The ribbon is cut to open the new MER in Building 30.

On Oct. 12, the new Space Shuttle Program Mission Evaluation Room (MER) was officially unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Bldg. 30. Deputy Director Bob Cabana, Space Shuttle Program Manager Bill Parsons and Space Shuttle Program MER Manager Lead David Moyer were the major speakers on hand at this event.

“The MER is used as a pool of technical expertise to help the Mission Control Center (MCC) Flight Control Team investigate problems,” James Brandenburg, manager of the MCC Operations Office, said.

The MER is a tremendous spaceflight tool. It is used to assess the Orbiter Vehicle during all phases of flight and support the Kennedy Space Center Launch Control Team and Mission Operations Directorate Flight Control Team, among other functions.

Currently there is a Space Shuttle Program MER and an International Space Station MER.

“Prior to the Columbia accident, the two functions were located in the same room on the first floor of Bldg. 30,” Brandenburg said. “The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) report recommended an expanded need for a separate Space Shuttle Program MER for Return to Flight.”

The Space Shuttle Program MER facility incorporates new capabilities to investigate additional features being added to the Shuttle vehicle. For instance, while in orbit configuration, the back portion of the new MER transitions into an area dedicated to Thermal Protection System inspection.

“The facility had three primary design drivers: it had to seat the entire MER pre-launch team, increase user console capabilities and increase conference room seating for teleconferences,” Moyer said.

The Space Shuttle Program MER seats approximately 162 people supporting 39 different positions. Each console has chairs to support two people, but the facility includes 60 folding chairs, which can allow a third or fourth person per console for temporary pre-launch periods.

The other MER is still located on the first floor of Bldg. 30 and will continue to be utilized as the Space Station MER.