Sunday, September 2, 2018

Photos of the Day: The SLS Mobile Launcher Ventures Out to Pad 39B...

The Mobile Launcher for NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket sits atop the platform at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex (LC)-39B...on August 31, 2018.
NASA / Jamie Peer

A few days ago, the 380-foot-tall Mobile Launcher for NASA's Space Launch System rocket made its way to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. On Thursday, August 30, the Mobile Launcher began its trek from a park site near KSC's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)...traveling at a leisurely speed of 1 MPH on the Crawlerway before it completed its 4.4-mile journey the following day (August 31). The Mobile Launcher is scheduled to stay at Pad 39B till September 7. It will then be rolled into the VAB for the first time to complete final tests and assembly for the remainder of 2018. And sometime next year, the launcher will be prepped as KSC engineers begin stacking the twin solid rocket boosters and core stage for the first SLS rocket onto the 11 million-pound platform. Late 2019 will be an exciting time for space enthusiasts as Exploration Mission-1, the first flight of SLS, starts taking shape prior to its inaugural launch in mid-2020! Stay tuned.

The SLS Mobile Launcher rolls past the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) as it makes its way to LC-39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 30, 2018.
NASA / Jamie Peer

SpaceX's facilities at LC-39A are visible in the distance as the SLS Mobile Launcher makes its way to LC-39B (near the left side of this photo) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 30, 2018.
NASA / Jamie Peer

The SLS Mobile Launcher makes its way toward LC-39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 31, 2018.
NASA / Jamie Peer

The SLS Mobile Launcher makes its way toward LC-39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 31, 2018.
NASA / Jamie Peer

The SLS Mobile Launcher approaches the LC-39B platform at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 31, 2018.
NASA / Jamie Peer

With the VAB visible in the background, the SLS Mobile Launcher makes its way up the LC-39B platform at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 31, 2018.
NASA / Cory Huston

The SLS Mobile Launcher sits atop the LC-39B platform at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 31, 2018.
NASA / Jamie Peer
Posted by Richard Par at 5:11 PM
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