As part of X-33 launch equipment testing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, the KSC-developed X-33 weight simulator (top), known as the "iron bird," is lifted to a vertical position at the X-33 launch site. The simulator matches the 75,000-pound weight and 63-foot height of the X-33 vehicle that will be using the launch equipment. KSC's Vehicle Positioning System (VPS) placed the simulator on the rotating launch platform prior to the rotation. The new VPS will dramatically reduce the amount of manual labor required to position a reusable launch vehicle for liftoff KSC-99pc0143

Similar

Foto från Norrköping. >>, Tekniska museet, Sweden

Foto från Norrköping. >>, Tekniska museet, Sweden

S123E008108 - STS-123 - Survey view of External Stowage Platform 3 (ESP 3) taken by STS-123 crewmember

S123E008108 - STS-123 - Survey view of External Stowage Platform 3 (ESP 3) taken by STS-123 crewmember

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the transfer isle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians finish building the tail cone that will be installed around space shuttle Endeavour’s three replica shuttle main engines for protection. The tail cone protects the main engines during ferry flights on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA. The work is part of the Space Shuttle Program’s transition and retirement processing of shuttle Endeavour. Endeavour is being prepared for public display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Its ferry flight to California is targeted for mid-September. Endeavour was the last space shuttle added to NASA’s orbiter fleet. Over the course of its 19-year career, Endeavour spent 299 days in space during 25 missions. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2955

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the transfer isle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians finish building the tail cone that will be installed around space shuttle Endeavour’s three replica shuttle main engines for protection. The tail cone protects the main engines during ferry flights on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA. The work is part of the Space Shuttle Program’s transition and retirement processing of shuttle Endeavour. Endeavour is being prepared for public display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Its ferry flight to California is targeted for mid-September. Endeavour was the last space shuttle added to NASA’s orbiter fleet. Over the course of its 19-year career, Endeavour spent 299 days in space during 25 missions. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2012-2955

Space Shuttle Projects, Marshall Space Flight Center

Space Shuttle Projects, Marshall Space Flight Center

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As part of NASA's Ground Systems Development and Operations Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a large space shuttle-era work platform is being removed from high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB. The work is part of a center-wide modernization and refurbishment initiative to accommodate NASA’s Space Launch System and a variety of other spacecraft instead of the whole building supporting one design. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is developing the necessary ground systems, infrastructure and operational approaches required to safely process, assemble, transport and launch the next generation of rockets and spacecraft in support of NASA’s exploration objectives. Future work also will replace the antiquated communications, power and vehicle access resources with modern efficient systems. Some of the utilities and systems slated for replacement have been used since the VAB opened in 1965. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/ground/index.html Photo credit: NASA/ Charisse Nahser KSC-2012-5619

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As part of NASA's Ground Systems Development and Operations Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a large space shuttle-era work platform is being removed from high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB. The work is part of a center-wide modernization and refurbishment initiative to accommodate NASA’s Space Launch System and a variety of other spacecraft instead of the whole building supporting one design. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is developing the necessary ground systems, infrastructure and operational approaches required to safely process, assemble, transport and launch the next generation of rockets and spacecraft in support of NASA’s exploration objectives. Future work also will replace the antiquated communications, power and vehicle access resources with modern efficient systems. Some of the utilities and systems slated for replacement have been used since the VAB opened in 1965. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/ground/index.html Photo credit: NASA/ Charisse Nahser KSC-2012-5619

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane maneuvers the seventh tower segment of a new mobile launcher, or ML, being constructed to support the Constellation Program, toward the six segments already in place, in the background at left. When completed, the tower will be approximately 345 feet tall and have multiple platforms for personnel access. The construction is under way at the mobile launcher park site area north of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building. The launcher will provide a base to launch the Ares I rocket, designed to transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle, its crew and cargo to low Earth orbit. Its base is being made lighter than space shuttle mobile launcher platforms so the crawler-transporter can pick up the heavier load of the tower and taller rocket. For information on the Ares I, visit http://www.nasa.gov/ares. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-6897

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane maneuvers the seventh tower segment of a new mobile launcher, or ML, being constructed to support the Constellation Program, toward the six segments already in place, in the background at left. When completed, the tower will be approximately 345 feet tall and have multiple platforms for personnel access. The construction is under way at the mobile launcher park site area north of Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building. The launcher will provide a base to launch the Ares I rocket, designed to transport the Orion crew exploration vehicle, its crew and cargo to low Earth orbit. Its base is being made lighter than space shuttle mobile launcher platforms so the crawler-transporter can pick up the heavier load of the tower and taller rocket. For information on the Ares I, visit http://www.nasa.gov/ares. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-6897

As part of X-33 launch equipment testing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, the KSC-developed X-33 weight simulator (top), known as the "iron bird," is lifted to a vertical position at the X-33 launch site. The simulator matches the 75,000-pound weight and 63-foot height of the X-33 vehicle that will be using the launch equipment. KSC's Vehicle Positioning System (VPS) placed the simulator on the rotating launch platform prior to the rotation. The new VPS will dramatically reduce the amount of manual labor required to position a reusable launch vehicle for liftoff KSC-99pc0143

description

Summary

As part of X-33 launch equipment testing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, the KSC-developed X-33 weight simulator (top), known as the "iron bird," is lifted to a vertical position at the X-33 launch site. The simulator matches the 75,000-pound weight and 63-foot height of the X-33 vehicle that will be using the launch equipment. KSC's Vehicle Positioning System (VPS) placed the simulator on the rotating launch platform prior to the rotation. The new VPS will dramatically reduce the amount of manual labor required to position a reusable launch vehicle for liftoff

label_outline

Tags

kennedy space center
equipment
edwards air force base
weight
simulator
weight simulator
iron
bird
iron bird
height
vehicle
launch
launch equipment
system
vps
platform
rotation
amount
labor
liftoff
liftoff ksc
air force
nasa
date_range

Date

28/01/1999
place

Location

34.92403, -117.89121
Google Map of 34.9240314, -117.8912085
create

Source

NASA
link

Link

https://images.nasa.gov/
copyright

Copyright info

Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

Explore more

kennedy space center
kennedy space center
equipment
equipment
edwards air force base
edwards air force base
weight
weight
simulator
simulator
weight simulator
weight simulator
iron
iron
bird
bird
iron bird
iron bird
height
height
vehicle
vehicle
launch
launch
launch equipment
launch equipment
system
system
vps
vps
platform
platform
rotation
rotation
amount
amount
labor
labor
liftoff
liftoff
liftoff ksc
liftoff ksc
air force
air force
nasa
nasa