 |
|
The Mobile Launcher (ML) for the NASA’s SLS heavy lift
megarocket and Orion deep space crew capsule moves off Launch Complex 39B enroute to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Sept. 7, 2018 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The ML and trio of lightning towers reflect beautifully in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com — 7 September 2018
KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER, FL – The Mobile Launcher (ML) which
will be used to transport NASA’s mammoth Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket out
to the launch pad, has begun its return trip from Launch Complex 39B – departing
today, Sept. 7 for the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space
Center in Florida.
The 380 foot tall
ML rolled off and left pad 39B around noon Friday and reached the outskirts of
the VAB by late afternoon.
NASA’s
crawler-transporter 2 (CT-2) is positioned beneath the ML and used to slowly move
it between the pad and the VAB.
Check
out our exclusive Space UpClose photos from today’s move.
KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER, FL – The Mobile Launcher (ML) which
will be used to transport NASA’s mammoth Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket out
to the launch pad, has begun its return trip from Launch Complex 39B – departing
today, Sept. 7 for the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space
Center in Florida.
The 380 foot tall
ML rolled off and left pad 39B around noon Friday and reached the outskirts of
the VAB by late afternoon.
NASA’s
crawler-transporter 2 (CT-2) is positioned beneath the ML and used to slowly move
it between the pad and the VAB.
Check
out our exclusive Space UpClose photos from today’s move.
 |
|
The Mobile Launcher (ML) for the NASA’s SLS heavy lift
megarocket and Orion deep space crew capsule moves off Launch Complex 39B enroute to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Sept. 7, 2018 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The ML and trio of lightning towers reflect beautifully in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
NASA
plans to move the ML/CT-2 stack inside the VAB Saturday morning, Sept. 8.
plans to move the ML/CT-2 stack inside the VAB Saturday morning, Sept. 8.
Watch
for our detailed story to follow.
for our detailed story to follow.
 |
|
The Mobile Launcher (ML) for the NASA’s SLS heavy lift
megarocket and Orion deep space crew capsule stands at the center of Launch Complex 39B prior to rolling off for move to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Sept. 7, 2018 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
The
ML trekked out to pad 39B on August 31 for the first time in several years.
ML trekked out to pad 39B on August 31 for the first time in several years.
 |
|
The Mobile Launcher (ML) for the NASA’s SLS heavy lift
megarocket and Orion deep space crew capsule moves off Launch Complex 39B enroute to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Sept. 7, 2018 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
It
was a test run by the Ground systems and launch teams to check out and
calibrate systems ahead of its first use with an actual SLS rocket standing
vertical atop.
was a test run by the Ground systems and launch teams to check out and
calibrate systems ahead of its first use with an actual SLS rocket standing
vertical atop.
 |
|
The Mobile Launcher (ML) for
the NASA’s SLS heavy lift megarocket and Orion deep space crew capsule moves off Launch Complex 39B enroute to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Sept. 7, 2018 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
The ML is equipped with the crew access arm and
several umbilicals that will provide power, environmental control, pneumatics,
communication and electrical connections to NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS)
and Orion spacecraft, according to NASA officials.
several umbilicals that will provide power, environmental control, pneumatics,
communication and electrical connections to NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS)
and Orion spacecraft, according to NASA officials.
 |
|
The Mobile Launcher (ML) for
the NASA’s SLS heavy lift megarocket and Orion deep space crew capsule moves off Launch Complex 39B enroute to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Sept. 7, 2018 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Exploration Ground Systems is preparing the
ground systems necessary to launch SLS and the Orion deep space crew capsule on
Exploration
Mission-1 by 2020, and human journeys missions to the Moon and on to
Mars thereafter starting with Exploration Mission-2 about 2 years later.
Pad
39B was previously used to launch NASA’s Apollo/Saturn V Moon rockets and Space
Shuttles since the 1960s.
ground systems necessary to launch SLS and the Orion deep space crew capsule on
Exploration
Mission-1 by 2020, and human journeys missions to the Moon and on to
Mars thereafter starting with Exploration Mission-2 about 2 years later.
Pad
39B was previously used to launch NASA’s Apollo/Saturn V Moon rockets and Space
Shuttles since the 1960s.
 |
|
The Mobile Launcher (ML) for the NASA’s SLS heavy lift
megarocket and Orion deep space crew capsule moves off Launch Complex 39B enroute to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Sept. 7, 2018 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The ML and trio of lightning towers reflect beautifully in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Watch for Ken’s continuing onsite coverage of NASA, SpaceX, ULA,
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK and more space and mission reports direct
from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida and
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing Earth and Planetary science and human
spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com
–www.spaceupclose.com – twitter @ken_kremer – email: ken at kenkremer.com
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK and more space and mission reports direct
from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida and
Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing Earth and Planetary science and human
spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com
–www.spaceupclose.com – twitter @ken_kremer – email: ken at kenkremer.com
………….
Ken’s upcoming outreach events/photos for sale:
Learn
more about the upcoming upcoming/recent NASA/ULA Parker Solar Probe, SpaceX
Merah Putih & Telstar 18 & 19 launches, SpaceX Falcon 9/CRS-15 launch
to ISS, SES-12 comsat launch, Falcon Heavy, TESS, GOES-S, Bangabandhu-1,
NASA missions, ULA Atlas & Delta launches, SpySats and more at Ken’s
upcoming outreach events at Kennedy Space Center Quality Inn, Titusville, FL,
evenings.
Sep 8/9: “NASA/ULA
Parker Solar Probe launch, SpaceX Merah Putih & Telstar 18v & 19v
Launches, SpaceX Dragon CRS-15 resupply launch to ISS, SpaceX Falcon Heavy
& Falcon 9 launches, SpaceX SES-12 comsat. ULA Atlas USAF SBIRS GEO 4
missile warning satellite, SpaceX GovSat-1, CRS-14 resupply launches to the
ISS, NRO & USAF Spysats, SLS, Orion, Boeing and SpaceX Commercial crew
capsules, OSIRIS-Rex, Juno at Jupiter, InSight Mars lander, Curiosity and
Opportunity explore Mars, NH at Pluto and more,” Kennedy Space Center Quality
Inn, Titusville, FL, evenings. Photos for sale
Ken’s upcoming outreach events/photos for sale:
Learn
more about the upcoming upcoming/recent NASA/ULA Parker Solar Probe, SpaceX
Merah Putih & Telstar 18 & 19 launches, SpaceX Falcon 9/CRS-15 launch
to ISS, SES-12 comsat launch, Falcon Heavy, TESS, GOES-S, Bangabandhu-1,
NASA missions, ULA Atlas & Delta launches, SpySats and more at Ken’s
upcoming outreach events at Kennedy Space Center Quality Inn, Titusville, FL,
evenings.
Sep 8/9: “NASA/ULA
Parker Solar Probe launch, SpaceX Merah Putih & Telstar 18v & 19v
Launches, SpaceX Dragon CRS-15 resupply launch to ISS, SpaceX Falcon Heavy
& Falcon 9 launches, SpaceX SES-12 comsat. ULA Atlas USAF SBIRS GEO 4
missile warning satellite, SpaceX GovSat-1, CRS-14 resupply launches to the
ISS, NRO & USAF Spysats, SLS, Orion, Boeing and SpaceX Commercial crew
capsules, OSIRIS-Rex, Juno at Jupiter, InSight Mars lander, Curiosity and
Opportunity explore Mars, NH at Pluto and more,” Kennedy Space Center Quality
Inn, Titusville, FL, evenings. Photos for sale
 |
|
Credit:
Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
