MechTech - 1/5/2008 4:49 PMQuoteTrekkie07 - 30/4/2008 1:18 PMQuoteLawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:06 PMA picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad. It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover? Some of the paylaod is installed in the OPF (i.e. sidewall payloads). Furthermore, for some past missions, the payload was installed in the OPF. But I believe the main consideration here is weight. Keep in mind that the cranes in the VAB can only do so much. While they're more than capable of lifting an empty orbiter, their capability is still limited. And you can't install a payload in the VAB as there's no white room/environmentally controlled facility for the payload bay of the orbiter in the VAB.Not to mention the crawler would shake the crud out of the payload during rollout.
Trekkie07 - 30/4/2008 1:18 PMQuoteLawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:06 PMA picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad. It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover? Some of the paylaod is installed in the OPF (i.e. sidewall payloads). Furthermore, for some past missions, the payload was installed in the OPF. But I believe the main consideration here is weight. Keep in mind that the cranes in the VAB can only do so much. While they're more than capable of lifting an empty orbiter, their capability is still limited. And you can't install a payload in the VAB as there's no white room/environmentally controlled facility for the payload bay of the orbiter in the VAB.
Lawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:06 PMA picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad. It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover?
Justin Wheat - 2/5/2008 8:49 PMWhat is the airlock on the Kibo module for? Will astronauts be able to exit through that or will they have to use Quest?
Trekkie07 - 1/5/2008 4:41 PMQuoteMechTech - 1/5/2008 4:49 PMQuoteTrekkie07 - 30/4/2008 1:18 PMQuoteLawntonlookirs - 30/4/2008 2:06 PMA picture of the payload canister with KIBO and other cargo on the rotating service arm. I just read an article on the process of moving the payload canister out to the launch pad. It would be interesting to read more on the payload processing. I assume that the cargo is stored in the payload canister and taken to the launch pad and then transferred into the shuttle. Why don’t they load the shuttle in the VAB or SPF prior to rollover? Some of the paylaod is installed in the OPF (i.e. sidewall payloads). Furthermore, for some past missions, the payload was installed in the OPF. But I believe the main consideration here is weight. Keep in mind that the cranes in the VAB can only do so much. While they're more than capable of lifting an empty orbiter, their capability is still limited. And you can't install a payload in the VAB as there's no white room/environmentally controlled facility for the payload bay of the orbiter in the VAB.Not to mention the crawler would shake the crud out of the payload during rollout.Not really. The STS-115/Atlantis rollback/reverse and roll-back-to-pad because of Tropical Storm Ernesto was accomplished with the P3/P4 truss in Atlantis' PLB. I don't think the crawler would induce that much vibration in the PLB. Furthermore, I believe launch vibrations during first stage flight are much more significant than vibrations during rollout.NOTE: As I've said before... we're drifting here in this thread. This thread is for rollover and VAB processing.
MechTech - 2/5/2008 4:27 PMI thought they removed the truss for transport....We only made it to 569 before they spun us around and headed back to the pad. There was a vibration test run back in 2003 where they found if we ran faster than .8MPH the stack receives damaging vibration.
gordo - 2/5/2008 6:35 PMIs rollout still on schedule?
Renee - 2/5/2008 7:50 PMi'm so excited for the rollout!! I <3 the space shuttle : D
