Posts: 142 From: London England Registered: Jan 2008
posted 03-07-2013 11:56 AM
I would be very grateful if anyone could help me identify these two pieces of ground support equipment, which seem to be evident in many of my pre-launch Atlas photos.
My suspicion is one of the pieces may be some kind of air conditioner, but I would really appreciate a definitive identification and whether they are specific to this project or whether they were standard Air Force equipment, many thanks.
space1 Member
Posts: 853 From: Danville, Ohio Registered: Dec 2002
posted 03-07-2013 12:58 PM
I can't offer a definitive answer, but I will point out that the Atlas tanks had to be pressurized to keep the vehicle from collapsing. Perhaps this equipment is related to that function.
David Carey Member
Posts: 782 From: Registered: Mar 2009
posted 03-07-2013 09:12 PM
'Mobile Air Handler' came to my mind, not really dissimilar to your hunch.
To me, it looks similar to what you see at underground utility/telephone repair sites and on jet bridges. Perhaps certain work areas required ventilation to avoid ground crew exposure to hazardous fume buildup. A/C certainly could have been part of that, if not the primary purpose.
Also nothing definitive, but a large air handler "in the NW quadrant" is mentioned in this memoir related to Atlas launch sites.