Transportation, Lifting, Stacking and Mating Operations Within the VAB

[rdale]

Who likes awesome CAD images?

This viewgraph presentation describes the modeling and simulation of the Ares Upper Stage Transportation, lifting, stacking, and mating operations within the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). An aerial view of KSC Launch Shuttle Complex, two views of the Delmia process control layout, and an upper stage move subroutine and breakdown are shown. An overhead image of the VAB and the turning basin along with the Pegasus barge at the turning basin are also shown. This viewgraph presentation also shows the actual design and the removal of the mid-section spring tensioners, the removal of the AFT rear and forward tensioners tie downs, and removing the AFT hold down post and mount. US leaving the Pegasus Barge, the upper stage arriving at transfer aisle, upper stage receiving/inspection in transfer aisle, and an overhead view of upper stage receiving/inspection in transfer aisle are depicted. Five views of the actual connection of the cabling to the upper stage aft lifting hardware are shown. The upper stage transporter forward connector, two views of the rotation horizontal to vertical, the disconnection of the rear bolt ring cabling, the lowering of the upper stage to the inspection stand, disconnection of the rear bolt ring from the upper stage, the lifting of the upper stage and inspection of AFT fange, and the transfer of upper stage in an integrated stack are shown. Six views of the mating of the upper stage to the first stage are depicted. The preparation, inspection, and removal of the forward dome are shown. The upper stage mated on the integrated stack and crawler is also shown. This presentation concludes with A Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) utilizing male and female models for assessing risk factors to the upper extremities of human beings in an actual physical environment.

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20100042551_2010043714.pdf

[renclod]

Nice modeling work .
The ring of C-springs (TO isolator) is shown on top of the stage - page 45,46.
And that eye-catching banner on page 22...
 

[rsnellenberger]

Nice modeling work .
The ring of C-springs (TO isolator) is shown on top of the stage - page 45,46.
And that eye-catching banner on page 22...
 

Not to mention the modeling on pg 49... 0.815 feet is 60% longer than the average, according to Wikipedia.   

[robertross]

Yeah...WAY too much time spent on modelling minor details...

[rdale]

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110001378_2010043600.pdf

The presentation examines the use of Delmia (Digital Enterprise Lean Manufacturing Interactive Application) for digital simulation in NASA's Constellation Program. Topics include an overview of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Design Visualization Group tasks, NASA's Constellation Program, Ares 1 ground processing preliminary design review, and challenges and how Delmia is used at KSC, Challenges include dealing with large data sets, creating and maintaining KSC's infrastructure, gathering customer requirements and meeting objectives, creating life-like simulations, and providing quick turn-around on varied products,

[DaveS]

Speaking of Ares 1 ops in the VAB. My Youtube playlist of Ares 1/Orion CGI animations uploaded on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=9B33C24211E260FB

[JosephB]

Cool! Nice find rdale.

[JayP]

Speaking of Ares 1 ops in the VAB. My Youtube playlist of Ares 1/Orion CGI animations uploaded on Youtube:

Nice videos. The recovery operations one was interesting. Were they planning to build a special ship for that or use an ex USN LPD?

[JosephB]

Agreed, a nice collection of videos. I had no idea that recovery ship was planned.