Why is this part of the Space Shuttle launch pad suspended so high off the ground?












21












$begingroup$


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











$endgroup$








  • 17




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






  • 3




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
















21












$begingroup$


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











$endgroup$








  • 17




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






  • 3




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














21












21








21


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








edited 14 hours ago









Community♦

1




1










asked yesterday









GnubieGnubie

435159




435159








  • 17




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






  • 3




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














  • 17




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






  • 3




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








17




17




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




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




3




3




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




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










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















47












$begingroup$

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
    yesterday






  • 11




    $begingroup$
    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
    yesterday






  • 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
    yesterday






  • 14




    $begingroup$
    @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
    yesterday






  • 1




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











Your Answer





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1 Answer
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active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









47












$begingroup$

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
    yesterday






  • 11




    $begingroup$
    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
    yesterday






  • 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
    yesterday






  • 14




    $begingroup$
    @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
    yesterday






  • 1




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
















47












$begingroup$

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
    yesterday






  • 11




    $begingroup$
    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
    yesterday






  • 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
    yesterday






  • 14




    $begingroup$
    @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
    yesterday






  • 1




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














47












47








47





$begingroup$

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

94.6k2266420




94.6k2266420








  • 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
    yesterday






  • 11




    $begingroup$
    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
    yesterday






  • 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
    yesterday






  • 14




    $begingroup$
    @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
    yesterday






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
    $endgroup$
    – TomTom
    19 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
    yesterday






  • 11




    $begingroup$
    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
    yesterday






  • 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
    yesterday






  • 14




    $begingroup$
    @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
    yesterday






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
    $endgroup$
    – TomTom
    19 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
yesterday




$begingroup$
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
yesterday




11




11




$begingroup$
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
yesterday




$begingroup$
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
yesterday




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
yesterday




$begingroup$
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
yesterday




14




14




$begingroup$
@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
yesterday




$begingroup$
@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
yesterday




1




1




$begingroup$
On top of that add rain season and you start getting real problems. Did the area acutally ever get flooded?
$endgroup$
– TomTom
19 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
19 hours ago


















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