Launch Complex 39 Q&A

[Jim]

no fabric on the outside

[DaveS]

no fabric on the outside

What about the small plastic(?) sheet cover between the doors and the actual canister as seen on this photo: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/large/06pd0843.jpg

[JayP]

Does anyone have any photos of the Payload Canister door hinges?

The're just a series of normal piano hinges.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/imageviewer.cfm?mediaid=46931&mr=l&w=0&h=0&fn=2010-3057&sn=KSC-2010-3057

Jay, thanks for the photo. I am correct in thinking that the hinges are covered by the white fabric on the outside of the canister?

Also how many degrees does the doors rotate to their open position?

I don't know if its fabric per-se, but there is some sort of flexible material over the length of the hinge line. I assume it is there to provide an enviromantal seal.

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/imageviewer.cfm?mediaid=53695&mr=l&w=0&h=0&fn=2011-4484&sn=KSC-2011-4484

It looks like, when the screw actuators are used, the doors open about 90 degrees judging by the people standing on the doors. It doesn't look like there are other stops, so they may open furthur when attached to the PCR in the verticle position.

[DaveS]

Any photos of the structures where the doors attach to the screw actuators?

[JayP]

Any photos of the structures where the doors attach to the screw actuators?

You can see them folded up in the picture in the post above. Here is one of them folded out and attached.

 There are a lot of photos of the canister on KSC's media gallery.

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/imageviewer.cfm?mediaid=53639&mr=l&w=0&h=0&fn=2011-4413&sn=KSC-2011-4413

[CitabriaFlyer]

I seem to recall once reading that LC39 was designed to accomodate up to four pads.  Pads C and D were never built because there was not the need.  Does anyone know where they would have been located?  Are those areas still free?  Could they be constructed if there ever proved a need?

[JayP]

I seem to recall once reading that LC39 was designed to accomodate up to four pads.  Pads C and D were never built because there was not the need.  Does anyone know where they would have been located?  Are those areas still free?  Could they be constructed if there ever proved a need?

Additional pads would have been located north of the existing pads in a line up the beach. The fourth pad was basically a vague notion, but the third pad was planned. Some of the warning signage around the area reflected that and the crawlerway to pad B has a little stub where it would have continued north. Interestingly, originally the pads would have been lettered north to south making the current pad A, pad C.

Nothing has been built up there so technically they could build the pad, but it is unlikely a vehicle large enough to need Complex 39 will ever have the flight rate to justify it.

[Jorge]

I seem to recall once reading that LC39 was designed to accomodate up to four pads.  Pads C and D were never built because there was not the need.  Does anyone know where they would have been located?  Are those areas still free?  Could they be constructed if there ever proved a need?

Additional pads would have been located north of the existing pads in a line up the beach. The fourth pad was basically a vague notion, but the third pad was planned. Some of the warning signage around the area reflected that

For quite a while, anyway:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lc39_warning_lamps.jpg

That sign must have been replaced at some point; the current sign only has A and B on it.

and the crawlerway to pad B has a little stub where it would have continued north.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=28.608397,-80.604344&ll=28.605486,-80.621114&spn=0.004394,0.003471&t=h&z=18&vpsrc=6

[capcomespace]

Do you have see this at KSC media gallery ?
At LC 39, designers are looking for new, flame and vibration-resistant materials to line the trench. To help in the search, a team of mechanical engineering students at Louisiana State University are to build a scaled-down version of the flame trench that Kennedy's scientists can use to try out sample materials for the trench. If the samples work in the lab, they can be tried out in the real flame trenches at Launch Pad 39A and 39B.

There is pics to students into the flamme deflector.
How do it for enter in the pad structure ?

[nathan.moeller]

There is pics to students into the flamme deflector.
How do it for enter in the pad structure ?

If you're asking how they got access to the pad facilities, the answer is that they got clearance and escorts.  VERY restricted area (though maybe a little less so with no vehicle planned to launch from there for several years).

[capcomespace]

No, I'm wonder where is the door acces to the flamme deflector interior and pad structure

[nathan.moeller]

No, I'm wonder where is the door acces to the flamme deflector interior and pad structure

No door needed to the flame deflector, as it's wide open on the north side of the pad structure - http://sm4.gsfc.nasa.gov/art/news/213835main_trenchrepairs2.jpg

As for the pad structure, it's accessed via elevators at the base of the FSS.

[JayP]

No, I'm wonder where is the door acces to the flamme deflector interior and pad structure

No door needed to the flame deflector, as it's wide open on the north side of the pad structure - http://sm4.gsfc.nasa.gov/art/news/213835main_trenchrepairs2.jpg

As for the pad structure, it's accessed via elevators at the base of the FSS.

The door to get under the flame deflector is thru the wall of the trench from the PTCR  and ECS building that is under the pad hard stand. You can see it in the lower left corner of the photographs of the students under the structure. The PTCR and other rooms under the west side of the pad are accesses from ground level. The elevators in the FSS and in the old ML tower don't go down there.

[nathan.moeller]

The door to get under the flame deflector is thru the wall of the trench from the PTCR  and ECS building that is under the pad hard stand. You can see it in the lower left corner of the photographs of the students under the structure. The PTCR and other rooms under the west side of the pad are accesses from ground level. The elevators in the FSS and in the old ML tower don't go down there.

Thought he was asking about getting down into the actual flame deflector, not underneath it.  My bad

[brettreds2k]

Are there any pictures of pad 39A or B right after a launch? Would love to see how a pad looks right after launch, Thanks