Importance of Tracking and Verification of Space Flight Electrical Connectors During Ground Processing at Kennedy Space Center

The Space Shuttle Processing organization developed the Shuttle Connector Analysis Network (SCAN) system, which tracked connector mates, demates, and retesting. This provided real-time information on the flight configuration and its readiness for power-up testing. The Ares I-X test flight did not use a connector mate, demate, and retest verification tracking system, which made tracking the connector configurations prior to power-up difficult. It is recommended that a database similar to SCAN be used with future spacecraft.