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59-545: OPF-3 was previously called the Orbiter Maintenance & Refurbishment Facility (OMRF), but was upgraded to a fully functioning OPF. When a Shuttle mission was completed, the orbiter was towed from the Shuttle Landing Facility to its assigned OPF where it spent several months (typically less than 100 days) being prepared for the next mission. Any remaining payloads from the previous mission were removed and

118-681: A gator , or common alligator is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States and a small section of northeastern Mexico . It is one of the two extant species in the genus Alligator , and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator . Adult male American alligators measure 3.4 to 4.6 m (11.2 to 15.1 ft) in length, and can weigh up to 500 kg (1,100 lb), with unverified sizes of up to 5.84 m (19.2 ft) and weights of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) making it

177-555: A 30-year lease from NASA. In addition to ongoing use by NASA, private companies have been utilizing the SLF since the 2011 end of the Space Shuttle program . The Shuttle Landing Facility covers 500 acres (2.0 km ) and has a single runway, 15/33. It is one of the longest runways in the world , at 15,000 feet (4,600 m), and is 300 feet (91 m) wide. (Despite its length, astronaut Jack R. Lousma stated that he would have preferred

236-451: A record 283 mph (455 km/h), which still stands as of March 2023. Bohmer impressed the fact that the partnership agreement with NASA and the SLF to test the technology and designs and collect engineering data meant that "[B]y NASA allowing us access to a one-of-a-kind facility, we are given the opportunity to explore these technologies and share their benefits." In 2014, in an attempt at an unofficial production car speed record at

295-717: A small population in the southwestern part of that state via inland waterways, according to the state's wildlife agency. They have been extirpated from Virginia , and occasional vagrants from North Carolina wander into the Great Dismal Swamp . In 2021, an individual was found in Calvert County , Maryland , near Chesapeake Bay , where it was shot and killed by a hunter using a crossbow . Additional reports of American alligators from this region exist, though they are believed to be escaped or released exotic pets. American alligators are currently listed as least concern by

354-590: Is an airport located on Merritt Island in Brevard County , Florida , United States . It is a part of the Kennedy Space Center and was used by Space Shuttle for landing until July 2011. It was also used for takeoffs and landings for NASA training jets such as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and for civilian aircraft. Starting in 2015, Space Florida manages and operates the facility under

413-474: Is assisted by webbed rear feet as well, which bear four toes in contrast to the five toes of the front feet. During respiration, air flow is unidirectional, looping through the lungs during inhalation and exhalation; the American alligator's abdominal muscles can alter the position of the lungs within the torso, thus shifting the center of buoyancy, which allows the American alligator to dive, rise, and roll within

472-438: Is captured. No significant difference is noted between the bite forces of male and female American alligators of equal size. Another study noted that as the American alligator increases in size, the force of its bite also increases. When on land, an American alligator moves either by sprawling or walking, the latter involving the reptile lifting its belly off the ground. The sprawling of American alligators and other crocodylians

531-527: Is less prominent. American alligators are often mistaken for a similar animal: the American crocodile. An easy characteristic to distinguish the two is the fourth tooth. Whenever an American alligator's mouth is closed, the fourth tooth is no longer visible. It is enclosed in a pocket in the upper jaw. Adult American alligators held the record as having the strongest laboratory-measured bite of any living animal, measured at up to 13,172  N (1,343.2  kgf ; 2,961  lbf ). This experiment had not been, at

590-498: Is less tolerant of saltwater but more tolerant of cooler climates than the American crocodile, which is found only in tropical and warm subtropical climates. American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians , reptiles, birds, and mammals . Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates . They play an important role as ecosystem engineers in wetland ecosystems through the creation of alligator holes, which provide both wet and dry habitats for other organisms. Throughout

649-566: Is much more extreme, with mature males nearly twice as long as and at least four times as heavy as female saltwater crocodiles. Given that female American alligators have relatively higher survival rates at an early age and a large percentage of given populations consists of immature or young breeding American alligators, relatively few large mature males of the expected mature length of 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) or more are typically seen. Dorsally, adult American alligators may be olive, brown, gray, or black. However, they are on average one of

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708-429: Is not similar to that of salamanders and lizards, being similar to walking. Therefore, the two forms of land locomotion can be termed the "low walk" and the "high walk". Unlike most other land vertebrates, American alligators increase their speed through the distal rather than proximal ends of their limbs. In the water, American alligators swim like fish, moving their pelvic regions and tails from side to side. Swimming

767-460: Is rare for most reptiles. Mothers protect their eggs during the incubation period, and moves the hatchlings to the water using her mouth. The conservation status of the American alligator is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . Historically, hunting had decimated their population, and the American alligator was listed as an endangered species by

826-409: Is thought to be why American alligators are widespread further north than the American crocodile. In fact, the American alligator is found farther from the equator and is more equipped to handle cooler conditions than any other crocodilian. When the water begins to freeze, American alligators go into a period of brumation ; they stick their snouts through the surface, which allows them to breathe above

885-771: The Endangered Species Act of 1973), since it was believed to be in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Both the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and state wildlife agencies in the South contributed to the American alligator's recovery. Protection under the Endangered Species Act allowed the species to recuperate in many areas where it had been depleted. States began monitoring their American alligator populations to ensure that they would continue to grow. In 1987,

944-437: The Endangered Species Act of 1973 . Subsequent conservation efforts have allowed their numbers to increase and the species was removed from endangered status in 1987. The species is the official state reptile of three states: Florida , Louisiana , and Mississippi . The American alligator was first classified in 1801 by French zoologist François Marie Daudin as Crocodilus mississipiensis . In 1807, Georges Cuvier created

1003-459: The IUCN Red List , even though from the 1800s to the mid-1900s, they were being hunted and poached by humans unsustainably. Historically, hunting and habitat loss have severely affected American alligator populations throughout their range, and whether the species would survive was in doubt. In 1967, the American alligator was listed as an endangered species (under a law that was the precursor to

1062-870: The Orbiter Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center to enable the U.S. Air Force to efficiently land, recover, refurbish, and re-launch the X-37B uncrewed spacecraft. In October 2014, NASA signed agreement for the use of the facility, and Boeing upgraded the OPF-1 for the X-37B program. The X-37B ( OTV-4 mission) first used Kennedy Space Center 's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 on May 7, 2017 at 11:47 UTC. Subsequently OTV-5 and 6 mission used Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33 for landing. In 2012, NASA's Johnson Space Center 's Project Morpheus 's first vehicle arrived at KSC. Prior to arrival at KSC and throughout

1121-536: The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center in South Carolina found evidence to support patterns of determinate growth, with growth ceasing upon reaching a certain age (43 years for males and 31 years for females). While noticeable in very mature specimens, the sexual dimorphism in size of the American alligator is relatively modest among crocodilians. For contrast, the sexual dimorphism of saltwater crocodiles

1180-1007: The black caiman being possibly larger. Weight varies considerably depending on length, age, health, season, and available food sources. Similar to many other reptiles that range expansively into temperate zones, American alligators from the northern end of their range, such as southern Arkansas , Alabama , and northern North Carolina , tend to reach smaller sizes. Large adult American alligators tend to be relatively robust and bulky compared to other similar-length crocodilians; for example, captive males measuring 3 to 4 m (9 ft 10 in to 13 ft 1 in) were found to weigh 200 to 350 kg (440 to 770 lb), although captive specimens may outweigh wild specimens due to lack of hunting behavior and other stressors. Large male American alligators reach an expected maximum size up to 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) in length and weigh up to 500 kg (1,100 lb), while females reach an expected maximum of 3 m (9 ft 10 in). However,

1239-581: The cladogram below: Caimaninae Ceratosuchus burdoshi † Hassiacosuchus haupti † Navajosuchus mooki † Wannaganosuchus brachymanus † Arambourgia gaudryi † Allognathosuchus polyodon † Allognathosuchus wartheni † Procaimanoidea kayi † Alligator prenasalis † Alligator mcgrewi † Alligator olseni † Alligator sinensis Chinese alligator Alligator thomsoni † Alligator mefferdi † Alligator mississippiensis American alligator Fossils identical to

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1298-455: The genus Alligator for it, based on the English common name alligator (derived from Spanish word el lagarto , "the lizard"). The American alligator and its closest living relative, the Chinese alligator , belong the subfamily Alligatorinae . Alligatorinae is the sister group to the caimans of Caimaninae , which together comprise the family Alligatoridae , which can be shown in

1357-417: The salt glands on their tongues do not function. One study of American alligators in north-central Florida found the males preferred open lake water during the spring, while females used both swampy and open-water areas. During summer, males still preferred open water, while females remained in the swamps to construct their nests and lay their eggs. Both sexes may den underneath banks or clumps of trees during

1416-441: The American alligator to be considered a keystone species . Alligator holes retain water during the dry season and provide a refuge for aquatic organisms, which survive the dry season by seeking refuge in alligator holes, so are a source of future populations. The construction of nests along the periphery of alligator holes, as well as a buildup of soils during the excavation process, provides drier areas for other reptiles to nest and

1475-417: The American alligators' diets, from smaller prey items such as fish and insects to larger prey items such as turtles, birds, and other large vertebrates. American alligators have broad snouts, especially in captive individuals. When the jaws are closed, the edges of the upper jaws cover the lower teeth, which fit into the jaws' hollows. Like the spectacled caiman , this species has a bony nasal ridge, though it

1534-546: The SLF, as have record-setting attempts by the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer . The SLF has been the site of high performance automobile testing and speed record attempts. In 2010, NASCAR teams used the facility for vehicle testing. In 2012, Performance Power's Johnny Bohmer drove his Ford GT modified test car at the SLF, setting the Guinness World Records mark for 'Fastest standing mile – car' with

1593-572: The SLF, a Hennessey Venom GT recorded a top speed of 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h). In 2021, in a similar attempt at the SLF, the SSC Tuatara recorded a one-way speed of 286.1 mph (460.4 km/h) and a two-way average of 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h). In 2019, the Gulfstream G650ER of the multinational One More Orbit flight mission recorded the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth via

1652-624: The Space Shuttle. Boeing had said the space planes would use OPF-1 in January 2014, and the Air Force had previously said it was considering consolidating X-37B operations, housed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, nearer to their launch site at Cape Canaveral. NASA also stated that the program had completed tests to determine whether the X-37B, one-fourth the size of the Space Shuttle, could land on

1711-620: The USFWS removed the animal from the endangered species list, as it was considered to be fully recovered. The USFWS still regulates the legal trade in American alligators and their products to protect still endangered crocodilians that may be passed off as American alligators during trafficking. American alligators are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meaning that international trade in

1770-522: The VAB was weighing the orbiter to determine its center of gravity. OPF-1 was closed following Atlantis' s rollout on June 29, 2012. OPF-2 is now inactive following Atlantis ' s departure on October 18, 2012. OPF-3 is under lease to Boeing for the manufacture and testing of their CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. On 8 October 2014, NASA confirmed that Boeing X-37B vehicles would be housed at Kennedy Space Center in OPF-1 and 2, hangars previously occupied by

1829-458: The braking ability of the Space Shuttle at its high landing speed, with a paving thickness of 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) at the center. It uses a grooved design to provide drainage and further increase the coefficient of friction. The original groove design was found to actually provide too much friction for the rubber used in the Shuttle's tires, causing failures during several landings. This issue

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1888-507: The existing American alligator are found throughout the Pleistocene , from 2.5 million to 11.7 thousand years ago. In 2016, a Late Miocene fossil skull of an alligator, dating to approximately seven or eight million years ago, was discovered in Marion County, Florida . Unlike the other extinct alligator species of the same genus, the fossil skull was virtually indistinguishable from that of

1947-466: The facility clear of both local and migratory birds during Shuttle landings using pyrotechnics , blank rounds fired from shotguns and a series of 25 propane cannons arranged around the facility. Columbia was the first Shuttle to arrive at the SLF via the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on March 24, 1979. The runway was first used to land a Space Shuttle on February 11, 1984, when Challenger's STS-41-B mission returned to Earth. This also marked

2006-505: The first landing of a spacecraft at its launch site. Prior to this, all Shuttle landings were performed at Edwards Air Force Base in California (with the exception of STS-3 , which landed at White Sands Space Harbor ) while the landing facility continued testing and Shuttle crews developed landing skills at White Sands and Edwards, where the margin for error is much greater than SLF and its water hazards. On September 22, 1993, Discovery

2065-617: The former Shuttle runways. NASA furthermore stated that renovations of the two hangars would be completed by the end of 2014; the main doors of OPF-1 were marked with the message "Home of the X-37B" by this point. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . Shuttle Landing Facility The Shuttle Landing Facility ( SLF ), also known as Launch and Landing Facility ( LLF ) ( IATA : QQS , ICAO : KTTS , FAA LID : TTS ),

2124-431: The full genome , published in 2014, suggests that the alligator evolved much more slowly than mammals and birds. Domestic American alligators range from long and slender to short and robust, possibly in response to variations in factors such as growth rate, diet, and climate. The American alligator is a relatively large species of crocodilian. On average, it is the largest species in the family Alligatoridae , with only

2183-547: The ice, and they can remain in this state for several days. American alligators primarily bask on shore, but also climb into and perch on tree limbs to bask if no shoreline is available. This is not often seen, since if disturbed, they quickly retreat back into the water by jumping from their perch. American alligators modify wetland habitats, most dramatically in flat areas such as the Everglades, by constructing small ponds known as alligator holes. This behavior has qualified

2242-454: The largest American alligator population of any U.S. state. In the future, possible American alligator populations may be found in areas of Mexico adjacent to the Texas border. The range of the American alligator is slowly expanding northwards, including into areas they once found such as Virginia. American alligators have been naturally expanding their range into Tennessee , and have established

2301-553: The largest free-ranging female had a total length of 3.22 m (10 ft 7 in) and weighed 170 kg (370 lb). On rare occasions, a large, old male may grow to an even greater length. During the 19th and 20th centuries, larger males reaching 5 to 6 m (16 ft 5 in to 19 ft 8 in) were reported. The largest reported individual size was a male killed in 1890 by Edward McIlhenny on Marsh Island , Louisiana , and reportedly measured at 5.84 m (19 ft 2 in) in length, but no voucher specimen

2360-548: The mature size is normally around 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in), with a body weight up to 91 kg (201 lb). In Newnans Lake , Florida, adult males averaged 73.2 kg (161 lb) in weight and 2.47 m (8 ft 1 in) in length, while adult females averaged 55.1 kg (121 lb) and measured 2.22 m (7 ft 3 in). In Lake Griffin State Park , Florida, adults weighed on average 57.9 kg (128 lb). Weight at sexual maturity per one study

2419-493: The modern American alligator. This alligator and the American alligator are now considered to be sister taxa , suggesting that the A. mississippiensis lineage has existed in North America for seven to eight million years. The alligator's full mitochondrial genome was sequenced in the 1990s, and it suggests the animal evolved at a rate similar to mammals and greater than birds and most cold-blooded vertebrates. However,

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2478-446: The most darkly colored modern crocodilians (although other alligatorid family members are also fairly dark), and can reliably be distinguished by color via their more blackish dorsal scales against crocodiles . Meanwhile, their undersides are cream-colored. Some American alligators are missing or have an inhibited gene for melanin , which makes them albino . These American alligators are extremely rare and almost impossible to find in

2537-653: The north and south poles of 46 h 40 min 22 s. The Shuttle Landing Facility served as launch and landing site for the world speed record, certified by the Guinness World Records and the World Air Sports Federation Fédération Aéronautique Internationale . [REDACTED] Media related to Launch and Landing Facility at Wikimedia Commons American Alligator The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), sometimes referred to as

2596-631: The project, Morpheus vehicle tests were performed at other NASA centers; KSC was the site for advanced testing. Multiple tests, including free flight, were performed at the SLF in 2013–2014. Multiple vehicles and iterations of the vehicles were tested, due to upgrades and damages during this experimental test program. During the August 9, 2012, test at the SLF, a vehicle exploded; no one was injured. The SLF has also been used by commercial users. Zero Gravity Corporation , which offers flights where passengers experience brief periods of microgravity , has operated from

2655-473: The runway to be "half as wide and twice as long" ) Additionally, the SLF has 1,001 feet (305 m) of paved overruns at each end. The Mate-Demate Device (MDD), for use when the Shuttle was transported by the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft , was located just off the southern end of the runway. The runway is designated runway 15, or 33, depending on the direction of use. The runway surface consists of an extremely high- friction concrete strip designed to maximize

2714-494: The second largest member by length and the heaviest of the family Alligatoridae , after the black caiman . Females are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3 m (8.5 to 9.8 ft) in length. The American alligator inhabits subtropical and tropical freshwater wetlands , such as marshes and cypress swamps , from southern Texas to North Carolina . It is distinguished from the sympatric American crocodile by its broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and

2773-621: The species (including parts and derivatives) is regulated. They inhabit swamps, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes as well as wetland prairies interspersed with shallow open water and canals with associated levees. A lone American alligator was spotted for over 10 years living in a river north of Atlanta, Georgia. Females and juveniles are also found in Carolina Bays and other seasonal wetlands. While they prefer fresh water, American alligators may sometimes wander into brackish water, but are less tolerant of salt water than American crocodiles, as

2832-401: The time of the paper published, replicated in any other crocodilians, and the same laboratory was able to measure a greater bite force of 16,414 N (1,673.8 kgf; 3,690 lbf) in saltwater crocodiles ; notwithstanding this very high biting force, the muscles opening the American alligator's jaw are quite weak, and the jaws can be held closed by hand or tape when an American alligator

2891-473: The vehicle was fully inspected, tested, and refurbished. Prior to rollout to the Vehicle Assembly Building , several weeks before scheduled launch, the orbiter was prepared for the next mission by installing mission flight kits, payloads, consumable fluids and gases where possible. Remaining payloads, fuels and fluids were installed on the pad closer to launch day. The last step before rollover to

2950-733: The water. American alligators, being native both to the Nearctic and Neotropical realms , are found in the wild in the Southeastern United States , from the Lowcountry in South Carolina , south to Everglades National Park in Florida, and west to the southeastern region of Texas . They are found in parts of North Carolina , South Carolina, Georgia , Florida, Louisiana, Alabama , Mississippi , Arkansas , Oklahoma and Texas. Some of these locations appear to be relatively recent introductions, with often small but reproductive populations. Louisiana has

3009-419: The wild. They could only survive in captivity, as they are very vulnerable to the sun and predators. American alligators have 74–80 teeth. As they grow and develop, the morphology of their teeth and jaws change significantly. Juveniles have small, needle-like teeth that become much more robust and narrow snouts that become broader as the individuals develop. These morphological changes correspond to shifts in

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3068-585: The winter. In some areas of their range, American alligators are an unusual example of urban wildlife ; golf courses are often favored by the species due to an abundance of water and a frequent supply of prey animals such as fish and birds. American alligators are less vulnerable to cold than American crocodiles . Unlike an American crocodile, which would immediately succumb to the cold and drown in water at 45 °F (7 °C) or less, an American alligator can survive in such temperatures for some time without displaying any signs of discomfort. This adaptiveness

3127-447: The year (in particular during the breeding season), American alligators bellow to declare territory, and locate suitable mates. Male American alligators use infrasound to attract females. Eggs are laid in a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their mother for up to one year. This species displays parental care, which

3186-518: Was 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) long and weighed 458.8 kg (1,011.5 lb) is the largest American alligator killed in Alabama and has been declared the SCI world record in 2014. American alligators do not normally reach such extreme sizes. In mature males, most specimens grow up to about 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) in length, and weigh up to 360 kg (790 lb), while in females,

3245-507: Was 5.31 m (17 ft 5 in), as reported by the Everglades National Park , although this record is unverified. The largest American alligator scientifically verified in Florida for the period from 1977 to 1993 was reportedly 4.23 m (13 ft 11 in) and weighed 473 kg (1,043 lb), although another specimen (size estimated from skull) may have measured 4.54 m (14 ft 11 in). A specimen that

3304-420: Was available, since the American alligator was left on a muddy bank after having been measured due to having been too massive to relocate. If the size of this animal was correct, it would have weighed about 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). In Arkansas, a man killed an American alligator that was 4.04 m (13 ft 3 in) and 626 kg (1,380 lb). The largest American alligator ever killed in Florida

3363-476: Was resolved by grinding down the pavement, reducing the depth of the grooves significantly. A local nickname for the runway is the "gator tanning facility", as some of the 4,000 alligators living at Kennedy Space Center regularly bask in the sunlight on the runway. The landing facility is managed by contractor EG&G , which provides air traffic control services, as well as managing potential hazards to landing aircraft, such as bird life. The Bird Team kept

3422-568: Was stated as averaging 30 kg (66 lb) while adult weight was claimed as 160 kg (350 lb). There is a common belief stated throughout reptilian literature that crocodilians, including the American alligator, exhibit indeterminate growth , meaning the animal continues to grow for the duration of its life. However, these claims are largely based on assumptions and observations of juvenile and young adult crocodilians, and recent studies are beginning to contradict this claim. For example, one long-term mark-recapture study (1979–2015) done at

3481-477: Was the first Space Shuttle to land at night at the SLF on STS-51 . A total of 78 Space Shuttle missions landed at the SLF. The final landing of a Space Shuttle occurred on July 21, 2011, by Atlantis for STS-135 . Discovery and Endeavour took off from the SLF on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for museums in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. In January 2014 it was announced that Boeing would lease

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