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Author
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Topic: Mobile Launcher Platforms (MLP) and crawlers
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CAIR67
Member Posts: 15
From: MD, United States
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 01-23-2009 09:23 PM
  
Does anybody have pictures of MLP-1 side 1 (front side) from around 1974-till 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 MLP-1. |
heng44
Member Posts: 2443
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-24-2009 05:42 AM
Here is a photo I took in April of 1981. The sign reads: Apollo 4, Apollo 8, Apollo 11, Skylab 2, Skylab 3, Skylab 4, ASTP. |
CAIR67
Member Posts: 15
From: MD, United States
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 01-24-2009 09:32 AM
Perfect exactly what I was looking for!! |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1373
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 01-24-2009 02:58 PM
Is that the milk stool on the base? |
heng44
Member Posts: 2443
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-24-2009 03:39 PM
Yes, it is. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 1731
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-24-2009 07:56 PM
Great photo above, but are you sure it was taken in April 1981? At that time refurbished MLP-1 was supporting STS-1 launch operations, until Apr. 12, at Pad 39A. By the early 1980s two of the three mobile launcher platforms (#1 & 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: 2443
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 MLPs with the number 1 at that time! As you can see in the photo below, taken on the same day, this is the original MLP-1 with the Skylab/ASTP milkstool. In the background is MLP-2. But at that same time STS-1 was on the pad, also on MLP-1! This can only mean that MLP-3 was refurbished from Apollo-era MLP-3 into Shuttle-era MLP-1. I see no other explanation... 
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heng44
Member Posts: 2443
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-25-2009 10:41 AM
Bingo! I found proof. The above is a photo of the Enterprise rollout in May 1979, using MLP-1. If you look closely at the number, you can see it was changed from #3. So as I suspected the Apollo era MLP-3 became the Shuttle-era MLP-1! 
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Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 1731
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 01-25-2009 10:12 PM
Thanks for posting the new photos as it does appear that the original MLP-3 was changed to MLP-1! 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 80's, my articles only mentioned in some minor detail that MLP-1 and 2 were modified for the shuttle era. Old shuttle news releases from NASA also confirm my original findings, however, as time permits I would like to examine various photo/history files of that MLP-refurbishment period. If I come to a dead end from my own space resource library, perhaps a call or visit to NASA's history office here at Kennedy, along with the press site offices, may be required if more research is needed. While certainly not a big deal or anything, I do enjoy working on a challenge or mystery like this. Meanwhile, if you (or anyone else) can shed any new light to the topic, let me know and I'll do the same from this end. |
heng44
Member Posts: 2443
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: 1731
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 takedowns from the late 70s in this capacity. There was a detailed NASA release, that I am still trying to locate here, that did better explain the refurbishment developments of the launch platforms. Why NASA didn't leave MLP-3 as the same designation, instead of changing it to #1, doesn't really make alot 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: 2443
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-27-2009 09:37 AM
Bingo again! I found final confirmation that today's MLP-3 was called Mobile Launcher 1 during the Apollo era.An article in Lockheed's 'Stargazer' 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", he said. "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 LUT (Launcher Umbilical Tower). This information is confirmed in an article in KSC's 'Spaceport News' dated September 8, 1989. So Mobile Launcher 1 is now MLP-3. I rest my case. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1373
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 01-27-2009 01:31 PM
I have heard that the crawler/transporters are named Hans and Franz - anyone know if this is true, and/or have photos of the names on the vehicles? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 25700
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-27-2009 01:38 PM
Only the crawler transporters are named Hans and Franz, and their names are honorary and interchangeable. When I toured one of the crawlers in 2006, the shuttle era drivers said that their "names" do not appear on the vehicles themselves. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2089
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 01-28-2009 12:27 AM
The names Hans and Franz came about in the mid-1990s and I think the first documented use for them was the Discovery Channel's documentary "The Space Shuttle" from 1994 where a crawler driver mentioned he nicknamed the pair that because they "Pump you up". |
hlbjr
Member Posts: 307
From: Delray Beach Florida USA
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 01-30-2009 06:31 AM
Great picture (from the ground) of the "milkstool". Are there any pictures looking down on it which show the detail of the milkstool launch mounts, holddown arms, and tail umbilical connectors? Are these launch mounts and other hardware from Pad 34? Thanks for your help. |
mikej
Member Posts: 332
From: Germantown, WI USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-30-2009 07:21 AM
quote:
Originally posted by hlbjr:
Are there any pictures looking down on it which show the detail of the milkstool launch mounts, holddown arms, and tail umbilical connectors?
The Skylab Saturn IB Flight Manual on p. 7-3 (p. 228 in the PDF) notes that "Firing accessories for the S-IB stage were removed from LC-34/37B and are installed on the pedestal deck." It contains a description of the launcher and on p. 232 of the PDF there's a diagram of the propellant masts, short cable masts, holddown arms, boattail conditioning connectors, etc. |
Mr Meek
Member Posts: 348
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.Like Ken said, it's really not a big deal nitpicking over which is which. 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) manned 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 MLP 1 (as shown in the above photos) was used for the most significant missions (Apollo 8, 11, SL 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 (mentioned above) that had used this tower.Meanwhile in 78-79 (?) the Launch Umbilical Tower on MLP 2 and 3 were installed / modified as the Fixed Service Structures for the shuttle pads 39A and 39B. The associated launch platforms themselves were re-numbered MLP 1 and MLP 2 and modified to handle the shuttle. In 1981, After being disassembled and having it's tower placed in storage, the MLP 1 was re-numbered to MLP 3 and converted for shuttle operations. So to recap, MLP 1 was indeed renamed MLP 3, but its Launch Umbilical Tower was not used as a part of shuttle operations. Sorry if this is a bit wordy, but I hope this cleared up / confirmed anything that had already been said. Interesting thread. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 484
From: washington, Illinois USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 04-19-2009 05:46 PM
I would greatly appreciate information on MLP #1, #2 and #3. Which MLP did Apollo 6, Apollo 9 and Apollo 12 launch from and did MLP 1 become MLP 3 and MLP 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)? |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 484
From: washington, Illinois USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 10-26-2009 09:41 PM
Does anyone know which Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) was used for the Apollo 6 rollout and launch? |
Jay
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 10-26-2009 10:48 PM
Apollo 6 used MLP-2. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 531
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-09-2012 04:22 PM
Which crawler-transporters hauled which Apollo flights out to the pad?Editor's note: Threads merged. |
413 is in
Member Posts: 368
From: Alexandria, VA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 11-10-2012 12:25 PM
I thought I would share these recently acquired vintage Kodacolor prints of one of the crawler transporters and an associated photo of Launch Complex 34. All were taken in February 1967, just after the Apollo 1 spacecraft fire. Thanks to Ken Havekotte for his keen eye in identifying the pad.    |
spaceman1953
Member Posts: 905
From: South Bend, IN United States of America
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 11-11-2012 04:59 PM
All brought to you courtesy of the Marion Steamshovel and Power Company of Ohio! |
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