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History
Crawler-transporter
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The crawler-transporters, formally known as the Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities, are a pair of tracked vehicles used to transport spacecraft from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the Crawlerway to Launch Complex 39. They were originally used to transport the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz programs. They were then used to transport Space Shuttles from 1981 to 2011. The crawler-transporters carry vehicles on the mobile launcher platforms used by NASA, and after each launch return to the pad to take the platform back to the VAB.
Crawler-transporter
Crawler-transporter
Crawlerway junction at the LC-39 observation gantry. The right track leads to pad LC-39A (pictured with Space Shuttle Endeavour), while the left track
Crawlerway junction at the LC-39 observation gantry. The right track leads to pad LC-39A (pictured with Space Shuttle Endeavour), while the left track leads to pad LC-39B.
Saturn V, service structure and MLP on top of a crawler
Saturn V, service structure and MLP on top of a crawler
Detail of crawler treads
Detail of crawler treads
Vehicle Assembly Building
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The Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, is a large building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), designed to assemble large pre-manufactured space vehicle components, such as the massive Saturn V, the Space Shuttle and the Space Launch System, and stack them vertically onto one of three mobile launcher platforms used by NASA. As of March 2022, the first Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was assembled inside in preparation for the Artemis 1 mission, launched on November 16, 2022.
The Artemis 1 Space Launch System vehicle rolling out from the VAB at Kennedy Space Center
The Artemis 1 Space Launch System vehicle rolling out from the VAB at Kennedy Space Center
VAB during construction (1965) with the three Mobile Launchers for the Saturn V rocket.
VAB during construction (1965) with the three Mobile Launchers for the Saturn V rocket.
A crane lowers Discovery toward the ET and SRBs in high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for STS-124.
A crane lowers Discovery toward the ET and SRBs in high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for STS-124.
VAB in 1977, with the Bicentennial Star opposite the flag. The Bicentennial Star was painted over with the NASA insignia in 1998. Note the Space Shutt
VAB in 1977, with the Bicentennial Star opposite the flag. The Bicentennial Star was painted over with the NASA insignia in 1998. Note the Space Shuttle Landing Facility at upper left.