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Author
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Topic: Ares I mobile launcher platform and tower
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted May 09, 2008 01:15 AM
   
NASA release NASA Awards Contract for Ares I Mobile LauncherNASA's Kennedy Space Center has awarded a contract to Hensel Phelps of Orlando, Fla., for the construction of the Ares I mobile launcher for the Constellation Program. Ares I is the rocket that will transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle, its crew and cargo to low Earth orbit. The contract includes an option for an additional Ares I mobile launcher. It is a firm fixed-price contract with a value of $263,735,000, if all options are exercised. The mobile launcher will support the Ares I and the vehicle's associated ground support equipment. It will be used in the assembly, testing and servicing of the Ares I at existing Kennedy facilities. The mobile launcher will transport the Ares I rocket to the launch pad and provide ground support for launches. The mobile launcher consists of the main support structure that comprises the base, tower and facility ground support systems, which include power, communications, conditioned air, water for cooling, wash-down, and ignition over-pressure protection. Hensel Phelps will supply all labor, materials and equipment necessary for construction of the Ares I mobile launcher. Ground support equipment, such as umbilicals, propellant and gases, instrumentation, controls and communications, necessary to support the Ares I rocket will be provided and installed under a separate contract or contracts. The tower of the mobile launcher will have multiple platforms for personnel access and will be approximately 390 feet tall. Construction will take place at the mobile launcher park site area located north of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building at the space center in Florida. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted February 12, 2009 09:16 PM
Trestles and girders for a new mobile launcher arrive by barge February 12 at the Launch Complex 39 area turn basin of NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The new launcher will be lighter than space shuttle mobile launcher platforms so that the crawler-transporter can pick up the added load of the 345-foot tower and taller Ares I rocket. When the structural portion of the new mobile launcher is complete, umbilicals, access arms, communications equipment and command and control equipment will be installed.
Photo credit: NASA |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted February 14, 2009 12:06 PM
 
Photo credit: NASA
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted March 21, 2009 02:40 PM
 
Photo credit: NASA
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 24, 2009 09:29 PM
Photographed on April 18:
Photo credit: collectSPACE |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted June 02, 2009 09:50 AM
Construction continues behind the Vehicle Assembly Building of the new Ares I mobile launcher platform and 345-foot launch umbilical tower. Photographs taken between May 8 and May 14.
 
Photo credit: NASA
Photo credit: collectSPACE
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted July 10, 2009 11:30 AM
Photographs taken on July 1:  
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted October 18, 2009 01:36 AM
Progress continues on the construction of a new mobile launcher for the Constellation Program with the positioning of a second section of the support tower into place on October 15. Installation of the first section was on September 24. The tower will have multiple platforms for personnel access and be approximately 345 feet tall.
 
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted October 31, 2009 06:47 PM
On October 27, a crane lowered the third section of the tower for the new mobile launcher into place atop the growing structure.
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted November 10, 2009 10:51 AM
Progress update: 
Credit: Francis French
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted November 13, 2009 04:46 PM
On November 12, 2009, a crane lowered a fourth tower section onto the three sections already secured to the new mobile launcher.
 
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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cspg
Member Posts: 2169
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted November 13, 2009 11:55 PM
Why is a launcher platform and tower being built when the future of that particular rocket is in doubt? Is it because contract money has been spent? It may be stupid question but it's somewhat hard to reconcile the pictures on this topic and the articles about other launcher designs than Ares 1 being considered. It reminds me of SLC-6 at Vandenberg. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted November 14, 2009 03:16 AM
The answer is simple: until directed otherwise by the President and Congress, the plans as they exist to develop, support and launch Ares I continue. |
cspg
Member Posts: 2169
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted November 14, 2009 08:49 AM
Okay, makes sense.If you're optimistic, this will be useful hardware. If not, well, marine life off the Florida coast will have a brand new playground!  |
Gordon Reade
Member Posts: 330
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted November 20, 2009 06:19 PM
I'm looking forward to seeing that big beauty topped out. What thrill that will be. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 01, 2009 04:42 PM
On November 30, 2009, a crane positioned the fifth tower segment onto the four segments already secured to the new mobile launcher, or ML, being constructed to support the Constellation Program.
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 15, 2009 09:02 AM
On December 13, 2009, the sixth tower segment was secured to the new mobile launcher.
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann |
Gordon Reade
Member Posts: 330
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted December 17, 2009 06:54 PM
Thanks for posting the great photos. What I find interesting is that this launch tower looks so similar to the ones built for the Saturn V. Did NASA use the same technical drawings? What will the final height be? Will it be as tall as a Saturn V tower? I was very sorry when the original Saturn towers were disassembled, but now it seems that I’ll get to see one after all. |
Mercury7
Member Posts: 330
From: Greenville, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted December 21, 2009 04:47 PM
Wow, they have added a lot since I saw it for the STS-129 launch. It seems stupid if this was not built to be configurable for either the Ares I or V. It was just a waste of tax payers' money and short sighted if it can't be modified. |
328KF
Member Posts: 238
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted December 21, 2009 08:01 PM
Maybe when the Administration cancels Ares-I we can just post these photos in reverse order over several weeks' time. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 22, 2009 11:44 AM
On December 21, 2009, the seventh tower segment was added atop the new mobile launcher. When completed, the tower will be about 345 feet tall.
 
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 896
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted December 23, 2009 03:22 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Mercury7:
Wow, they have added a lot since I saw it for the STS-129 launch. It seems stupid if this was not built to be configurable for either the Ares I or V. It was just a waste of tax payers' money and short sighted if it can't be modified.
This is just the MLP and tower for Ares I, not the whole pad. Plus, Ares V hasn't even left the drawing board yet while Ares I based hardware is in the testing stages. Ares V is also going to require a bit more of a support structure for it. As such, it makes no sense at this time to design a MLP that can support both rockets when the requirements for the second rocket haven't been fully set yet.The way I see it, assuming both boosters fly then the smart money would have the fixed support structures at Pads 39A and B capable of supporting both with the MLPs being different. Although admittedly they will probably modify Pad 39B just to support Ares I, while 39A will support Ares V exclusively. Of course there is some risk in that if a booster were to have a serious accident while on the pad and running the risk of damaging the one pad needed to support launch operations for THAT rocket. However, if you look at the other pads at KSC, the other companies these days seem to have only one pad each to support their launch operations. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 23, 2009 08:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
...fixed support structures at Pads 39A and B capable of supporting both with the MLPs being different.
Under the plans for Ares I and Ares V, there are no fixed service structures other than a railway for a crew escape system (dubbed the "roller coaster") for its resemblance, and lightning towers erected around the pads. Should Ares I and Ares V not fly, but another heavy-lift launcher be chosen, it may be possible to modify or reuse parts from this assembly to support its design. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted January 13, 2010 05:30 AM
On January 8, 2010, the eighth tower segment was added to the new mobile launcher.
 
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted January 22, 2010 09:27 AM
On January 19, 2010, the ninth tower segment was added.
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller |
apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 104
From: arnhem netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted January 22, 2010 10:49 AM
It looks great these photos with progress, has NASA bigger and higher crane trucks? It looks that this is the max of the crane... |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 896
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted January 22, 2010 01:20 PM
I'm sure they'll come up with something. They had to do something similar when they built the Saturn V towers back in the 1960s, and shuttle involved moving a portion of those towers off the MLPs and putting them fixed at the pads. So NASA and its contractors are no strangers to building large structures. |
Apollo Redux
Member Posts: 211
From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted January 22, 2010 09:18 PM
Regardless was happens with the Ares I booster, I'd like to take the time to thank you for always taking the time to post these photos.I've never see as many, and in such variety, as those that I on this site. They are very much appreciated. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted January 28, 2010 10:03 AM
A steel worker signs a signature plate that will be placed on the tenth and final tower section of a new mobile launcher. The plate bears the names of the workers who helped construct the tower.
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann Steel workers prepare a live, potted kumquat tree for a "topping out" ceremony to take place when the tenth and final tower section of a new mobile launcher is hoisted onto the tower later this week. In ancient Scandinavian society, the placement of an evergreen tree on a building's ridge pole signaled to all who helped with its construction that the celebration of its completion would begin.
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted January 28, 2010 06:39 PM
On Jan. 28, a crane gently lowered the tenth and final tower segment onto the new mobile launcher, completing the stacking of the 345 foot tall structure.
 
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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Gordon Reade
Member Posts: 330
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2002
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posted January 28, 2010 07:24 PM
Fantastic! |
328KF
Member Posts: 238
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted January 28, 2010 11:26 PM
Fantastic, but in reality truly sad. It now looks like they got it done just in time to take it all apart. |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 214
From: washington, Illinois USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted January 29, 2010 11:28 AM
JUST BEAUTIFUL!! Now we need a rocket/spacecraft to launch from it. What an awesome sight it would be!! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted January 31, 2010 09:12 AM
More photographs of the completed 345-foot tower, including the view from the top.
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
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tegwilym
Member Posts: 1962
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted January 31, 2010 09:56 PM
Nice. Even better that I'll get a chance to see that in person next week. I just hope there is a rocket attached to it someday, but we'll know more tomorrow. Hopefully, not similar to Homer Simpson's "Escalator to nowhere".  |
ringo67
Member Posts: 41
From: Seekonk, Mass., USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted February 01, 2010 01:01 AM
I don't know how close I'll get to the VAB when I'm down there in March. Is it visible from the Press Site? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 1384
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted February 01, 2010 03:28 AM
The launch platform is directly behind the OPF and VAB as viewed from the Press site. The VAB will probably obscure your view but you do get a good view if you go on one of the visitor tour buses... |
ringo67
Member Posts: 41
From: Seekonk, Mass., USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted February 03, 2010 01:33 PM
Thanks. That's what I thought. I should be able to see it, though, as I definitely plan on taking the tours. |
Apollo Redux
Member Posts: 211
From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted February 03, 2010 02:30 PM
If it should come to pass that the Ares V heavy-lift booster is continued (development), can this gantry be used (albeit with minor modifications)? Or is it strictly applicable to Ares I? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 17753
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted February 03, 2010 03:39 PM
Ares V, to the best of my knowledge, needs a larger mobile launcher platform base, and a larger tower, but I should be able to get a more definitive answer when I am at Kennedy this weekend. |
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