Space Shuttle Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6 (1:144)

[spacerunner]

Hello everybody,

after we have meanwhile decided a separate power supply for the Crawler lighting by means of three built-in 9V Batteries, the analysis and inventory of the lamps located on the crawler is now the next step for the definition of the corresponding LED switching circuits, which, however, should become a bit difficult, since there are almost no photos from the STS-6 in which one can see the illuminated crawler.

Only on this photo during Challenger's rollout (11/30/1982) from the VAB one can see the crawler, on the front of which (Side 1) one can see 8 lamps, at least something!


Source: forum.nasaspaceflight.com (jacqmans)

Of this rollout there is also the following Video, on which unfortunately a lot was disappearing in the fog ...

Therin in a few short sequences, like this one, one can make out a few lamps, but the position of which can only be guessed.



Photos from later missions, like here from the STS-132,


Source: live.staticflickr.com (Ben Cooper)

or here from Endeavour's rollout to her last mission STS-134 are helpful, but there are a number of lamps there which were not yet present on the crawler during STS-6, which must be taken into account when taking stock of the lamps.


Source: live.staticflickr.com (Ben Cooper)

Therefore, I firstly had to orientate myself on images from subsequent missions, such as this one during the Challenger rollout, STS-8 (30/08/1983), on which one can see the back (Side 3) of the crawler.


Source: forum.nasaspaceflight.com

This photo of the STS-28 (1989) is quite suitable for the analysis, on which one can even see some lamps on the inner sides of the Trucks.


Source: flickr.com/photos/nasacommons

The difficulty with the inventory is now to disregard those lamps in the counting that did not yet exist during STS-6, such as these ones during STS-134.



These are Fluorescent tubes, which are located immediately in front of and behind each of the 8 Trucks, which are mounted at elongated Lubrication Jigs for lubricating of the truck chains, as one can see in this image.


Source: NASA

As one can see in this image during the STS-28, these lubrication jigs were already present on the STS-6 Crawler, but the fluorescent tubes weren't still there, because they were just retrofitted later.



The exact inventory of the lamps will follow in the next step.

[spacerunner]

Hello everybody,

and so now to the result of the analysis and the final inventory control of the Crawler lighting, which is now fixed and can be seen in the following image, which however does not show the STS-6 Crawler, but the Crawler CT-2 that was upgraded for the SLS Program.


Source: NASA

The total 29 Lamps of the former STS-6 Crawler are distributed as follows:

Driver's cabs: 2
JEL-Hydraulics: 8
Trucks (out-/inside): 8
Sidewalls: 2/2 Beacons
Front side (Side 3): 3
Back side: (Side 1): 4
And this result actually corresponds to my initial estimate of approx. 30 Lamps.

Just briefly to the explanation of NASA's designation of the front and back side of the Crawler, which was incorrectly named in my last post.

The crawler with the MLP drives from the VAB with the Side 3 (front side) in the direction of the Launch pad. Therefore from the south side on the pad one always looks at the Side 1 (back side) of the crawler, which then becomes the front side when it return.


Source: flickr.com/photos/nasacommons

The Side 1 of the crawler one can recognize, in difference to the Side 3, by the the stairs platform onto which the MLP stairs can be folded out, which is folded in again after the MLP has been set down onto the Pedestals, before the Crawler returns.

[cardmodeler]

All I can say is, Mind blown!!!

[spacerunner]

Thanks my friend for your nice compliment.

Stay tuned and have fun.

[WVA]

I nominate you, spacerunner, for the grand prize for "rivet counters". And that is a compliment, not a criticizem. You have my admiration! I read each post in awe. Jim

[spacerunner]

Thanks Jim for your nice compliment, as you mean it.
Seen this way, I'm actually even worse, because I also want to know what these rivets (details, lamps ...) there are good for.

[dhanners]

Originally Posted by WVA

I nominate you, spacerunner, for the grand prize for "rivet counters". And that is a compliment, not a criticizem. You have my admiration! I read each post in awe. Jim

If Manfred can't tell you the number of rivets, he no doubt knows a pad rat or two who can get the number for him.

We're all richer for it. Think of all the details about the ET, MLP and Crawler-Transporter we've learned from this thread.

[spacerunner]

Thanks David,
I know how he meant it ...

[Revell-Fan]

These beauty pictures are pure poetry.

[spacerunner]

Thanks Marcell for your lyrical compliment, and and stay healthy my friend.