A Lot To Do, SoFew People
I just saw on the news that space shuttle Discovery got to the launch pad on time this morning. The doors to the VAB were open last night when I drove past on my way home. It is a good looking sight. A shuttle that has just gotten to the pad means a lot of work for a lot of people. There are easily 4 or 5 times the amount people on the pad when the vehicle is there as when there is no vehicle. Think of stepping on an ant hill. When the mound is moved, all of a sudden there are ants everywhere. The space shuttle has the same effect.
The work load has actually getting worse with the imminent end of the program looming the work force getting thinner. In the last several years there have been quite a few experienced technicians leave the launch pad area. The reasons vary, some are tired of pad work after 15 to 20 years or more at it. A few are for more personal reasons, some are retirees and lately the reason has been a move to find a position that they think will still be around in the next program. Through all of this there has been very little hiring going on. The shop that I am in only has 5 people left in it on our pad. Three on first shift and two on second shift with no new additions likely. I'm on second shift right now so all it takes is one person to be out and the shop is down by 50%. Under normal circumstances two people can handle the work load on second. However, once the vehicle rolls out that can all change. Work happens on a schedule that doesn't care how many people are in what shop or on what shift. Then it can get a little hairy. So far we have made it through Ok. Last time we had a vehicle on the pad our shop had 3 people on second shift. This time, only two. We will have to see how it goes. Wish us luck.
The work load has actually getting worse with the imminent end of the program looming the work force getting thinner. In the last several years there have been quite a few experienced technicians leave the launch pad area. The reasons vary, some are tired of pad work after 15 to 20 years or more at it. A few are for more personal reasons, some are retirees and lately the reason has been a move to find a position that they think will still be around in the next program. Through all of this there has been very little hiring going on. The shop that I am in only has 5 people left in it on our pad. Three on first shift and two on second shift with no new additions likely. I'm on second shift right now so all it takes is one person to be out and the shop is down by 50%. Under normal circumstances two people can handle the work load on second. However, once the vehicle rolls out that can all change. Work happens on a schedule that doesn't care how many people are in what shop or on what shift. Then it can get a little hairy. So far we have made it through Ok. Last time we had a vehicle on the pad our shop had 3 people on second shift. This time, only two. We will have to see how it goes. Wish us luck.
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