Author Topic: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A  (Read 14324 times)

Online DaveS

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Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« on: 09/20/2010 01:07 am »
I couldn't find an appropriate thread for these questions so here goes:

Q1: Anyone have the dimensions of the Shuttle Assembly Building(now the Mobile Assembly Shelter)

Q2: Anyone have any good schematics over the PCR? I can't seem to find any good photos that shows the PCR on its own away from the PPR.
« Last Edit: 02/12/2011 04:34 pm by Andy USA »
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Online DaveS

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q's
« Reply #1 on: 09/22/2010 12:53 am »
Can someone verify the following dimensions data for the SAB/MAS:

Height: 72 m
Width: 41 m
Depth: 49.5 m
« Last Edit: 09/22/2010 12:58 am by DaveS »
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
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"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

Online DaveS

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q's
« Reply #2 on: 11/03/2010 09:15 am »
Here's another shuttle Q on SLC-6:
How would a RSLS abort been handled at SLC-6? I'm mainly thinking on what kind of water dulge system the Launch Mount had to prevent a H2 fire like then experienced during the STS-41D RSLS abort?
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
-1996 Astronaut class slogan

"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

Offline Jim

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q's
« Reply #3 on: 11/03/2010 10:21 am »
Here's another shuttle Q on SLC-6:
How would a RSLS abort been handled at SLC-6? I'm mainly thinking on what kind of water dulge system the Launch Mount had to prevent a H2 fire like then experienced during the STS-41D RSLS abort?

The same way as LC-39.  There is/was a water tank

Online DaveS

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q's
« Reply #4 on: 01/26/2011 04:31 pm »
Anyone know height of the old Shuttle Launch Mount at SLC-6? I have this old drawing which has 131 ELEV written on it. It's too much for feet and too little for inches.

Also, can anyone verify the following data:

MST dimensions:
Height: 75 m
Width: 41.3 m
Depth: 25.2 m

SAB/MAS dimenisons:
Height: 57 m
Width: 41 m
Depth: 49.5 m

So any clarification would be fantastic!
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
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"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #5 on: 07/26/2011 09:37 pm »
Here's a overview photo of SLC-6 back in 1986 when it sill was configured to support STS operations. Can someone verify the annotations on it? And please provide building/facility designation for the one labelled "???".
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"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #6 on: 07/27/2011 12:56 am »
PPF payload preparation facility

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #7 on: 07/27/2011 12:41 pm »
PPF payload preparation facility
Thanks. What about the unidentified facility?
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
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"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #8 on: 07/27/2011 12:52 pm »
Also, was a Centaur servicing umbilical ever designed for SLC-6?
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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #9 on: 07/27/2011 02:39 pm »
no Centaur on the west coast

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #10 on: 07/27/2011 06:20 pm »
no Centaur on the west coast
Thanks. I guess the stage+payload was just too much mass into polar orbit?
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
-1996 Astronaut class slogan

"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

Offline Jorge

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #11 on: 07/27/2011 06:30 pm »
no Centaur on the west coast
Thanks. I guess the stage+payload was just too much mass into polar orbit?

Probably true, but also the DoD had no requirement for shuttle-Centaur.
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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #12 on: 07/27/2011 09:22 pm »
no Centaur on the west coast
Thanks. I guess the stage+payload was just too much mass into polar orbit?

Probably true, but also the DoD had no requirement for shuttle-Centaur.

Not just DOD. There is no real point in launching anything into a very high altitude polar orbit. Or using a polar orbit as the jumping off point for a interplanetary mission.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #13 on: 07/28/2011 05:12 pm »

Not just DOD. There is no real point in launching anything into a very high altitude polar orbit. Or using a polar orbit as the jumping off point for a interplanetary mission.

SDS???

Payloads to Molniya orbits?
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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #14 on: 07/28/2011 05:29 pm »
no Centaur on the west coast
Thanks. I guess the stage+payload was just too much mass into polar orbit?

Probably true, but also the DoD had no requirement for shuttle-Centaur.

You mean on the west.  The east coast, there was a big requirement.  DOD paid for 1/2 of the development cost.  The G was designed to DOD requirements.  10Klb to GSO with a 40' spacecraft.  Milstar was going to use it and the same payloads that required the Titan IV 86' fairing.

As for "no Centaur on the west coast" didn't mean there weren't studies.

I worked a study where 10Klb to GSO was achievable from VAFB with a G' and bielliptical transfer orbits.

As for planetary missions, VAFB is viable for them.  The Mars 2001 lander was to launch from there.  And Clementine did.
« Last Edit: 07/28/2011 05:30 pm by Jim »

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #15 on: 07/28/2011 05:36 pm »
I worked a study where 10Klb to GSO was achievable from VAFB with a G' and bielliptical transfer orbits.


Now that is an interesting gem Jim... So basically SpaceX does not need an east coast Falcon Heavy to capture the Heavy GEO market. Interesting...

Thanks.
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Offline ugordan

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #16 on: 07/28/2011 05:44 pm »
So basically SpaceX does not need an east coast Falcon Heavy to capture the Heavy GEO market. Interesting...

Not that surprising. Proton hardly launches on optimal azimuths for GEO launches and it still manages.

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #17 on: 07/28/2011 06:19 pm »
I worked a study where 10Klb to GSO was achievable from VAFB with a G' and bielliptical transfer orbits.


Now that is an interesting gem Jim... So basically SpaceX does not need an east coast Falcon Heavy to capture the Heavy GEO market. Interesting...

Thanks.
Yeah, that is a good point... I would be really interested in what sort of payload they could achieve to GTO (at a similar delta-v-to-go-to-GSO) with the Falcon Heavy.
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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #18 on: 07/28/2011 06:55 pm »
Here's a overview photo of SLC-6 back in 1986 when it sill was configured to support STS operations. Can someone verify the annotations on it? And please provide building/facility designation for the one labelled "???".
After checking another photo, it seems like the pipes coming from the unidentified building are connected with the Launch Mount. Could this be where the jet engines for deicing the ET where located?
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"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #19 on: 07/29/2011 12:57 am »
Another question:

At what elevations was the following located:
-Crew Access Arm
-GH2 vent line/IAA
-GOX Vent Arm
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
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"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #20 on: 07/29/2011 03:08 am »
Another question:

At what elevations was the following located:
-Crew Access Arm
-GH2 vent line/IAA
-GOX Vent Arm

They would be at the same elevations as KSC

Offline douglas100

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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #21 on: 07/29/2011 04:22 pm »

Not that surprising. Proton hardly launches on optimal azimuths for GEO launches and it still manages.

A small nit: Proton does launch on almost the best azimuth (almost due east).  It's the plane changes required by the latitude of Baikonur later in the flight profile which reduce payload performance.

Such an azimuth is not available from Vandenberg. If it were, the reduction in payload compared with CCAFS would of course be less.
« Last Edit: 07/29/2011 04:24 pm by douglas100 »
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Re: Space Launch Complex-6 Q&A
« Reply #22 on: 08/10/2011 11:15 pm »
Where *exactly* was the ice-melting jet engines mounted? Somewhere inside the Launch Mount or in a separate building with the exhaust ducted to the Launch Mount?
"For Sardines, space is no problem!"
-1996 Astronaut class slogan

"We're rolling in the wrong direction but for the right reasons"
-USA engineer about the rollback of Discovery prior to the STS-114 Return To Flight mission

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