SpaceX use of the SPIF (Spacecraft Processing and Integration Facility)

[Jim]

The equipment airlock and the two doors to the south trailer room can be seen on the left side of the photo.

[Jim]

So what are some of the differences between processing a spacecraft and processing a launch vehicle?  This might be a horribly broad or naive question, but I think some of us get hung up because there seems to be big differences between what you need to do to get something to go into space (vehicle) and what you need to do to get something to operate in space (spacecraft).

Launch vehicles are not processed in clean rooms.  Propellants for spacecraft are not loaded at the pad but in a processing facility.   

[Jim]

Typical processing flowing would have the spacecraft transporter coming into the EAL.  The cover of the transporter is either removed in the EAL or in the transfer aisle.  The spacecraft is then placed on an integration stand and moved into one of the integration cells for testing and prop loading.  Air pallets are used to move the articles.  In the mean while, the fairing can be brought in vertically through the canister airlock or horizontally through the EAL.  It is prepped (verticated, cleaned and insulation installed) and readied for encapsulation in the transfer aisle. This can even be done before the spacecraft arrives and the fairing placed in the holding cell.  The launch vehicle adapter is prepped and placed on a stand.  The spacecraft is mated to the adapter either in an integration cell or the transfer aisle.  The spacecraft is then encapsulated in the fairing.  The encapsulated payload is then moved out into the highboy of the SMAB through the canister airlock when it is lifted on to a transporter for delivery to the pad.   There may be a Spacex option of breaking over the fairing and leaving through the EAL.

The SPIF has a 50 ton crane which serves the transfer aisle and integration cells.  The EAL has two smaller cranes for removing transporter covers.  The SMAB high bay has a 350 ton crane that originally was used for lifting complete Titan 34D SRM's.

[Tomness]

Jim, Do you know if the SMAB High Bay and IUS (Inertial Upper Stage) bay is used for anything? If not do you think they could be converted to Spacecraft Processing and Integration Facilities as well or it be better to have clean design?

[baldusi]

How big are those internal doors? I remember ATV videos and there was like 5cm clearance to each side.

[Jim]

Jim, Do you know if the SMAB High Bay and IUS (Inertial Upper Stage) bay is used for anything? If not do you think they could be converted to Spacecraft Processing and Integration Facilities as well or it be better to have clean design?

The IUS bay could be used for processing that doesn't involve prop loading.  I don't know what state it is in.
The high bay would be too difficult and the SPIF still needs access for the canister airlock.

[Jim]

How big are those internal doors? I remember ATV videos and there was like 5cm clearance to each side.

The ones to the cells are much wider than 15 feet.  If you look at post #1, the rails on each side of the spacecraft are at 15 feet.

[mlindner]

Can we please follow proper technical writing etiquette and use ( ) after every acronym with the expanded acronym after it? Reading this thread is a serious headache.

[Jim]

Can add this pic.

The two rails in the cell are where shuttle payloads would have attached for checkout.  So the distance between them is around 16 feet.

[padrat]

I can't really get into the details of its current use but I will say this. It may be old and have a lot of "character", but I love that facility.  Many of my coworkers think I'm nuts, but hey, I'm a huge cold war and space history nut. So yes, I love where I work every day. It's definitely a prime example of what you can get with a blank check...

[edkyle99]

Can add this pic.

The two rails in the cell are where shuttle payloads would have attached for checkout.  So the distance between them is around 16 feet.

That photo showing Asiasat 8 sitting in front of an entire SPIF (Satellite Processing and Integration Facility) cell should be helpful for those seeking a way to scale things.  Each cell was used to mimic an entire Space Shuttle cargo bay.  If more than one payload was flying on a Shuttle all could be inserted simultaneously into the checkout cell, which would then be used for testing designed to make sure that the payloads would mechanically and electrically "plug-in" to the Shuttle when moved out to the pad.  The facility would have had a complete set of any Orbiter avionics that interfaced with the payload bay.  Shuttle astronauts would have been involved in those tests, so there's a lot of history in there - and that doesn't include all of the stuff I don't know about that may have occurred during the Titan IV years when some probably amazing and still secret satellites may have passed through the doors.  I like to imagine a series of almost "Hubble" equivalent spysats passing through, for example.

 - Ed Kyle

[Jim]

I will try to tally the launches that passed through the facility.

[dsobin]

Can I assume the entire SPIF has a clean room environment? What class? Do we know if SpaceX is responsible for all of the operations in the building?

Does the S/C owner typically "move in" during processing of their S/C and do the prep work themselves? Does the launch provider ever do that kind of work? I assume integration is a shared effort.

We spend a lot of forum bandwidth learning about rockets. I think it's time we all learn more about the spacecraft and the processing that goes into making them ready for launch.

[Lobo]

The SPIF exists in the SMAB because it was cheaper to use part of an existing building.  The canister airlock and the PHF exist because of using an existing building, it was not able to accept the NASA canister and so the payload had to be brought out to the canister.  The facility is now entering its 4th decade of service, I would say that the taxpayer's got their money's worth out of it (which was less than $200M (maybe $150M) if I recall)

Personally, I enjoy seeing that legacy US Space Launch infrastructure used when possible.  SpaceX may be getting a bargin in it's use, but the alternative is the SMAB and other hardware and structures would be mothballed, or simply abandon and left to rot.  I enjoy seeing other US space launch providers using it too where applicable.  LC-41, LC-37, LC-40, LC-39A, SLC-6, SMAB/SPIF, etc.  So that they aren't ending up like LC-34 and other facilities.  You can't keep them open just for history's sake and justify the taxpayer expense usually, so I like seeing them repurposed to aid in US space launches of any time when and where they can be. 

If SLS doesn't survive, I would very much hope there's some use for the VAB and other KSC facilities that are currently being used for SLS that can be found. 
I hate to see such assets, especially the particularly historic ones, just left to rot.

Perhaps if OrbATK were to try to get into the USAF/DoD launch business, and need to launch from CCAFS, they would repurpose another old launch facility and bring it back to life.

[Ronsmytheiii]

So probably way off, but any chance SpaceX will use the rest of the SMAB to store stages while waiting for the hangars at LC39/41 to clear?  I know they used the DMCO/Hangar AO for Falcon 1, but 1.1 is too big now.

Edit: Verified some facts http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32609.15

[Jim]

……. it's a building the likes of which you would never see built. It is most definitely awe inspiring....

You need to see the EPF.  Maybe you may eventually support missions from there.

[Jim]

So probably way off, but any chance SpaceX will use the rest of the SMAB to store stages while waiting for the hangars at LC39/41 to clear?  I know they used the DMCO/Hangar AO for Falcon 1, but 1.1 is too big now.

Edit: Verified some facts http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32609.15

I heard Hangar AF was being used.

[Jim]

Can I assume the entire SPIF has a clean room environment? What class? Do we know if SpaceX is responsible for all of the operations in the building?

Does the S/C owner typically "move in" during processing of their S/C and do the prep work themselves? Does the launch provider ever do that kind of work? I assume integration is a shared effort.

We spend a lot of forum bandwidth learning about rockets. I think it's time we all learn more about the spacecraft and the processing that goes into making them ready for launch.

The SPIF is 100K class (ISO Class 8 ), but I have seen it operate at 5k.  The clean areas are everywhere in the layout pic I posted with the exception of the two airlocks which have to operate at ambient and at 100K.

I would assume Spacex is responsible since there are no other users.  The real question is who is operating the SMAB?

The spacecraft contractor does all the hands on work on the satellite.  The facility operator may help with cranes and comm lines.   The launch provider doesn't get involved until adapter mate and encapsulation. Adapter mate has the spacecraft contractor  doing the lift and the launch provider directing.   Encapsulation is all launch provider with the spacecraft as an interested bystander. 

I have done a few threads on spacecraft prep, look under basic  rocket science

[butters]

Seems like this place will really come into its own when the Dragons start returning to launch site. A canister airlock seems like a nice thing to have when you've got hypergolic vertical landers coming in for refueling.

[padrat]

……. it's a building the likes of which you would never see built. It is most definitely awe inspiring....

You need to see the EPF.  Maybe you may eventually support missions from there.

I've heard. Based on the floor plan I've seen I'd say they definitely took lessons learned from the SPIF into consideration when they designed the EPF. It looks pretty sweet.