Vertical Assembly Building (VAB)
May 2nd, 2005
The VAB is the heart of operations at LC-39
It was originally built to assemble the huge Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo Program
Repairs to the hurricane damage is still underway
The VAB is one of the largest buildings in the world. It has a volume of 129,428,000 cubic ft. Only the Boeing 747 facility in Washington state is larger
The high bay area is 525 feet high
Movable work platforms fit the configuration of the Shuttle, SRBs and External Tank
A simple chain keeps you from dropping 500 feet
Cathy needs more than a chain at this height and Jon has his camera, just in case
The other high bay has two SRBs underway
Each SRB is held to the Pad with four bolts
One of eight bolts that hold the Shuttle on the pad
The SRBs are stacked on the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP)
The External Tank will be integrated next followed by the shuttle Atlantis
View of the Crawlerway leading from the VAB to Launch Complex 39A from atop the MLP
Launch Control Center (LCC) is right beside the VAB
The operations overview crew pose with the stack
Better view of the SRB is bolted to the MLP
Aft booster separation motors on the aft skirt
Only one SRB has the forward sections attached
Lisa and Jon photo the SRB from across the bay
Mighty high yet again, hold onto your glasses
The Crawler Transporter rolls under the MLP, lifts it, and then takes it out to the pad
Our Mazda 6 Wagon out in front of the VAB
The famous countdown clock near the VAB
External Tank Barge docked near the VAB
The barge shuttles external tanks from Louisiana
Big clock with a launch pad off in the distance
Hope to see some zeroes on that clock by mid July!