On Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:18:57 -0500, wrote:

Does the shuttle, and years ago, the Saturn V's launch right off the
transporter/crawler? I can't imagine some sort of transfer being made at the pad
of the spacecraft. But if so, how have these things withstood almost 50 years of
the heat generated at launch? And are all the clamps and things that you see
around the base of the craft installed for each flight? I was looking at a
picture of the crawler earlier and it's just a flat surface when it's empty.
Very curious about it. Thanks.


Okay, I Googles and found picture of the mobile launch platform. That is one
massive assembly. So the transporter raises and lowers (probably hydraulically)
the launch platform? What an operation! One last question. When I watch a
launch, just before ignition, what are all those sparks that fly around the base
of the engines? Thanks again for all the help. I'm just a retired guy with time
on his hands to ask questions :-)