NASA posted a video that suggests SpaceX has a crew access arm at 1:06 in the video I'm linking. Any other info out there on this arm? Is there a white room to go along with it? How does it extend and where is it attaching to the tower? Thanks.
Quote from: BadgerLegs on 12/21/2017 12:01 amNASA posted a video that suggests SpaceX has a crew access arm at 1:06 in the video I'm linking. Any other info out there on this arm? Is there a white room to go along with it? How does it extend and where is it attaching to the tower? Thanks.The 39A CAA is 100 percent built and tested. CAA installation on FSS was bumped to 2018 to allow FH and RSS work to proceed first due to changed priorities and CCP first launch being moved to the right.
The RSS is almost entirely gone now. The "legs" are removed. Additionally the TEL is still at the pad.https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc8CZiRjFQO
I thought some sections had to be added to the top, that is, that the CAA can't just go in...
Quote from: Lar on 12/21/2017 01:30 amI thought some sections had to be added to the top, that is, that the CAA can't just go in...I was under the impression the increase in FSS height was for vertical integration for NSS payloads rather than CAA.
Great. Will it be easier to make the FSS taller before, or after, the CAA is added, thought?
Quote from: Lar on 12/21/2017 11:18 amGreat. Will it be easier to make the FSS taller before, or after, the CAA is added, thought?Easier before, but not by much IMO. The CAA is hung off the side of the FSS without interfering with the very top of the FSS. But mostly it depends very much on HOW sections would be added. Stacking them on top of the existing FSS versus cutting the current FSS in half and adding new sections in between. The latter would require removal (and later relocation) of the CAA.
Quote from: woods170 on 12/21/2017 11:29 amQuote from: Lar on 12/21/2017 11:18 amGreat. Will it be easier to make the FSS taller before, or after, the CAA is added, thought?Easier before, but not by much IMO. The CAA is hung off the side of the FSS without interfering with the very top of the FSS. But mostly it depends very much on HOW sections would be added. Stacking them on top of the existing FSS versus cutting the current FSS in half and adding new sections in between. The latter would require removal (and later relocation) of the CAA.That would be an astoundingly inefficient approach, requiring the heavy structure above the center to be dismantled and then reassembled. All wiring runs above the cut would be sheared and have to be re-pulled in their entirety. Expect them to build a modular upper section, build attaching interfaces on the existing structure top, and then install the new levels quickly in a in a small number of lifts.
Quote from: AncientU on 12/21/2017 01:17 pmQuote from: woods170 on 12/21/2017 11:29 amQuote from: Lar on 12/21/2017 11:18 amGreat. Will it be easier to make the FSS taller before, or after, the CAA is added, thought?Easier before, but not by much IMO. The CAA is hung off the side of the FSS without interfering with the very top of the FSS. But mostly it depends very much on HOW sections would be added. Stacking them on top of the existing FSS versus cutting the current FSS in half and adding new sections in between. The latter would require removal (and later relocation) of the CAA.That would be an astoundingly inefficient approach, requiring the heavy structure above the center to be dismantled and then reassembled. All wiring runs above the cut would be sheared and have to be re-pulled in their entirety. Expect them to build a modular upper section, build attaching interfaces on the existing structure top, and then install the new levels quickly in a in a small number of lifts.Pardon the dumb question, but what is the point of extending the FSS?
That would be an astoundingly inefficient approach, requiring the heavy structure above the center to be dismantled and then reassembled. All wiring runs above the cut would be sheared and have to be re-pulled in their entirety.
Quote from: AncientU on 12/21/2017 01:17 pmThat would be an astoundingly inefficient approach, requiring the heavy structure above the center to be dismantled and then reassembled. All wiring runs above the cut would be sheared and have to be re-pulled in their entirety. But it may be necessary, depending on the design strength of the lower parts of the tower, and on the ease of simply strengthening those levels.
My understanding is that the FSS was constructed from the Saturn 5 LUTs. They rolled the MLPs to the pads, cut chunks off the LUT and hoisted them over to become the FSS. I would not be surprised if the FSS was therefore quite overbuilt for its purpose, even with the extra Shuttle-era weight of the RSS and orbiter weather protection, etc.Edit: Link and attached photo. The photo shows a very naked-looking nascent RSS also!https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/pad_39a.html