SSU Launch Complex 39 development

[Urwumpe]

Due to a mild cold I have had to put this on a pause while I recover. Hopefully this unplanned interruption won't last too long,

Get well soon :hello:

 

[DaveS]

So, having recovered from the cold, I resumed progress on the FSS. Something small this time, the GOX Vent Arm hurricane lock. Not sure how this works but based on photos it seems to be comprised of the main truss structure and two tiny pins (1 up/1 down) that extend and latch on to the GVA.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/espssjj8nrfsmr0/New_PadA_FSS_WIP67.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p8rijek0aahipgh/New_PadA_FSS_WIP68.jpg?dl=0

 

[DaveS]

Now working on the GOX Vent Arm, adding the various details. Main work so far have been on the truss lights and redoing the heated GN2 purge ducts including the flexible duct that connects the vent hood with the static ducts on the vent arm itself. I also moved the entire arm further down to it's correct location.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zsyd7b2dmmtes9w/New_PadA_FSS_WIP69.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3miuhrjmo4thh62/New_PadA_FSS_WIP70.jpg?dl=0

 

[DaveS]

Nearly done with the GOX vent hood actuation mechanism. The only things missing is the actual jack screw and the sliding mechanism it is attached to.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f8b5aewv8ksiquz/New_PadA_FSS_WIP71.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mwvsvobiap2kq14/New_PadA_FSS_WIP72.jpg?dl=0

 

[asdad]

Guys , any progress for LC39 ?

 

[DaveS]

Guys , any progress for LC39 ?

I have gotten stuck on the GOX Vent Hood mechanism as there are no good photos of it. So things have ground to a halt for now.

 

[DaveS]

With GVA work on hold, I decided to add the required safety features to the Intertank Service Structure 215' level:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1bwacpx9ptton7o/New_PadA_FSS_WIP73.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3gor1qhugifhlr3/New_PadA_FSS_WIP74.jpg?dl=0

So far, only done the north side up to where the Intertank Access Arm pivot point is located. The south side is entirely done.

 

[DaveS]

Finished up the 215 ITSS handrails and added the missing cross-braces on the FSS-half of it:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8zzrf5zy52u4fuq/New_PadA_FSS_WIP75.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lv6ybg352etylkk/New_PadA_FSS_WIP76.jpg?dl=0

 

[DaveS]

Nearly done with the handrails on the Intertank Access Arm. I just need to add the FSS-facing ones and then add the kickplates around the walkway grating and the IAA is mostly done.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/60g4rgh6v0ehwvm/New_PadA_FSS_WIP77.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qywxvynuugp1q7w/New_PadA_FSS_WIP78.jpg?dl=0

---------- Post added at 11:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 PM ----------

Here's one that shows the IAA extended from the 300' level of the FSS:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tsn4z3dx531fqhg/New_PadA_FSS_WIP79.jpg?dl=0

---------- Post added 04-27-17 at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was 04-26-17 at 11:58 PM ----------

Nearly done with the IAA. I just need to add the handrails around the section that faces the access door on the ET.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xkjiaccriippgit/New_PadA_FSS_WIP80.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4smu8a0l0xe6mdu/New_PadA_FSS_WIP81.jpg?dl=0

---------- Post added 04-28-17 at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was 04-27-17 at 11:20 PM ----------

And here's the mostly complete IAA. I just need to add the equipment that's missing and it will finally be done.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ztl5qeqvugfq20n/New_PadA_FSS_WIP82.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rpipplf35qah1nl/New_PadA_FSS_WIP83.jpg?dl=0

 

[DaveS]

And here's the completed IAA:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4a417r8vr9ae9zu/New_PadA_FSS_WIP84.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q0g58ur918lm3fa/New_PadA_FSS_WIP85.jpg?dl=0

 

[DaveS]

I decided to take a break from the FSS and complete something that has languished in my dormant category for quite a while now. It is the Orbiter Transporter System (OTS) which was used to move the orbiters from the OPFs to the VAB for stacking.

Originally it was commissioned by the Air Force (hence the USAF decals) for use at Vandenberg AFB as its OPF (called the Orbiter Maintenance and Checkout Facility, OMCF) was located some 26 km away from the actual launch pad, SLC-6. Cometto Industries of Turin, Italy was selected to design and manufacture the OTS. The OTS has 76 wheels on 19 axles and is 32.4612 m long and 6.096 m wide. It has a turning radius of 20.1168 m and is powered by a single air cooled V12 engine ouputing 335 HP. It can lower it's height using hydraulics to just 1.6002 m and raise itself to max height of 2.2098 m. Empty weight is 75,818 kg. Maximum speed is 21 km/h.

When the Air Force ended their participation in the shuttle program after the Challenger disaster, all the shuttle equipment (mainly the workstands in the OMCF and the OTS) was given to NASA to be used at KSC. The OMCF workstands were used to outfit what was then called the Orbiter Maintenance and Refurbishment Facility (OMRF) to make it into fully operational third OPF. The OMRF was essentially just an OPF High Bay devoid of any of the elaborate equipment used to actually process an orbiter.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lhe2qgz9cya90xy/OriginalOTS_4.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w4z92a4xrwh72uk/OriginalOTS_5.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/p3i5q287ecko6jo/OriginalOTS_6.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l04spjoqb1odtb0/Orbiter_transfer_route_VAFB.jpg?dl=0

---------- Post added at 08:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 AM ----------

With the addition of the engine and EPS, the OTS is ready to move. What's left is the actual bipod yoke plate and the motors for the aft ball interface fittings (this is where the OTS mates with the orbiter in the ET umbilical well).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0i0pveud7bvhvby/OriginalOTS_7.jpg?dl=0

 

[DaveS]

Now the rear ball interface mounts between the orbiter and the OTS can be raised as required with the addition of the motors and their respective control boxes:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q30wq4fhq4wl0r2/OriginalOTS_8.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8wc56w8y1vi0sf7/OriginalOTS_9.jpg?dl=0

---------- Post added 05-08-17 at 05:05 PM ---------- Previous post was 05-07-17 at 09:57 PM ----------

And here's the completed OTS in its very original appearance: https://www.dropbox.com/s/79mpmtit61d1586/OriginalOTS_10.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2fw011f8d3b2cf/OriginalOTS_11.jpg?dl=0

---------- Post added at 09:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:05 PM ----------

I just wanted to add that the new OTS have been checked in.

---------- Post added at 09:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

An important note re: the new OTS mesh: The mesh is in the fully raised configuration where the wheel axle bogies are in their level configuration. So it doesn't go any higher than what the mesh is currently.
The height I quoted earlier was for the bed height as measured from the ground. This fully raised configuration is the standard travel height for the OTS. The only time it is lowered is when it is going under the orbiter in the OPF/OMCF and in the VAB to allow access to the mounting points (bipod in the front and the ball interface fittings in the rear).

 

[GLS]

Why are the OTS files in the release list, if it doesn't work yet?

 

[Urwumpe]

Why are the OTS files in the release list, if it doesn't work yet?

As alternative to removing it from the release list, is anybody interested in making it work?

 

[GLS]

As alternative to removing it from the release list, is anybody interested in making it work?

I only have 2 hands... I'm currently trying to work the Crawler, waiting for news on the possible surface elevation bug I found that put my work there on hold, I have the vc panel stuff still in "my RAM", and I just had a plate full of RMS. wned:

 

[Urwumpe]

I only have 2 hands... I'm currently trying to work the Crawler, waiting for news on the possible surface elevation bug I found that put my work there on hold, I have the vc panel stuff still in "my RAM", and I just had a plate full of RMS. wned:

That is why I ask. Technically, this vehicle is again very insular and does not have many components that it could share with any other vehicle in SSU.

Somebody new could also do it, I would then just limit the support of the existing developers to code review and assistance.

Should I make any suggestion about the implementation, I would recommend making a base vehicle class for it in libUltra that just implements the drive train and make a special vehicle class for the OTS that implements the space shuttle specific payload on top.

This way the work put into it could also be used for other projects and vehicles outside SSU and we can focus on tasks, where we are better specialized.

I would not recommend letting any existing developer do this right now. In the best case I would even leave this to DaveS to implement himself.

 

[DaveS]

The Crawler is more a "special case" than the OTS. For one thing, it is just as reliant on computers and electronics as the shuttle and requires a team of 30 to operate properly and one of the LCC Firing Rooms. The OTS and the transporters aren't that special, regular diesel engine powered flatbeds with hydraulics.

 

[Urwumpe]

The Crawler is more a "special case" than the OTS. For one thing, it is just as reliant on computers and electronics as the shuttle and requires a team of 30 to operate properly and one of the LCC Firing Rooms. The OTS and the transporters aren't that special, regular diesel engine powered flatbeds with hydraulics.

That is what I mean, it is maybe not special for somebody outside our project. But in the context of our project, it is. :lol: We have nothing regular diesel engine powered with hydraulics. Or having multiple wheel sets.

Also, it isn't that simple - the control system of such a vehicle is pretty complex from what I can read in the brochure of the manufacturer about the current generation.

In theory, we even don't want to drive it, but to see it drive automatically by AI while we do more important stuff....

 

[DaveS]

The new 39A currently in work. There was a sneak preview of it in BrianJ's SpaceX 39A
with the hardstand. https://www.dropbox.com/s/f9hz6dn7t9wq2ao/New_PadA_area_1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pptr76wq2s21836/New_PadA_area_2.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/18r2zgec6ahuxyn/New_PadA_area_3.jpg?dl=0

 

[DaveS]

Anyone want to make this operational?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vnkioq6hyy47h14/KSC_CountdownClock_1.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lricryldf52i629/KSC_CountdownClock_2.jpg?dl=0