Why does this part of the Space Shuttle launch pad seem to be floating in air?












20












$begingroup$


s



http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-107/images/high/KSC-02PD-1894.jpg
shows a large part of the launch pad suspended off the ground.



What is it for and why is there all that empty space underneath it?






space-shuttle launch-site identify-this-object







share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 14




    $begingroup$
    I'm not sure "floating in air" is quite right for something with enormous towers at each end holding it up. ;)
    $endgroup$
    – Graham
    17 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @Graham - Yeah I was thinking "Which part are you referring to?"
    $endgroup$
    – Kyle Delaney
    16 hours ago
















20












$begingroup$


s



http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-107/images/high/KSC-02PD-1894.jpg
shows a large part of the launch pad suspended off the ground.



What is it for and why is there all that empty space underneath it?






space-shuttle launch-site identify-this-object







share|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 14




    $begingroup$
    I'm not sure "floating in air" is quite right for something with enormous towers at each end holding it up. ;)
    $endgroup$
    – Graham
    17 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @Graham - Yeah I was thinking "Which part are you referring to?"
    $endgroup$
    – Kyle Delaney
    16 hours ago














20












20








20


1



$begingroup$


s



http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-107/images/high/KSC-02PD-1894.jpg
shows a large part of the launch pad suspended off the ground.



What is it for and why is there all that empty space underneath it?






space-shuttle launch-site identify-this-object







share|improve this question









$endgroup$




s



http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-107/images/high/KSC-02PD-1894.jpg
shows a large part of the launch pad suspended off the ground.



What is it for and why is there all that empty space underneath it?






space-shuttle launch-site identify-this-object




space-shuttle launch-site identify-this-object






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked yesterday









GnubieGnubie

430159




430159








  • 14




    $begingroup$
    I'm not sure "floating in air" is quite right for something with enormous towers at each end holding it up. ;)
    $endgroup$
    – Graham
    17 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @Graham - Yeah I was thinking "Which part are you referring to?"
    $endgroup$
    – Kyle Delaney
    16 hours ago














  • 14




    $begingroup$
    I'm not sure "floating in air" is quite right for something with enormous towers at each end holding it up. ;)
    $endgroup$
    – Graham
    17 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @Graham - Yeah I was thinking "Which part are you referring to?"
    $endgroup$
    – Kyle Delaney
    16 hours ago








14




14




$begingroup$
I'm not sure "floating in air" is quite right for something with enormous towers at each end holding it up. ;)
$endgroup$
– Graham
17 hours ago




$begingroup$
I'm not sure "floating in air" is quite right for something with enormous towers at each end holding it up. ;)
$endgroup$
– Graham
17 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
@Graham - Yeah I was thinking "Which part are you referring to?"
$endgroup$
– Kyle Delaney
16 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Graham - Yeah I was thinking "Which part are you referring to?"
$endgroup$
– Kyle Delaney
16 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















44












$begingroup$

That is the Rotating Service Structure.



It can be rotated to fit over the Shuttle while it is on the pad, giving access to the Shuttle cargo bay. The empty space allows the RSS to fit over the launch platform.



It's not floating, the leg on the left side of the photo is part of the RSS.
This is a detail of the leg:



enter image description here



You can see the cab and wheels used to move the RSS between its positions.




The rotating service structure provides protected access to the orbiter for installation and servicing of payloads at the pad, as well as servicing access to certain systems on the orbiter. The majority of payloads are installed in the vertical position at the pad, partly because of their design and partly because payload processing can thus take place further along in the launch processing schedule.




This photo shows the RSS in its rotated position:



enter image description here






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    The last photograph still leaves me with the question of why the launch pad itself is off the ground. I would have expected a tremendous amount of downward force against it.
    $endgroup$
    – sondra.kinsey
    20 hours ago






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    It had to be off the ground because it was carried by the crawler. The crawler set it down on a bunch of very sturdy pylons. The downward force went through holes in the launch pad.
    $endgroup$
    – Hobbes
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I always wondered why they needed a raised platform (the "mound") in the first place? A flame trench could have been dug into the ground. Then I remembered the water - millions of gallons that would have to be pumped out of the trench...
    $endgroup$
    – Mitch99
    18 hours ago






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    @Mitch99, it's not just the water from the sound-suppression system. The entire state of Florida is basically a swamp, so any time you dig into the ground, you'll have to continuously pump water out.
    $endgroup$
    – Mark
    17 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
    $endgroup$
    – TomTom
    2 hours ago











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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









44












$begingroup$

That is the Rotating Service Structure.



It can be rotated to fit over the Shuttle while it is on the pad, giving access to the Shuttle cargo bay. The empty space allows the RSS to fit over the launch platform.



It's not floating, the leg on the left side of the photo is part of the RSS.
This is a detail of the leg:



enter image description here



You can see the cab and wheels used to move the RSS between its positions.




The rotating service structure provides protected access to the orbiter for installation and servicing of payloads at the pad, as well as servicing access to certain systems on the orbiter. The majority of payloads are installed in the vertical position at the pad, partly because of their design and partly because payload processing can thus take place further along in the launch processing schedule.




This photo shows the RSS in its rotated position:



enter image description here






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    The last photograph still leaves me with the question of why the launch pad itself is off the ground. I would have expected a tremendous amount of downward force against it.
    $endgroup$
    – sondra.kinsey
    20 hours ago






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    It had to be off the ground because it was carried by the crawler. The crawler set it down on a bunch of very sturdy pylons. The downward force went through holes in the launch pad.
    $endgroup$
    – Hobbes
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I always wondered why they needed a raised platform (the "mound") in the first place? A flame trench could have been dug into the ground. Then I remembered the water - millions of gallons that would have to be pumped out of the trench...
    $endgroup$
    – Mitch99
    18 hours ago






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    @Mitch99, it's not just the water from the sound-suppression system. The entire state of Florida is basically a swamp, so any time you dig into the ground, you'll have to continuously pump water out.
    $endgroup$
    – Mark
    17 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
    $endgroup$
    – TomTom
    2 hours ago
















44












$begingroup$

That is the Rotating Service Structure.



It can be rotated to fit over the Shuttle while it is on the pad, giving access to the Shuttle cargo bay. The empty space allows the RSS to fit over the launch platform.



It's not floating, the leg on the left side of the photo is part of the RSS.
This is a detail of the leg:



enter image description here



You can see the cab and wheels used to move the RSS between its positions.




The rotating service structure provides protected access to the orbiter for installation and servicing of payloads at the pad, as well as servicing access to certain systems on the orbiter. The majority of payloads are installed in the vertical position at the pad, partly because of their design and partly because payload processing can thus take place further along in the launch processing schedule.




This photo shows the RSS in its rotated position:



enter image description here






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    The last photograph still leaves me with the question of why the launch pad itself is off the ground. I would have expected a tremendous amount of downward force against it.
    $endgroup$
    – sondra.kinsey
    20 hours ago






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    It had to be off the ground because it was carried by the crawler. The crawler set it down on a bunch of very sturdy pylons. The downward force went through holes in the launch pad.
    $endgroup$
    – Hobbes
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I always wondered why they needed a raised platform (the "mound") in the first place? A flame trench could have been dug into the ground. Then I remembered the water - millions of gallons that would have to be pumped out of the trench...
    $endgroup$
    – Mitch99
    18 hours ago






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    @Mitch99, it's not just the water from the sound-suppression system. The entire state of Florida is basically a swamp, so any time you dig into the ground, you'll have to continuously pump water out.
    $endgroup$
    – Mark
    17 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
    $endgroup$
    – TomTom
    2 hours ago














44












44








44





$begingroup$

That is the Rotating Service Structure.



It can be rotated to fit over the Shuttle while it is on the pad, giving access to the Shuttle cargo bay. The empty space allows the RSS to fit over the launch platform.



It's not floating, the leg on the left side of the photo is part of the RSS.
This is a detail of the leg:



enter image description here



You can see the cab and wheels used to move the RSS between its positions.




The rotating service structure provides protected access to the orbiter for installation and servicing of payloads at the pad, as well as servicing access to certain systems on the orbiter. The majority of payloads are installed in the vertical position at the pad, partly because of their design and partly because payload processing can thus take place further along in the launch processing schedule.




This photo shows the RSS in its rotated position:



enter image description here






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$



That is the Rotating Service Structure.



It can be rotated to fit over the Shuttle while it is on the pad, giving access to the Shuttle cargo bay. The empty space allows the RSS to fit over the launch platform.



It's not floating, the leg on the left side of the photo is part of the RSS.
This is a detail of the leg:



enter image description here



You can see the cab and wheels used to move the RSS between its positions.




The rotating service structure provides protected access to the orbiter for installation and servicing of payloads at the pad, as well as servicing access to certain systems on the orbiter. The majority of payloads are installed in the vertical position at the pad, partly because of their design and partly because payload processing can thus take place further along in the launch processing schedule.




This photo shows the RSS in its rotated position:



enter image description here







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered yesterday









HobbesHobbes

94.5k2266420




94.5k2266420








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    The last photograph still leaves me with the question of why the launch pad itself is off the ground. I would have expected a tremendous amount of downward force against it.
    $endgroup$
    – sondra.kinsey
    20 hours ago






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    It had to be off the ground because it was carried by the crawler. The crawler set it down on a bunch of very sturdy pylons. The downward force went through holes in the launch pad.
    $endgroup$
    – Hobbes
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I always wondered why they needed a raised platform (the "mound") in the first place? A flame trench could have been dug into the ground. Then I remembered the water - millions of gallons that would have to be pumped out of the trench...
    $endgroup$
    – Mitch99
    18 hours ago






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    @Mitch99, it's not just the water from the sound-suppression system. The entire state of Florida is basically a swamp, so any time you dig into the ground, you'll have to continuously pump water out.
    $endgroup$
    – Mark
    17 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
    $endgroup$
    – TomTom
    2 hours ago














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    The last photograph still leaves me with the question of why the launch pad itself is off the ground. I would have expected a tremendous amount of downward force against it.
    $endgroup$
    – sondra.kinsey
    20 hours ago






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    It had to be off the ground because it was carried by the crawler. The crawler set it down on a bunch of very sturdy pylons. The downward force went through holes in the launch pad.
    $endgroup$
    – Hobbes
    20 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I always wondered why they needed a raised platform (the "mound") in the first place? A flame trench could have been dug into the ground. Then I remembered the water - millions of gallons that would have to be pumped out of the trench...
    $endgroup$
    – Mitch99
    18 hours ago






  • 9




    $begingroup$
    @Mitch99, it's not just the water from the sound-suppression system. The entire state of Florida is basically a swamp, so any time you dig into the ground, you'll have to continuously pump water out.
    $endgroup$
    – Mark
    17 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
    $endgroup$
    – TomTom
    2 hours ago








1




1




$begingroup$
The last photograph still leaves me with the question of why the launch pad itself is off the ground. I would have expected a tremendous amount of downward force against it.
$endgroup$
– sondra.kinsey
20 hours ago




$begingroup$
The last photograph still leaves me with the question of why the launch pad itself is off the ground. I would have expected a tremendous amount of downward force against it.
$endgroup$
– sondra.kinsey
20 hours ago




6




6




$begingroup$
It had to be off the ground because it was carried by the crawler. The crawler set it down on a bunch of very sturdy pylons. The downward force went through holes in the launch pad.
$endgroup$
– Hobbes
20 hours ago




$begingroup$
It had to be off the ground because it was carried by the crawler. The crawler set it down on a bunch of very sturdy pylons. The downward force went through holes in the launch pad.
$endgroup$
– Hobbes
20 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
I always wondered why they needed a raised platform (the "mound") in the first place? A flame trench could have been dug into the ground. Then I remembered the water - millions of gallons that would have to be pumped out of the trench...
$endgroup$
– Mitch99
18 hours ago




$begingroup$
I always wondered why they needed a raised platform (the "mound") in the first place? A flame trench could have been dug into the ground. Then I remembered the water - millions of gallons that would have to be pumped out of the trench...
$endgroup$
– Mitch99
18 hours ago




9




9




$begingroup$
@Mitch99, it's not just the water from the sound-suppression system. The entire state of Florida is basically a swamp, so any time you dig into the ground, you'll have to continuously pump water out.
$endgroup$
– Mark
17 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Mitch99, it's not just the water from the sound-suppression system. The entire state of Florida is basically a swamp, so any time you dig into the ground, you'll have to continuously pump water out.
$endgroup$
– Mark
17 hours ago












$begingroup$
On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
$endgroup$
– TomTom
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
$endgroup$
– TomTom
2 hours ago


















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