A First-Time Launch: A Pre-Liftoff Tour

Day 3: May 10, 2009

It is early Sunday morning and we are off on a bus tour of Kennedy Space Center. Our first stop is the shuttle launch pad 39A where final preparations are being made for the liftoff of Atlantis tomorrow afternoon.

It is almost surreal as the bus approaches the pad. I can’t seem to take it all in — there are so many things to think about and see.  I would like to ask the driver to make the loop around the pad again! 

Reed is totally taken by the launch escape system for the astronauts! These are lines (they look like zip lines — sure they are much more complicated) leading the crew away from the pad should they need to make an emergency escape from the pad. Reed wonders how many times the crew practices the escape. He would like to have a chance to practice the escape!

Our tour around the launch pad ends too quickly and we drive on to the next stop.

As the bus exits the launch pad area the guide points to the right at the launch crawler. The crawler moves the shuttle from the vehicle assembly building to the launch pad. The crawler is a unique piece of equipment and has been in use for more than 40 years.

Launch Crawler
The bus tour took us to the Space Station Processing Facility where equipment is prepared for launch to space station. There is a lot of ongoing work in this building. The equipment rack that will hold Node 3 is being prepared for its arrival in a few weeks. A logistics module is being loaded with supplies to be transported to station. No photos are allowed in this facility, so unfortunately we do not have any photos to share!

A First-Time Launch: Meet the Press AND Ares I-X

Day 2: May 9, 2009, Part 2

Press Site
As I am walking to the press building I notice several of the major networks and news agencies have their own buildings on site. 

The NASA press building is located beside the news agency buildings.  As I enter the building, I notice a counter to the right where NASA Public Affairs officers are seated, as well as various technical experts on the shuttle or hardware that is flying on mission that is about to launch.

To the left are several rows of desks where media are seated. 

Several times during the day briefings are given on upcoming missions and the Hubble repair focus of STS125.

In addition to the briefings the Public Affairs Office offers media tours. The tour offered in the afternoon featured the Ares I-X work.  I learned from one of the Kennedy Public Affairs officers that a part of the tour offered today would be in the Vehicle Assembly Building.  I quickly signed up for the tour!  Here is my chance to go inside this enormous facility!  On the way out of the press site for the tour I noticed the giant countdown clock and the location where I will view the launch on Monday. 

We board a bus to begin the Ares I-X tour and in the VAB.

Inside we learn stacking for Ares I-X is underway for preparation of the test flight to take place later in 2009. Portions of Ares I-X are being prepared for the test flight.

This section will be added to the stack next week:

This poster was on the wall in one of the elevators in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). It illustrates the size of this incredible building as well as the magnatude of the external tank. The VAB is 525 feet tall and covers 8 acres. Quite an impressive sight!

Construction is underway on a mobile launch platform to be used with the Ares-I vehicle. Really brings home that the shuttle era is coming to an end. 

Today was a whirlwind of experiences and I continue to be impressed! There is nothing to compare with being here and seeing firsthand the processes behind launching a shuttle. My mind is about to explode with all I have seen and learned today. 

Tomorrow promises to be equally rewarding. Reed and I are scheduled for a bus tour of Kennedy Space Center — we will see the launch pads, space station processing facility and have a general orientation to key facilities. Can’t wait!