Hello, my name is Bob Kahl, Director of Shuttle Program Operations at Palmdale for Boeing. I've been at the Boeing Palmdale Space Shuttle Fabrication Assembly and Test Site for over 36 years. I was hired back in 1975 with the understanding that it was for only about 18 months of work. Working at the Birthplace of America's Space Shuttle and being one of only a few who have spent their whole career working on the most amazing flying machines ever to be built has been a true honor and privilege.
The first Shuttle vehicle, Enterprise, took just over 18 month to build and was delivered in January, 1977. I can remember working 7 days a week 70 to 80 hours a week to finish the assembly. Having the Astronauts being on site during the building of every Orbiter was really a cool thing. They were so excited about what we were doing and wanted to be a part of it. One of my best memories is when we transported an Enterprise down 10th street East (now Challenger Way) out to Edwards AFB and seeing all of the people and news media lined up along the Street to embrace the event. Watching the expressions on everyone's faces and hearing the oooohs and aaaahs, it was very exciting.
I can remember working around the clock out at Edwards preparing Enterprise for its first separation flight. Most of the employees took their campers and motor homes and stayed in them in the parking lot so they could stay in them and rest and continue to work around the clock. The real heroes were the Flight Test Pilots, Fred Raise, Gordon Fullerton, Joe Engle and Richard Truly. They validated the flight worthiness of the Enterprise Orbiter which was a major milestone in the advancement of the Space Shuttle Program. Aug. 12, 1977 was the first time that the 150,000-pound Enterprise separated from the modified 747 at 24,000 feet. It was one of the most scary and yet amazing things I had ever witnessed. It was an unbelievable and an eventful day.
Then came Columbia, our nation's first Space-rated Orbiter in 1979, followed by Challenger in 1982, Discovery in 1983, Atlantis in 1985, and Endeavour in April, 1991.
We became the "master of work-a-rounds". No matter what changes happened with the parts flow or the best laid out plans, we found a way with ingenuity to get things done on time with a commitment to excellence to make sure that the astronauts came home safely.
One can only hope that as years go by people will always remember that the Birthplace of our Nations first reusable Human Space Shuttles were built in Palmdale (California). And for those of us here in the Antelope Valley that were privileged to have a hand in making the history in the Americas Space Shuttle Program.
Every time the Shuttles launched I think about my past 36 years and what an experience and ride this has been.