Author Topic: MLP's being scrapped (Read 21351 times)

quagmire · « **on:** 01/06/2021 02:53 pm »

Not sure if this has been posted before or right section, but NASA Kennedy's instagram just posted a picture of two MLP's. One on the crawler and another in a parking site. The comment stated the one at the parking site is being demolished. So looks like the fate of the old Apollo ML's/Shuttle MLP's will be the scrapyard. Looks like MLP-2 is the first one up.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJtWmJiJQk0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

edkyle99 · « **Reply #1 on:** 01/06/2021 04:10 pm »

Here's the Flickr image.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/50804011473/

MLP-2 (former ML-2), the first one being scrapped at the old MSS park site, handled Apollos 6, 9, 12, 14, Skylab 1 (the last Saturn V), and 44 STS launches, including, sadly, STS-51L. It last hosted Endeavour's final mission, STS-134, on May 16, 2011. Now-Senator Mark Kelly flew that mission.

Maybe this should be in the "Space History" thread?

- Ed Kyle

Hog · « **Reply #2 on:** 01/15/2021 01:21 pm »

Is this a correct statement?

"Currently in existence there are: MLP-1, MLP-2 and MLP-3 all of Apollo/STS/Constellation heritage. There is also 2 ML(Mobile Launchers), one built for Constellation/SLS and the new build ML-2 for SLS. So at this moment there are 5 "launchers" that were designed to ride atop the Crawler Transporters(CT's)."

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #3 on:** 01/15/2021 01:53 pm »

Quote from: Hog on 01/15/2021 01:21 pm

Is this a correct statement?

"Currently in existence there are: MLP-1, MLP-2 and MLP-3 all of Apollo/STS/Constellation heritage. There is also 2 ML(Mobile Launchers), one built for Constellation/SLS and the new build ML-2 for SLS. So at this moment there are 5 "launchers" that were designed to ride atop the Crawler Transporters(CT's)."

The fifth is not built yet. Only procurement and hardware delivery to LETF.

whitelancer64 · « **Reply #4 on:** 01/15/2021 02:14 pm »

Additionally, MLP-3 was leased to Northrop Grumman for the OmegA rocket. As far as I know the work done by NG on that MLP will be scrapped, too.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #5 on:** 01/15/2021 03:22 pm »

Quote from: whitelancer64 on 01/15/2021 02:14 pm

Additionally, MLP-3 was leased to Northrop Grumman for the OmegA rocket. As far as I know the work done by NG on that MLP will be scrapped, too.

I can't comment as info regarding MLP-1 and 3 is not public yet.

kcrick · « **Reply #6 on:** 02/23/2021 04:17 pm »

Any updates on how the scrapping of MLP-2 is coming along? Just curious...

woods170 · « **Reply #7 on:** 02/24/2021 08:57 am »

Quote from: kcrick on 02/23/2021 04:17 pm

Any updates on how the scrapping of MLP-2 is coming along? Just curious...

Most recent public snippet I've seen is this: http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-011921a-mobile-launch-platform-2-demolition.html
CollectSPACE had an interview with Scott Tenhoff, project manager for MLP-2's demolition at Kennedy Space Center.

This article also mentions that NASA intends to scrap MLP-2 ONLY.

MLP-1 and MLP-3 will eventually go into long-term storage in the VAB; MLP-1 in High Bay 1, MLP-3 in High Bay 2.
MLP-1 is kept 'active' as a crawler-way conditioning asset (basically a mass simulator), on behalf of the SLS project.

MLP-3 was the vehicle leased to Northrop Grumman for the OmegA launcher. The CollectSpace article states that MLP-3 "is currently being reverted to its shuttle-era configuration".
In other words: the partially-built tower for OmegA is being removed from the MLP.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #8 on:** 02/25/2021 05:46 am »

Quote from: woods170 on 02/24/2021 08:57 am

Quote from: kcrick on 02/23/2021 04:17 pm

Any updates on how the scrapping of MLP-2 is coming along? Just curious...

Most recent public snippet I've seen is this: http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-011921a-mobile-launch-platform-2-demolition.html
CollectSPACE had an interview with Scott Tenhoff, project manager for MLP-2's demolition at Kennedy Space Center.

This article also mentions that NASA intends to scrap MLP-2 ONLY.

MLP-1 and MLP-3 will eventually go into long-term storage in the VAB; MLP-1 in High Bay 1, MLP-3 in High Bay 2.
MLP-1 is kept 'active' as a crawler-way conditioning asset (basically a mass simulator), on behalf of the SLS project.

MLP-3 was the vehicle leased to Northrop Grumman for the OmegA launcher. The CollectSpace article states that MLP-3 "is currently being reverted to its shuttle-era configuration".
In other words: the partially-built tower for OmegA is being removed from the MLP.

I personally would have preferred stripping of MLP-2 and conversion of High Bay 4 to permanently store it there and rebuild its deck to add check out and processing space. And would aid SLS in High Bay 3. When SLS ML-2 is built this storage from the elements issue will arise again. I also wish they would build a covered maintenance and storage facility for the Crawlers in place of the current Crawler Yard.

jimcowan · « **Reply #9 on:** 03/18/2021 07:04 am »

MLP-1 and MLP-3 will eventually go into long-term storage in the VAB.

woods170 · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/18/2021 08:21 am »

Quote from: jimcowan on 03/18/2021 07:04 am

MLP-1 and MLP-3 will eventually go into long-term storage in the VAB.

Welcome to the forum.

You literally said the same thing I quoted from a public source just two posts above yours.

jbenton · « **Reply #11 on:** 03/19/2021 06:27 am »

ZachF · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/20/2021 03:41 pm »

Better yet, turn it into a moving museum!

woods170 · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/21/2021 04:31 pm »

Quote from: ZachF on 03/20/2021 03:41 pm

Better yet, turn it into a moving museum!

And who's gonna pay for that?

deadman1204 · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/21/2021 04:48 pm »

Its a pretty bad museum idea. A giant block of rusty metal with tracks on it. HUGE cost to move somewhere and almost no one will even care. Look up images of them, they aren't exactly flashy.

quagmire · « **Reply #15 on:** 05/30/2021 02:30 pm »

Has there been any photo's or updates in regarding the current state of MLP-2 in the scrapping process?

DistantTemple · « **Reply #16 on:** 05/30/2021 11:20 pm »

Quote from: deadman1204 on 03/21/2021 04:48 pm

Its a pretty bad museum idea. A giant block of rusty metal with tracks on it. HUGE cost to move somewhere and almost no one will even care. Look up images of them, they aren't exactly flashy.

The tracks are on the crawler transporters, (not the platforms) which ARE amazing. If they are retired at some point, a rocket garden would be a good home, preferably with a roof over the transporter. !

Redclaws · « **Reply #17 on:** 05/30/2021 11:30 pm »

Quote from: DistantTemple on 05/30/2021 11:20 pm

Quote from: deadman1204 on 03/21/2021 04:48 pm
Its a pretty bad museum idea. A giant block of rusty metal with tracks on it. HUGE cost to move somewhere and almost no one will even care. Look up images of them, they aren't exactly flashy.
The tracks are on the crawler transporters, (not the platforms) which ARE amazing. If they are retired at some point, a rocket garden would be a good home, preferably with a roof over the transporter. !

They are never moving those monstrosities anywhere outside of the immediate KSC area. No way.

Reynold · « **Reply #18 on:** 06/02/2021 08:47 pm »

Yeah, it required special imported river rocks in the crawler-ways to even support them. These are not going to be moved far, and they would destroy any normal roads they were moved on. It would be a pity to see them completely scrapped, though.

DistantTemple · « **Reply #19 on:** 06/02/2021 11:40 pm »

Quote from: Reynold on 06/02/2021 08:47 pm

Yeah, it required special imported river rocks in the crawler-ways to even support them. These are not going to be moved far, and they would destroy any normal roads they were moved on. It would be a pity to see them completely scrapped, though.

Like the rest recently in this thread, I've not looked up any figures... However if it was a crawler-transporter that was to be moved, that is only part of the mass that necessitated the crawlerway. The rest was the platform, its tower etc, and the rocket, including solids!

Ah figures just from Wikipedia. MLP 1 with shuttle aboard 5,000tonnes. Crawler transporter 2,700tonnes.
Still the width of the tracks is also a problem. If space allowed a temporary road of wood etc might be laid.