Posts: 234 From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Registered: May 2009
posted 02-24-2010 06:55 PM
I thought you may enjoy this tour I was given by Kennedy Space Center's crawler transporter manager, back in 2000. We go throughout the interior and up on the top where the mobile launch platform for the Saturn V and later the space shuttles are mounted and taken out to the launch pad. Enjoy!
cspg Member
Posts: 6222 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 02-24-2010 11:58 PM
What will happen to them at the end of 2010? Scrapped? Mothballed?
posted 02-25-2010 08:40 AM
I hope they would preserved, kind of a National Space Park. It wouldn't surprise me if the government scrapped them, just to ensure that continuing manned spaceflight would be harder.
spaceheaded Member
Posts: 148 From: MD Registered: Feb 2003
posted 02-26-2010 12:54 AM
I remember back in '76 taking a public tour and being able to walk around under one of these things, parked just outside the VAB. I was in awe of the big mufflers. Maybe, post-shuttle, we'll get to do that again.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4208 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 02-26-2010 02:49 PM
If there is any possibility they could be used again for future programs they should be mothballed. They are some 46 plus years old already; they would be good for another 20 or so especially if they were mothballed inside the VAB to protect them from the worst of the elements...
I only hope NASA has learned from its mistakes; leaving priceless and historic artifacts out in all weathers only some years later to realise they need saving, i.e. Saturn Vs, Skylab simulators and the likes.
tegwilym Member
Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 02-26-2010 02:56 PM
For 48 years old, the mileage must still be pretty low on those.
ilbasso Member
Posts: 1522 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Feb 2006
posted 02-26-2010 10:27 PM
How awesome is THAT?!
paulushumungus Member
Posts: 466 From: Burton, Derbyshire, England Registered: Oct 2005
posted 03-18-2010 04:29 PM
Thank you for sharing these amazing videos. How did you get the opportunity to tour the crawlers?
ozspace Member
Posts: 234 From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Registered: May 2009
posted 03-18-2010 06:02 PM
quote:Originally posted by paulushumungus: How did you get the opportunity to tour the crawlers?
Well, it was pre 9/11 and took months of discussion and negotiation with NASA PAO. I did a series of interviews for a radio station I worked for at the time.