| Client |
National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) |
| Location |
Kennedy Space Center, FL |
| Services |
Engineering |
| Cost |
$1,700,000 |
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| WA provided engineering services for the concept development and complete design of an unconventional aerospace structure used to lift the Space Shuttle on and off a modified Boeing 747 aircraft. The Mate-Demate Device (MDD) allows full servicing of the Orbiter on a moveable platform before and after mating, can be disassembled for transport by C5 aircraft, reassembled within 30 days and available at any remote site.
The facility consists of two 100 FT towers with stationary work platforms at the 20-, 40-, 60- and 80-foot levels on each tower and a horizontal structure mounted at the 80-foot level between the two towers. The horizontal unit cantilevers 70 FT out from the main tower units and controls and guides a large lift beam that attaches to the orbiters to raise and lower them. Three large hoists are used to raise and lower the lift beam. Two of the hoists are connected to the aft portion of the lift beam and one hoist is attached to the beam's forward section. The three hoists operate simultaneously in the hoisting process. Each of the three hoists has a 100,000-pound lift capability. Operating together, the total lifting capacity of the three units is 240,000 pounds (120 tons). |
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