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Old July 4th 19, 07:55 PM posted to sci.space.policy
snidely
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Posts: 1,303
Default Falcon Heavy transporter-erector

Jeff Findley asserted that:
In article ,
says...

In article ,
lid says...

That looks like a plain transporter with no erection functionality. Its
transporting just a first stage (with interstage) and is much too short
for a full Falcon 9 with first stage + second stage + payload.


Here's an article with a very nice picture of the transporter erector at
Vandenberg:

https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/10/3...edure-fix-can-
allow-falcon-9-launches-to-resume/

Here is a great picture of the transporter erector at LC-40 at Cape
Canaveral:

https://www.spacex.com/news/2013/02/...uccessful-wet-
dress-rehearsal

And finally, here is an article with a picture of the transporter
erector used at KSC LC-39A.

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-cre...launch-photos/


Ok, here is the best picture of the one at KSC LC-39A. In addition to
the airport tow vehicle, you can see on either side (near the base of
the launch vehicle) that there are two separate sets of train tracks
with some sort of self-powered diesel electric bogies.

https://www.teslarati.com/wp-content...Dragon-Falcon-
9-DM-1-39A-rollout-022819-NASA-Joel-Kowsky-5-c.jpg

So, whoever said "self powered" for the LC-39A transporter erector seems
to be correct based on the detailed photographic evidence. Makes sense,
considering the grade of the ramp up to the actual launch pad.


Thank you! Teslarati is a great site, and their correspondents got
great shots of the recent FH night launch. I'm not sure I had
discovered it at the time of the test flight you pointed to.

The yellow cart following the bogeys (freight train trucks) is probably
supplying air for the brakes.

The description I had found for the FH TE mentioned cable winches to
pull it up the final ramp.

/dps

--
"I am not given to exaggeration, and when I say a thing I mean it"
_Roughing It_, Mark Twain