Kennedy Space Center- Launch mission

We have recently seen on TV, the video footage of the launch of the Atlantis space shuttle on its mission to repair the hubble telescope. It is a spectacular sight to see and astronauts going on these missions are the heroes who are cheered and applauded as they get ready to set off. But this is really the beginning of the end of a long drawn process. what many are not aware of are the thousands of hours that are put into getting the space craft ready for blast-off. I had the opportunity to visit NASA Keenedy Space Center ,just a week before the Atlantis launch and got to see the behind-the scenes activities.

It all starts with the pre- mission planning which can be 4 to 10 yrs before the launch. In this phase, the launch date and site along with the launch vehicle is selected.Next comes the actual mission planning which includes costs, dates for spacecraft delivery and vehicle assessment. Then comes the manufacturing phase when all parts of the launch vehicle are manufactured ,tested and finally delivered to the launch site.

At the launch site , in this case, the Kennedy Space Center, there are designated facilities where the spacecraft undergoes final preparation.

1.Vehicle Assembly Building : This is one of the largest buildings in the world( 3rd largest in the US)- standing 525 ft tall , covering 8 acres and enclosing a volume of 3.6 million cubic mts. As the name suggests, the different parts of the space shuttle are assembled and tested befor it is moved out to the next part, Launch complex 39.

2.Launch Complex 39:

a. Orbiter Processing facility: is a sophisticated hangar where technicians check evry inch of the spacecraft between missions. KSC has 3 hangars which make up the OPF.

b. Launch Control Center: The launch team gathers here to monitor and prepare the shuttle for launch. There are 4 firing rooms in the LCC. These are the famous glass-walled rooms shown on TV and movies, where the launch director gives the final 'GO' .

c. Crawler Transprters: KSc has 2 crawler transporters, each about half the size of a soccer field and weighing about 6 million pounds . The crawler transports the assembled space shuttle to the launch pad at an average speed of 1 mph! One of the important features of the crawler is its hydraulic system, which allows it to carry the shuttle up the gentle slope of the launch pad, keeping it perfectly level.

3. LaunchPads 39A and 39B

This is the final destination of the shuttle . There are 2 identical launch pads at KSC. On each of them are 2 large grey towers. The taller one is the Fixed Service structure , which includes the elevator and swing arm that astronauts use to board the shuttle.

When the final 'GO' for launc is given, the shuttle's 3 main engines and 2 solid rocket bosters are ignited and the shuttle lifts off to begin its mission.