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Author
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Topic: Orbiter Lifting Fixture at Palmdale (Plant 42)
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3555
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-20-2021 11:30 PM
  
Most of you are probably aware of the two shuttle orbiter mate-demate devices (MDD) that were located at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and the Dryden Flight Research Center, California.
There was also a third and lesser-known mate-demate device, called the Orbiter Lifting Fixture, located at the Rockwell plant in Palmdale, California. This undated photo was probably taken shortly after the April 25, 1991 Endeavour rollout at the Rockwell plant. Wikipedia mentions that the Orbiter Lifting Fixture was originally at Vandenberg Air Force Base, and was later moved to Palmdale. |
Cagedfalcon
Member Posts: 73
From:
Registered: Jul 2019
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posted 06-20-2021 11:37 PM
I have a friend that used to live near there and once when visiting him, he too me out that way to see the rig. Sadly it was empty. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3555
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-21-2021 01:45 AM
Endeavour was the first orbiter to be mated to a 747 SCA at Palmdale. Before that, the orbiters were trucked from Palmdale to Dryden. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1651
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 06-21-2021 09:12 AM
The Orbiting Lifting Fixture was developed to support launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base. It differs from a Mate-Demate Device (MDD) in that it was only for placing or removing an orbiter from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Whereas, the MDD could be used for servicing/deservicing an orbiter. The OLF was used once at VAFB for Enterprise. It was moved to Palmdale, once launches from VAFB were canceled.  |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3555
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-22-2021 02:08 AM
The second photo shows the orbiter Discovery at Vandenberg. I believe it was there for testing of the Orbiter Lifting Fixture. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3555
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 06-24-2021 09:16 AM
The 747 SCA in the first photo (NASA 911) was retired in 2012 and is on public display in Palmdale. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3555
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-04-2021 07:19 PM
The shuttle Columbia (in February 2001 after OMDP-2) may have been the last orbiter to use the OLF at Palmdale. Later OMDPs for Discovery and Endeavour were done at KSC. The orbiter Columbia sits under a mate/demate device at Boeing’s Orbiter Assembly Facility in Palmdale, Calif. It is waiting to be mated to Shuttle Carrier Aircraft no. 905 for its ferry flight to Kennedy Space Center. Columbia has been undergoing modifications and upgrades at the Boeing plant. Ferry preparations and the flight plan are contingent upon weather conditions in California and enroute to Florida. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3555
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-05-2021 12:07 AM
The ferry flight mentioned above (SCA-905 with Columbia) left Palmdale on March 1, 2001. It is interesting to note that this ferry flight landed at the Cape Canaveral Skid Strip on March 5.
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3555
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-07-2021 04:22 AM
Regarding the first photo, SCA NASA 911 (shown) delivered the new orbiter Endeavour to KSC in May 1991. It was the first ferry flight for NASA 911. |
OV-105
Member Posts: 860
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 07-07-2021 10:48 PM
The only shuttles it lifted at Palmdale were Endeavour, Columbia, and Atlantis. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3555
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 07-08-2021 12:43 AM
I have Discovery at Palmdale in 1995-96 for an OMDP, arriving on SCA-905 and departing on SCA-911. |
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