately 1.5 years of working in the CCC, I transferred to the Facility Electrical Engineering Department as an electrical engineer. Initially I was assigned the SLF (Shuttle Landing Facility) power system where I was responsible for the validation and operation of the Space Shuttle Visual Landing Aids and the electrical power system supporting the many other critical ground support systems required to safely land the orbiter at KSC. The Visual Landing Aids are comprised of three systems, 1. The PAPIs (Precision Approach Path Indicators), 2. The APILs (Approach Path Indicator Lights), 3. The Ball/Bar system (That's what we call it!). The Visual Landing Aids provide precise glide slope information to the shuttle crew when on approach to the runway. The PAPIs use optical lenses and red filters placed in a special pattern and angle (to the tolerance of 1/4 degree) to create a visual reference which provides information to the shuttle crew alerting them when to make critical flight adjustments on their outer glide slope of 20 degrees (compared to a normal plane which is approximately 3 degrees). The APILs are one million candle power flashing strobes placed on either side of the PAPIs to help the astronauts locate the PAPIs. The Ball/Bar is another visual lighting system that provides the astronauts with their inner-glide slope information just before touch down.

One of the best things about this assignment was having a front row seat in viewing many successful Shuttle landings here at KSC.

Another great thing about being in the Facility Electrical Engineering Department is that I also get to travel to all of the Contingency Landing Sites located throughout the world. There are presently four sites we continue to support. They are located outside of Seville, Spain; Zaragoza, Spain; Marrakech, Morocco; and Banjul, The Gambia. I used to also travel to the islands of Oahu, Hawaii and Guam but we no longer set up these sites with the full compliment of specialized shuttle landing aids. In our department, we rotate traveling to these sites each mission to provide engineering assistance in the setup and validation of the same Visual Landing Aid system there as we have here at KSC. Also, since foreign electrical power is not compatible with our equipment, we setup portable generators to power all of NASA's Ground Support Equipment required to land an orbiter overseas in case of an emergency abort after takeoff. As the System Engineer, I make sure the validation procedures are correct and the operation is performed to NASA's specifications.

Now I am assigned the huge responsibility of verifying that launch Pad-B is ready to support processing and launch of the Space Shuttle. Before the shuttle is transferred to the Pad, I work with electronic technicians, and electricians to correct launch damage, make system upgrades, and provide support for special test. It is busiest right before Rollout and there are many important tasks that must be completed to insure the electrical system is ready. For example, we make sure the large UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems are configured properly, tested and operational, all the substations are checked, critical power receptacles are validated, the large facility 28 VDC Power Supplies are validated, 100's of critical sensors are checked, and hundreds of lighting fixtures are verified operational.

I'm also the one who oversees and coordinates the power connection to the MLP (Mobile Launcher Platform) which powers the orbiter and many other critical systems when it arrives at the Pad. Once the Shuttle is here, my job is to insure that the power system remains online and trouble free while providing support for special request such as power to the Payload test equipment, and lighting for unique test. Many walkdowns are performed every flow and minor problems are always found. When these occur, I must provide support to coordinate a resolution to the problem. During the final eight hours of launch, I standby as an engineer on the "Red Crew" team which is ready at any time to make an entry into the pad to resolve an emergency problem should one occur. Approximately 30 minutes after launch, the "Red Crew" team members proceed to the pad to assess the damage and safe systems which have been damaged. The work never seems to stop and every launch provides new experiences.

Influences
My father has been the major influence in my life. He always encouraged me to "find out why it works". I remember when I was growing up that I had a mechanical typewriter on a desk. I accidentally knocked it off the table and it broke. My father looked at it and instead of being upset, he brought some tools and we figured out how it worked together.

Advice
Never stop learning and work as a team member. A lot more can be accomplished with teamwork.

Personal Information
My wife, Shelly and I live in Orlando, Florida with our three daughters, Dakota (6 months), Kandis (Three years) and Kayla (six Years). My hobbies include fishing, golf, hunting and I plan on reviving my interest in Radio Controlled (RC) model building.

Archived QuestChats with Mark Weller

• October 20,1999
• January 28, 1999