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Author
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Topic: Apollo mobile launcher (ML) use history
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CAIR67
Member Posts: 17
From: MD, United States
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 01-23-2009 09:23 PM
  
Does anyone have pictures of Apollo-era Mobile Launcher-1 (ML-1), side one (front side) from around 1974 until they modified it for the space shuttle? I'm trying to find proof that the side of the platform had signs signifying the launches that took place on ML-1. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3429
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-24-2009 05:42 AM
A photo I took in April of 1981 has a sign that reads: Apollo 4, Apollo 8, Apollo 11, Skylab 2, Skylab 3, Skylab 4, ASTP. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3027
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-24-2009 07:56 PM
Are you sure it was taken in April 1981? At that time, refurbished Mobile Launcher Platform-1 (MLP-1) was supporting STS-1 launch operations, until April 12, at Pad 39A. By the early 1980s two of the three mobile launcher platforms (1 and 2) were shuttle operational. Gone from both were all the old Apollo-era structures and equipment that were modified for the shuttle program. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3429
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-25-2009 03:27 AM
The photo was taken on April 6, 1981. There is no doubt about that. But I had never noticed before that there were two mobile launchers with the number 1 at that time! A second photo taken on the same day shows the original ML-1 with the Skylab/ASTP milkstool. In the background is ML-2. But at that same time STS-1 was on the pad, on MLP-1! This can only mean that ML-3 was refurbished from Apollo-era ML-3 into shuttle-era MLP-1. I see no other explanation... |
heng44
Member Posts: 3429
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-25-2009 10:41 AM
Bingo! I found proof in a photo of the Enterprise rollout in May 1979, using MLP-1. You can see that the number on the mobile launch platform was changed from #3. So as I suspected the Apollo era ML-3 became the shuttle-era MLP-1! |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3027
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-25-2009 10:12 PM
While covering the early shuttle program quite extensively, I just don't know when and why this was done. Even in my STS-1 "rollout" article coverage as a news media rep, nearing 30 years ago, along with many other shuttle related stories that were published throughout the late 1970s and early 80s, my articles only mentioned in some minor detail that MLP-1 and 2 were modified for the shuttle era. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3429
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-26-2009 05:30 AM
The MLP Wikipedia entry states: In the post-Apollo years, the umbilical towers from Mobile Launchers 2 and 3 were removed. Portions of these tower structures were erected at the two Space Shuttle (or STS, for Space Transport System) launch pads, Pads 39 A and B. These permanent structures are now known as the "Fixed Service Structure" or in NASA's language of acronyms, FSS. The umbilical tower from Mobile Launcher 1 (which was the platform used for the most significant Apollo Missions) was taken apart and stored in the Kennedy Space Center's industrial area. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 3027
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-26-2009 04:41 PM
Nice work, as I just can't recall the umbilical tower take downs from the late 1970s in this capacity.Why NASA didn't leave ML-3 as the same designation, instead of changing it to MLP-1, doesn't really make a lot of sense to me. Perhaps with the start of the shuttle program, they wanted to use a #1 platform for engineering and "new start" operations. Why not just leave the #3 unit as the first modified platform to launch a shuttle vehicle? |
heng44
Member Posts: 3429
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-27-2009 09:37 AM
I found confirmation that today's MLP-3 was called Mobile Launcher 1 during the Apollo era.An article in Lockheed's "Stargazer" newsletter dated June 15, 1989 describes how MLP-3 was being activated for shuttle launches. It was the last of the three MLPs to be converted. Frank Loesel of LSOC pointed out that MLP-3 was used to support some of the most historic missions of the Apollo era. MLP-3 was designated Mobile Launcher 1 then. It was used for the very first Saturn 5 launch in November of 1967. The article goes on describing how Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 were launched from that Mobile Launcher, after which is was modified for Skylab and ASTP. In September 1984 modifications for the shuttle began by dismantling the Launch Umbilical Tower.This information is also confirmed in an article in KSC's Spaceport News dated Sept. 8, 1989. So Mobile Launcher 1 is now MLP-3. |
Mr Meek
Member Posts: 353
From: Chattanooga, TN
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 03-25-2009 08:39 AM
During the MLP-1 handover ceremony (from the shuttle program to Constellation), Mike Leinbach referred to missions that the Apollo-era ML-1 supported. Assuming the ML-1/MLP-3, ML-3/MLP-1 switcheroo is correct (and I find no reason to doubt it), then perhaps Mr. Leinbach should have been recalling Apollos 10, 13, 15, 16, and 17.Seeing the "Go Ares I-X!" banner revealed was exciting, and whatever the specific history of this item is, it is ultimately one of the larger tangible reminders of the hard work and dedication of those who have supported (literally) human spaceflight over the last 40+ years. |
PeterMart
Member Posts: 12
From: Massachusetts
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 03-29-2009 11:34 PM
To the best of my knowledge, the original ML-1 was used for the most significant missions (Apollo 8, 11, Skylab 2-4, and ASTP). It was also the last to be taken apart. The fate of its launch umbilical tower was a junkyard in the industrial area of KSC. There were efforts to restore/save this launch umbilical tower, but it has now been scrapped due to environmental regulations. This effort was in large part due to the historic missions that had used this tower. Meanwhile in 78-79 (?) the launch umbilical tower on ML-2 and 3 were installed and modified as the fixed service structures for the shuttle pads 39A and 39B. The associated launch platforms themselves were renumbered MLP-1 and MLP-2 and modified to handle the shuttle. In 1981, after being disassembled and having its tower placed in storage, ML-1 was renumbered to MLP-3 and converted for shuttle operations. So to recap, ML-1 was indeed renamed MLP-3, but its launch umbilical tower was not used as a part of shuttle operations. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 970
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 04-19-2009 05:46 PM
I would greatly appreciate information on ML 1, 2 and 3. Which ML did Apollo 6, Apollo 9 and Apollo 12 launch from and did ML-1 become MLP-3 and ML-3 become MLP-1 during the shuttle transition (like stated above)? Mike Leinbach said that MLP-1 (which recently launched STS-119) has had 51 launches from the platform. Does anyone know which space shuttle missions were launched from MLP-1 (and MLP-2 and MLP-3 as well)? |
Jay
Member Posts: 82
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 10-26-2009 10:48 PM
Apollo 6 used ML-2. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 09-16-2013 08:03 PM
More history can be found in this 2009 HAER survey of the Mobile Launcher Platforms. In 1975, Reynolds, Smith & Hill created drawings for the conversion of ML-3 into the first "mobile launcher platform", MLP-1 ... In September 1976, RS&H received a second design contract for the conversion of ML-2 into MLP-2 ... Finally, in November 1982, RS&H was awarded an extension to their current contract for the drawings to convert ML-1 into MLP-3. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-18-2013 02:49 PM
Some dates I have come across: - the ML-3 LUT was dismantled from December 1975 to March 1976; some sections were used to begin building the Pad 39A FSS later in 1976.
- the ML-2 LUT was dismantled in 1978; some sections were used to begin building the Pad 39B FSS in 1979.
- the ML-1 LUT was dismantled from June to December 1983; the sections were moved to the KSC boneyard and later scrapped.
ML-1 was on display in High Bay 1 for the 1976 bicentennial exposition at the VAB. ML-2 was parked outside the VAB. After the event, ML-2 was moved to Pad 39A, as seen in the 1976 and 1977 photos I linked earlier. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-20-2013 01:22 PM
This 1983 edition of the Space News Roundup has a photo on page 1 of the STS-7 rollout on May 26.ML-1 can be seen in the background. They started to dismantle ML-1, the last mobile launcher, the following month. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-23-2013 02:37 PM
This October 1983 photo shows ML-1 outside the VAB. The ML-1 tower has been dismantled. ML-1 became MLP-3. |
J.L
Member Posts: 681
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 10-23-2013 02:44 PM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
This 1983 edition of the Space News Roundup has a photo on page 1 of the STS-7 rollout on May 26.
 |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 10-23-2013 03:02 PM
Yep, that's the photo. Thanks for taking the time to look for it. It is interesting to see both Apollo and shuttle in the same photo like that. I was surprised that the last LUT was still around as late as STS-7. Great shot. Thanks J.L. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-21-2013 12:33 AM
Photo 72-H-1508 shows decals and other Apollo 17 mission-related items attached to the tail service mast on the Mobile Launcher. The tail service mast for Skylab 1 also had a mission-related display.Was this done for any other Apollo missions? |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-24-2013 11:14 AM
Photo KSC-76C-2388 shows a section of ML-3 being transported to pad 39A in 1976 to build the Fixed Service Structure. ML-2, with swing arms removed, is parked outside the VAB. ML-1 can be seen in High Bay 1 behind the VAB doors. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 02-15-2014 11:28 PM
This 2003 article about the Shuttle Landing Facility has a photo of the original control tower built in 1987. It looks like that tower was built on one of the dismantled Apollo-era LUT sections. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 03-09-2014 05:46 AM
A wide-angle view of the LUT section of ML-1 that is on display at the Kennedy Space Center. CSM-119 is at left. |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 1000
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 04-09-2014 11:41 AM
Took this photo of ML-1 parked over near the VAB back in 1983. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-15-2014 07:13 PM
ML-1 was dismantled in the latter half of 1983, as can be seen in this series of photos from the HAER FLA,5-TIVI.V,1- survey. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-26-2014 11:57 PM
There was a Mobile Launcher on Pad 39A when Gemini 8 launched on March 16, 1966. ML-3 rolled out to 39A on March 4. There was an ML-3 water deluge test at the pad on March 17, 1966.Was ML-2 still on Pad 39A when Skylab 2 launched? |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-21-2015 12:33 AM
This photo of the Pad 39 slide wire pad escape system is dated 1968. Not sure if it is Pad A or B. That is ML-3 on the pad.When was ML-3 on the pad in 1968? The first vehicle stacked on ML-3 was Apollo 10, and that stacking began in late November 1968. So was ML-3 rolled out (without a vehicle) to the pad earlier in 1968 when the photo was taken? |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1316
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 07-21-2015 12:04 PM
Interesting photo of the slide wire escape system with an anthropomorphic dummy used in testing it. Since this is before Apollo 7 (which used Pad 34), we can assume this is an early version of the EES (Emergency Escape System) that evolved into using the nine-man 'cabs' that also used a wire system to ride down to ground level to a bunker and wait for the M113 tracked vehicle for rescue. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-21-2015 12:47 PM
Perhaps the photo was taken in 1969 at Pad B after the Apollo 10 launch and before ML-3 was moved off the pad. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-28-2015 10:16 AM
The Apollo Image Gallery caption for photo 69-H-154 dated 25 Jan 1969 indicates that the first manned run of the slide wire EES was with Apollo 9 on the pad. |
capcomespace
Member Posts: 27
From: france
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-14-2015 08:04 AM
In this photo the ML does not have its service arm, only white pipes on side. The picture is dated before June 1968 (early mate to Apollo 10).The ML 3 is transported to the pad 39A for validity testing 4 March 1966. The 17 is testing the water deluge system. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 03-21-2018 02:36 PM
Pad 39A photo KSC-76P-541 from 1976 has this caption: At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the shuttle service and access tower SSAT, left, is assembled at Launch Complex 39A from sections of launch umbilical tower 3. The lower 180 feet of the old ML-3 will be topped by the former uppermost section on which a hammerhead crane will be installed and the next lower section which houses the intact ML-3 elevator room and equipment. The SSAT will anchor and support a hinge column to the Payload Changeout Room PCR which will travel on a rail in a specified area to enclose the space shuttle's cargo bay on the pad for installation or removal of payloads. Mobile Launcher 2, center right, is on the pad to support the PCR during construction. The missions launched on ML-2 can be seen on the side of the launch platform: Apollo 6, Apollo 9, Apollo 12, Apollo 14 and Skylab 1. There is an empty spot after Skylab 1. Were there plans at one point to use ML-2 for another launch? The backup OWS perhaps. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 09-12-2018 09:44 AM
Just an observation: on the LUT, the hammerhead crane was pointed in the same direction (west) for all the launches, except for the ASTP launch.That might be the LUT crane being used for the Skylab 4 fin changeout at the pad. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1519
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 02-01-2019 06:13 AM
What would Skylab 4 have to do with ASTP? It was likely due to the addition of the lightning mast. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-05-2019 09:47 PM
The number "1" on ML-1 (Mobile Launcher 1) had been re-painted when Apollo 11 rolled out to the pad. The re-painted number had a shadow. The word "south" was also added to Side 1 of the platform.The shadow was not there when Apollo 4 and Apollo 8 rolled out to the pad. The numbers on ML-2 and ML-3 did not have shadows. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-07-2019 12:12 AM
Which parked Mobile Launcher was ML-1?Photo KSC-66C-0929 shows ML-1 (described as LUT #1 in the caption) entering the VAB in January 1966. In the background, the west ML parking spot is vacant. Photo KSC-66PC-72 shows the AS-500F rollout on ML-1 in May 1966. In the background, the east ML parking spot is vacant. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-08-2019 06:47 PM
When did the numbers on the Mobile Launchers first appear? Are there any photos prior to the AS-500F rollout on May 25, 1966 that show the numbers?No ML numbers are seen in the January 1966 photo mentioned earlier. All three Mobile Launchers had numbers when AS-500F rolled out. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-10-2019 05:57 AM
Photo 66-H-507 is dated May 4, 1966 and shows the three Mobile Launchers without numbers.
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3409
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 05-08-2020 09:00 AM
Regarding the Apollo-era Mobile Launchers, in the order they were dismantled: - ML-3 was dismantled in the east parking spot (1976)
- ML-2 was dismantled in the west parking spot (1978)
- ML-1 was dismantled in the east parking spot (1983)
The yellow pillars to support a Mobile Launcher in the middle parking spot had been removed years before. They are not there in Apollo 11 rollout photos.
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