transportation of douglas saturn s-ivb stages

8/4/2019 Transportation of Douglas Saturn S-IVB Stages

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3ATURN HISTORY DOCUMENTF_)hivetrsityof Alabama Research Institute?History of Science G. Technology Group

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N O F D O UG L AS S A TU R N S -I VB S T A G E SN O V E M B E R 1965

M A N A G E R , S A T U R N L O G I S T I C S S U P P O R TD O U G L A S A I R C R A F T C O M P A N Y , I N C.M I S S I L E & S P A C E S Y ST E MS D I V I S I O N

S P A C E S YS TE M S C E N T E RH U N T I N G T O N B E A C H , C A L I F O R N I A , 9 2 64 6

P R E S E N T E D T OA M E R I C AN S O C I E TY O F C I V I L E N G I N EE R S

C O C O A B E A C H , F L O R I D AN O V E M B E R 1965

/M /SS/LE dS SPACE S Y S T E M S D / V / S / D N


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ABSTRACT

This paper describes the significant events and equipment associated withtransporting the Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc., built Saturn S-IVB stagefrom stage fabrication at Huntington Beach, California, to the SacramentoTest Center and to the Kennedy Space Center. Descriptions and illustrationsof the transportation vehicles and major ground support and instrumentationequipment are presented for a more comprehensive understanding of the trans-portation problem.


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T R A N S P O R T A T I O N O F DO U GL AS S A T UR N S - I V B S T A G ES

A s o u r n a t i o n ' s s p a c e v e h i c l e s i n c r e a s e i n s i z e a nd c o m pl e xi t y, t h e manufac-t u r e r s of t h e s e s p a c e g i a n t s f a c e a new and i n c r e a s i n g l y d i f f i c u l t p ro bl em ;t h a t o f how t o t r a n s p o r t t h e s e c e l e s t i a l co v er e d wagons w h i l e t h e y a r e s t i l lo n t h e g ro u n d . The Do ug la s Ai r c r a f t C ompany, I n c . , Mi ss i l e and Sp ace Sy s temsD i v i s i o n was c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h i s c h a l l e n g e i n t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e S-IV a ndS-IVB s t a g e s of t h e Sa tu rn sp ace v e h i c l e . How Do ug las an d t h e Na t io n a l Aero -n a u t i c s a nd S pa ce A d m i n i s t ra t i o n ha ve s o l v e d t h i s pr ob le m, p l u s f u t u r eD ou gla s p l a n s , a r e t h e s u b j e c t s of t h i s pa p er .

The S a t u r n v e h i c l e w i l l p a s s t h r ou g h t h r e e d e s i g n an d m i s s i o n c ha ng es b e f o r ei t e v ol v es t o i t s p l a nn e d d e s t i n y ; t h a t o f t a k i n g man t o t h e moon. F i g u r e 1i l l u s t r a t e s t h e d e s i gn and c om pa ra ti ve s i z e of t h e s e v e h i c l e s . D ou gl as i st h e o n ly s p ac e v e h i c l e c o n t r ac t o r p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a l l t h r e e of t h e v i t a lS a t u r n m i s s i o n s . S a t u r n I , t h e i n i t i a l v e h i c l e d e s i g n, p la ce d i n Ea r t h o r b i tt h e t e s t ve rs io ns o f t h e Apol lo Command and Ser v i ce modules . The Douglas-b u i l t s ec on d s t a g e , S-IV b o o s t e r , p ro vi de d t h e f i n a l v e l o c i t y t o p l a c e a n1 1 -t o n p a y lo a d i n t o l ow E a r t h o r b i t . The S a t u r n I v e h i c l e c om pl et ed i t sf l i g h t p ro gr am w i t h i t s 1 0 t h s u c c e s s f u l l a u n c h o n 30 J u l y 19 65 . S a t u r n I B ,t h e i n t e r m e d i a t e d e s i g n , w i l l b o o st A p o ll o i n t o E a r t h o r b i t manned t e s t s .Douglas i s b u i l d i n g t h e se co nd s t a g e , S-IVB, t h a t p r ov i d e s t h e f i n a l v e l o c i t yn e ed e d t o p l a c e a 1 7 1 12 -t on v e h i c l e , w i t h i t s t h r e e as t r o n a u t o c c up a n ts , i nE a rt h o r b i t .

S a t u r n V , t h e f i n a l c o n f i g ur a t i on , w i l l p l ac e A po ll o i n E a r th o r b i t , t he nb o o s t - t h e l u n a r l a n d i n g mod ule o n i t s way t o t h e moon. D ou gl as w i l l b u i l dt h e S-IVB s t a g e t h a t w i l l i n j e c t t h e 47 11 2- to n v e h i c l e w i t h i t s t h r ee mancrew i n t o l u n a r t r a n s f e r t r a j e c t o r y .

A c u r s o r y g l a n c e a t t h e p ro bl em s o f moving j u s t o ne s t a g e o f t h e s p a c e v e h i c l emay see m r e l a t i v e l y s i m p l e , b u t how l a r g e i s t h i s o n e s t a g e a nd w ha t i s t h e r eab o u t i t s d e s i g n t h a t p r ov e s a p ro bl em i n t r a n s p o r t i n g i t ? The S-IV s t a g e ,f i g u r e 2 , of t h e S a t u r n I v e h i c l e , i s 1 8 f e e t , 4 i n c h e s i n d i a m et e r and 4 1f e e t l o n g , a n d w e ig h s a p p r o x im a t e l y 1 4 , 00 0 p o un d s. As shown i n f i g u r e 2 t h es t a g e h a s two l a r g e p r o p e l l a n t t a n k s , w hi ch a r e empty when i n t r a n s i t .Mounted a t t h e a f t e nd o f t h e s t a g e a r e s i x r o c ke t e n g i n e s w ei gh in g


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F i g u r e 1. Sa turn Compar i son

F i g u r e 2 . S-IV S t a g e


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Fi gu re 3. S-IVB/TB Sta geappro x imat e ly 500 pounds each . The S-IVB/IB s t ag e , f i g ur e 3, i s 2 1 f e e t , 8i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r , a nd 5 9 f e e t i n l e n g t h , w i t h a d r y w e ig h t o f 2 5, 00 0 p ou nd s.L i k e t h e S-IV s t a g e , t h e S-IVB h a s two l a r g e p r o p e l l a n t t a n k s , b u t r a t h e r t h a ns i x r o c k e t e n g i n e s , i t ha s on ly one weighing appr oxi mat ely 3 ,500 pounds. TheS-IVB/IB s t a g e i s e s s e n t i a l l y t h e same c o n f i g u r a t i o n a s t h e S-IVB/V, f i g u r e 4 ,w i t h t h e o nl y s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e in g t h e S-IVB/V f l a r e d a f t i n t e r s t a g ew h ich h a s a maximum d i am e te r o f 3 3 f ee t . The S-IVB a f t i n t e r s t a g e s a r e s h ip p eds e p a r a t e l y f ro m t h e p a r e n t s t a g e .

O rd in ar y modes o f t r a n s p o r t c an o n l y b e u se d w i t h d i f f i c u l t y , i f a t a l l . Theu s e of t h e n a t i o n ' s r oa d s f o r lo n g d i s t a n c e moving ha s s e r i o u s r e s t r i c t i o n sb e c a u s e o f t h e s i z e o f t h e S-IVB s t a g e . A t l e a s t two h ig hw ay l a n e s , f i g u r e 5 ,w ou ld b e r eq u i r ed . On two -l an e r o ad s , t h e t r an s p o r t e r w ou ld h an g o v e r t h eedge o f t h e pavement on bo th s id es . Highway t r a ns p o r t of t h e S-IVB s t a g e i sc om pa ra bl e t o moving a t h r e e - s t o r y b a rn . O t he r d i f f i c u l t i e s i n c l u d e l e g a lmaximum s i z e and wei ght l i m i t s , moving t i m e r e s t r i c t i o n s , t h e enormous c o s t o fpermanen t ly r e p o s i t i o n i n g u t i l i t y a nd power l i n e s , and d e t o ur i n g u nd e rp as se sand b r i d g e s , f i g u r e 6 , t h a t c a nn o t a c c e p t t h e s i z e o f t h e S-IVB s t a g e a ndt r a n s p o r t e r .


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Figure 4. S-IVB/V Stage

Figure 5. Highway Movement


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F i g u r e 6 . a r i d g e C r o s s i n gC l e a r l y , t h e u s e o f hig hw ay s f o r long d i s t a n c e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i s o u t of t h eq u e s t i o n .

R a i l r o a d s c an no t b e us ed s i n c e r a i l r o a d r o u t e s a r e d e si g ne d t o a w i d t h l i m i tc ons i de r a b l y l e s s t ha n t h e d im e ns ions of t h e S-IVB s t a g e .

Because of i t s s i z e , t h e S-IVB was n o t a i r t r a n s p o r t a b l e i n t h e c a r g o co mp ar t-ment o f a ny a i r c r a f t e x i s t i n g a t t h e t im e o f i t s de s i gn . I t s w e i g h t p r e c l u d e st h e u s e o f e x i s t i n g h e l i c o p t e r s . L i gh t er - th a n- a ir c ar go c r a f t o f f e r i n t r i g u -i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r l on g- ra ng e t r a n s p o r t ; h ow ever, t h e s e c r a f t w i l l r e c e i v ec o n s i d e r a t i o n i n f u t u r e d e s i g n s e nc om pa ss in g ev en l a r g e r v e h i c l e s .

W a t e r t r a ns po r t i s l i m i t e d b y t h e e x t e n t t o w hic h n a v i g a b l e b o d i e s o f w a t e ra d j o i n t h e f a b r i c a t i o n , t e s t i n g and l au nc hi ng f a c i l i t i e s . F o r tu n a t el y , a l lt e r m i n a l a r e a s f o r t h e S-IVB s t a g e a r e re a so n a b ly c l o s e t o s u ch b o d i e s o fw a t er . S e v e r a l t y p e s of v e s s e l s a r e a c c e p t a b l e f o r t r a n s p o r t o f t h e S-IVBs t a g e . B ar ge s c an b e u s e d f o r s h o r t h a u l s , o n r i v e r s , w here d r a f t i s l i m i t e d .C o nv e nt io n al f r e i g h t e r s o r c a r go v e s s e l s c an b e us ed f o r l o n g oc ea n t r i p s ,such a s f rom San Fran cis co t o Kennedy Space Center .


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The p r e s e n t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c on ce p t ha d i t s i n c e p t i o n i n t h e movement o f t h eS-IV s ta ge s du r i ng 1960 th roug h 1962 . The p lann ing and imp lemen ta t ion o f t h ev a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s n e c e s s a r y t o move S-IV h a rd w a re f r om S a n t a M on ic a,C a l i f o r n i a , t o t h e va r i ou s t e s t f a c i l i t i e s and l au nc h s i t e s l a i d t h e g roundw ork f o r t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f t h e S-IVB s t a g e s .

It s h o u l d b e e m p ha s iz e d t h a t d u r i n g t h e de ve lo pm en t o f t h e S a t u r n T r a n s p o r t a -t i o n s ys te m, s p e c i a l c a r e was g i ve n t o t h e r e t e n t i o n of t h e h ig h r e l i a b i l i t yr e q u i r e d by t h e v e h i c l e s . The S a t ur n -A p o ll o v e h i c l e i s s c h ed u le d t o b e u s e di n a p ro gr am i n w hich men w i l l r i s k t h e i r l i v e s . F or t h i s r e a s o n , i t i s n o tp o s s i b l e t o downgrade t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a t t h e e xp en se of s t a g e r e l i a b i l i t y .

The s t u d i e s by D ou gl as , d u r i n g t h e i n i t i a l d e s i g n p h as e s , d et er m in e d t h a tw a t e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , t o g e t h e r w i t h a s p e c i a l highway t r a n s p o r t e r f o r u s e a tt e r m i n a l a r e a s , o f f e r e d t h e most r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e s o l u t i o n f o r t r a n s p o r t oft h e S-IV and S-IVB s t a g e s .

The S-IVB s t a g e t r a n s p o r t e r , f i g u r e 7 , p r o v i d e s s u p p o r t , m o b i l i t y , a nd s h o cki s o l a t i o n f o r t h e S-IVB s t a g e du r in g a l l n orm al l a n d and s e a t r a v e l . Thet r a n s p o r t e r i s a l s o ca p a b l e of t r a n s p o r t i n g n e ce s s a r y s t a g e h a rd w ar e, w i t h t h e

F i g u r e 7 . S-IVB St ag e Tr an sp or te r


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e x c ep t io n of t h e a f t i n t e r s t a g e . The t r a n s p o r t e r i s a b u i l t up b a s e f ra m e ,m oun ted o n a f o ur - wh e el e d u n d e r c a r r i a g e a t t h e r e a r e n d a nd tw o s e t s of d ropl e g s a t t il e f or w a rd e nd . The di m e ns i on s o f t h e u n lo a de d t r a n s p o r t e r a r e 46f e e t l o n g , 22 f e e t w i d e, a nd i t weighs approx imate ly 22 ,500 pounds . With t h eS-IVB s t a g e i n s t a l l e d , t h e lo a d ed t r a n s p o r t e r i s a p p ro x i ma t el y 30 f e e t h i g h ,5 8 f e e t l o n g , 26 f e e t w id e , an d we ig h s ap p ro x ima te ly 60 ,0 0 0 p o u n d s . Thet r a n s p o r t e r i s c a p a b l e o f t r a v e l i n g a t s p e e d s o f 1 0 t o 1 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r o v erp av ed ro ad s , an d i s f i t t e d w i t h a l l s a f e t y d e vi ce s i n a cc ord an ce w i t h I n t e r -s t a g e Commerce Commission re gu l a t i on s .

The Stage Han d l in g K i t , f i g u r e 8 , p r o v i d e s s eg me nt ed m e t a l r i n g s wh ic h a r eb o l t e d t o t h e fo rw ar d and a f t s k i r t o f t h e s t a g e . The s t a g e h a nd li ng k i t i su t i l i z e d when h o i s t i n g and m ou nt ing t h e s t a g e i n o r d e r t h a t t h e i n d uc e dh a n d l i n g l o a d s w i l l be t r a n s m i t t e d s a f e l y i n t o t h e s t a g e s t r u c t u r e .

S-IVB S t a g e C r a d l e s , f i g u r e 8 , a r e a t t a c h e d t o t h e t r a n s p o r t e r t o p r o v id es u p p o r t f o r t h e s t a g e d u r i n g g ro un d and s e a t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . The c r a d l e s a r ed es ig ne d t o a t t a c h t o f or wa rd a nd a f t s t a g e h an d li ng k i t r i n g s .

Fi gu re 8 . S-IVB S ta ge Handl ing and Tr an sp or t i ng Equipment


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A S t a g e H o i s t i n g K i t , f i g u r e 8 , i s p ro vi de d t o l i f t t h e s t a g e o nt o t h e t r a ns -p o r t e r and t o l i f t t h e s t a g e f rom t h e t r a n s p o r t e r t o a g round o r w at er c a r r i e r .

To e s t a b l i s h e n v ir o n m en t al p r o t e c t i o n f o r t h e s t a g e d u r i n g gr ou nd and s e at r a n s p o r t a t i o n , p r o t e c t i v e and t ie do wn t r a n s p o r t k i t s , f i g u r e 8, a r e p r o v i d e d .T h es e k i t s i n c l u d e a n e o pr e n e c o a t e d n y lo n c o v e r a s se m bl y w h ic h, when i n s t a l l e don t h e s t a g e , f or ms a w e a t h e r - t i gh t p r o t e c t i v e c o v e r . A sponge rubber pad i sp l a c e d b et we en t h e p r o t e c t i v e c o ve r and t h e s t a g e t o p r o t e c t t h e s t a g e f romf a l l i n g o b je c t s . A s t a t i c d e s i c c a n t s y s te m , u s i n g a s e r i e s o f c om me rc ia ls i l i c a g e l d e s i c c a t o r s , a t t a c h e s t o t h e p r o t e c t i v e c ov er t o c o n t r o l hu mi di tyw i t h i n t h e co v er an d t h e s t ag e . E nv ir on me nt al c o n t r o l s a r e i n s t a l l e d o n t h es t a g e t o m o n i to r t e m p e r a t u r e a n d h u m i d i t y , t o g e t h e r w i t h a ny s h oc k an d v i b r a -t i o n l o a d s t h a t m i gh t be en c ou n te r ed d u ri n g t r a n s i t .

D u r i ng gr o un d a nd s e a t r a n s p o r t i n g o f t h e S-IVB s t a g e , a NASA -furnished ~ o b i iI n s t r u m e n t a t i o n S ys te m T r a i l e r , f i g u r e 9 , a nd a Power Su p pl y T r a i l e r i s con-n e c t e d t o t h e s t a g e a nd tow ed b e h in d t h e t r a n s p o r t e r . The u m b i l i c a l t h a tc on ne ct s t h e i n st r um e nt a t io n t r a i l e r t o t h e s t a g e i s n o t d i s co n n e ct e d a t a nyt im e w h i l e i n t r a n s i t . A l l l o a d s e x p e r ie n c e d e n r o u t e , w h ic h i n c l u d e e f f e c t s

F ig ur e 9. Mobi le In s t r um e n t a t i on Sys t em T r a i l e r a nd Power

8


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of v i b r a t i o n , d i f f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e s , h u mi d it y , and t e m pe r a tu r e s, a r erecorded on t ape .

When t h e S-IVB s t a g e i s be i ng t r a ns po r t e d on w a t e r , t h e Dynamic D e si c c a n tS ys te m T r a i l e r , f i gu r e 10 , p r ov i de s c ons t a n t l ow hum i di ty c on t r o l of t he S-IVBs t a g e by c i r c u l a t i n g warm d r y a i r t h ro u g h t h e s t a g e and a d e h y d r a t o r be d o fs i l i c a g e l . The sy s t em a l s o m a i n ta i n s a c o n s t a n t lo w p r e s s u r e on t h e e n v ir o n-m e nt al p r o t e c t i v e c o v e r , k e ep i ng t h e c o ve r f ro m l a y i n g o n t h e s t a g e s u r f a c e .The dynamic des i c can t sys t em co ns i s t s o f a commerci al t yp e , se l f -g en e ra t i n gd e s i c c a t o r u n i t a nd g a so l in e -e n gi ne - dr iv e n g e n e r a t o r t o p r o vi d e a c v o l t a g e f o rt h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e d e s i c c a t o r when s h i p power i s n o t a v a i l a b l e o r i n o p e r a t i v e

A s p r e v io u s l y m en tio ne d, t h e i n t e r s t a g e s and s k i r t s e c t i o n s a r e t r a n s p o r t e ds e p a r a t e l y f ro m t h e s t a g e i t s e l f . H an dl in g k i t s a r e p ro vi de d f o r t h e s e i te m swhich i n c l u d e d o l l i e s f o r t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e s e c t i o n s f o r s h o r t d i s t a n c e s , andn eo pr en e- co at ed n y l on p r o t e c t i v e c o ve rs t o p r o t e c t t h e s e c t i o n s f ro m t h ee le m en t s w h i l e i n t r a n s i t . H o i s ti n g beams a r e a l s o in c l ud e d and a r e a t t a c h edt o t h e f or wa rd end o f t h e s e c t i o n s t o p r o v id e a means o f l i f t i n g t h e s e c t i o nwhen i t i s a t t a c h e d t o t h e d o l l y . F i gu r e 11 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e a f t i n t e r s t a g e

F i gu r e 10 . Dynamic Desic cant System T r a i l e r


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F i g u r e 11. I n t e r s t a g e a nd S k i r t S e c t i o n s

s e c t i o n , fo rw ar d i n t e r s t a g e s e c t i o n and a f t s k i r t s e c t i o n w a i t i n g t o bet r a n sp o r t e d t o Kennedy S p ac e Ce n t e r.

The i n i t i a l S-IV s t a g e s t h a t we re d e l i v e r e d t o t h e t e s t and la un ch f a c i l i t i e sw e re s h i p p e d by c om m er ci al s h i p a nd b a r g e f o l l o w i n g a t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f l o w a sshown i n f i g u r e 1 2 . C o n s i d er , f o r a moment, some o f t h e a sp e c t s of t r a n s -p o r t i n g a n o v e r s i z e d s t a g e s u c h a s t h e S-IVB. F o ll o wi n g a t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f l ows u c h a s shown i n f i g u r e 1 2 , t h e S-IVB s t a g e o n i t s transporter, f i g u r e 1 3 ,w i t h t h e t ow in g i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n t r a i l e r an d power s u pp l y a t t a c h e d , a r e t r a n s -p o r t e d f ro m t h e Do ug la s S p a c e S ys te ms C e n t e r a t Hu n t i ng t o n B ea ch , C a l i f o r n i a ,on t h e f i r s t l e g of i t s l on g t r i p t o Kennedy Space Cen te r . From t h e SpaceSys tems Cen te r i t i s se v e n m i l e s t o Sea l Beach Weapons S t a t i o n Harbor .

A t t h e S e a l Beach h a r b o r , t h e s t a g e a nd t r a n s p o r t e r a r e r o l l e d o n t o t h e NASAf u r n i s h e d s e a - g oi n g b a r g e , O r i o n , f i g u r e 1 4 . The b a r g e i s t owed a long theC a l i f o r n i a c o a s t t o Sa n F r a n c i s c o an d up t h e Sa cr am en to R i v e r , f i g u r e 1 5 , t oC o u r t l a n d , a d o ck s i t e j u s t below t h e c i t y o f Sacramento . Then, t h e S-IVBa nd t r a n s p o r t e r a r e un l oa d e d, f i g u r e 1 6 , a n d towed t o t h e Do ug la s S a cr am en to


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S-IV STAGE

LONG BEACH COURT LAND SACRA MENTOSANTA MONICA - TEST CENTERCOURTLAND

S-IVB STAGE

SEA L BEACH COURT LAND SACRAMENTOCENTER SACRAMENTO

COURT LANDCANAVE RA L

SACRAMENTO

SUPER GUPPY

SACRAMENTO

KENNEDY KENNEDY+ SPACE CENTER + SPACESKID STRI P CENTER

F i g u r e 1 2 . T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Flow Ch a r t s


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F i g u r e 13. S-IVB Stage--Space Sys tem s Ce n t e r

r ' l g u r e 1 4 . S-IVB Stage--Loading a t S e a l Beach


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Figure 15. Barge Orion--Sacramento River

Figure 16. S-IVB Stage--Unloading at Courtland


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T e s t C e n t e r o v e r e x i s t i n g r o a d s . A t o t a l t r a n s i t t im e of f o u r o r f i v e d aysi s r e q u i r e d f o r t h e S e a l Beac h t o S a c r am e nt o T e s t C e n t e r move. When d e p a r t i n gS ac ra me nt o, t h e t r a n s p o r t e r and b ar g e a r e u se d t o t r a n s p o r t t h e s t a g e t o SanF r a n c i sc o Bay wh er e t h e S-IVB s t a g e a nd t r a n s p o r t e r a r e t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h eo c ea n f r e i g h t e r , t h e P o i n t Barrow, f i g u r e 1 7 . The s t a g e i s s h ip pe d v i a t h ePanama C an a l t o P o r t C a n a v e r a l , f i g u r e 1 8 , a t Kennedy Sp ac e C e n t e r . T r a n s i tt i m e f rom San F ra nc i sco t o t h e Kennedy Space C en t e r i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 17 d a y s .

The O r i o n , f i g u r e 1 4 , a m o d i f i e d YFNB c l a s s b a r g e , was t u r n e d o v e r t o t h eM a r s h a l l S p ac e F l i g h t C e n t e r wh ic h was t u r n e d o v e r t o th em by t h e Navy. I t i s2 64 f e e t l o n g a nd 4 8 f e e t wi d e.

The P o i n t B a rr ow , f i g u r e 1 7 , h a s a s p e e d o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 5 k n o t s a n d i s4 65 f e e t l o n g , 7 4 f e e t w i d e , w i t h a 1 9 f o o t maximum d r a f t . I t i s s e l f -p r o p e l l e d a nd i s owned a nd o p e r a t e d b y t h e M i l i t a r y S e a T r a n s p o r t a t i o n S e r v i c ef o r t h e N a t i o n a l A e r o n a u t i c s a nd S p a ce A d m i n s tr a t io n .

D ur in g t h e e a r l y d e l i v e r y o f S-IV f l i g h t s t a g e s , i t was c l e a r t h a t p ro gr amr e q ui r em e n ts d i c t a t e d a n ee d f o r f a s t e r s t a g e d e l i v e r i e s . C on se qu en tl y,

F i g u r e 1 7 . P o i n t B ar ro w


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Fig ure 18 . S-IVB Stage--Unloading a t Po r t Canav era l

p r e l i m i n a r y p l a n ni n g f o r a i r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n of S-IV s t a g e s was i n i t i a t e d . I n1962 , Aero Spa ce l i ne s of Van Nuys, C a l i f o r n i a , mod if i ed a Boeing B-377 com-m e r c i a l a i r c r a f t t o c a r r y S-IV s t a g e s . T h i s 2 5,0 00 po und p a y lo a d a i r c r a f t ,nicknamed the Pregnant Guppy, f i g u r e 1 9 , was o p e r a t e d u n d er t h e d i r e c t i o n o ft h e N a t i o n a l A er o n a u t i c s an d S pa ce A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . I n 1 9 63 t h e f i r s t S-IVs t a g e was f l ow n t o t h e Kennedy S pac e C e n te r s e t t i n g t h e p a t t e r n f o r a i rt r a n s p o r t i n g t h e r em a i ni n g S-IV s t a g e s , a nd t h e f u t u r e S-IVB s t a g e s . ANASAIMSFC fur n i sh ed Cargo Li f t T r a i l e r , f ig u r e 19 , i s u t i l i z e d t o l i f t t h es t a g e t o t h e pr o pe r a i r c r a f t c ar go f l o o r h e i g h t . T hi s t r a i l e r c an b e u se da l s o t o tow t h e s t a g e f rom t h e m an uf ac tu ri ng o r t e s t f a c i l i t i e s t o t h el oa di ng s i t e s . The ca r g o l i f t t r a i l e r i s a s c i s s o r l i f t , d u a l r a i l e d t r a i l e r .

Sp e c i a l g round s up por t e qu ipm en t ha d t o be de s igne d t o ac comm odate t h e S -IVs t a g e s f o r a i r t r a n s i t . T h is equipment i s b e i n g m o d i f i e d f o r t h e S-IVB s t a g e s

A R o l l e r T r a n s f e r K i t , f i g u r e 2 0 , i s mounted on t h e t r a n s p o r t e r w hen t h es t a g e i s t o b e t r a n s p o r t e d by a i r . The two l o n g i t u d i n a l beams of t h e r o l l e rk i t a r e t op ped w it h a s e r i e s o f s m al l r o l l e r s w hich p r o vi d e t h e c a p a b i l i t y of


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F i g u r e 19 . Pregnan t Guppy


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Fig ure 20. S-IVB St age A ir ca rr y Han dling Equipment

moving t h e s t a g e m oun te d o n a n a i r c a r r y s u p p o r t a s s em b ly f r om t h e t r a n s p o r t e rt o a c ar g o l i f t t r a i l e r .

For a i r t r a n s i t a n A i r c a r r y S up po rt Assembly, f i g u r e 2 0 , r e p l a c e s t h e s t a g ec r a d l e s . The s up p o r t a ss em bl y i s s i m i l a r t o a p a l l e t and p r o v id e s a s u p p or tc r a d l e f o r t h e s t a g e when i n t r a n s i t f o r r o l l i n g t h e s t a g e o f f t h e r o l l e rt r a n s f e r k i t o nt o a ca rg o l i f t t r a i l e r .

When t h e s t a g e i s t o be t r a ns p o r te d by a i r c a r r i e r , a l i g h t we ig ht p r o t e c t i v ecover i s p l a c ed o v er t h e fo rw ar d and a f t e nd of t h e s t a g e . F i ve s t a t i cd e s i c c a t o r s a r e c on ne ct ed t hr ou gh t h e p r o t e c t i v e c o v er i n t o t h e p r o p e l l a n tt a n k s . The d e s i c c a t o r s e n a b l e f r e e f l ow of c l e a n d r y a i r and a r e m ounted ont h e s u p p o r t as se m bl y. These i t e m s c om pr is e t h e a i r c a r r i e r e n v ir o n m en t a lc o n t r o l s ys te m.

The a i r c a r r i e r i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n s ys te m i s c o m pr i se d o f GSE t h a t w i l l b e p erma -n e n t l y i n s t a l l e d w i t h i n t h e a i r c a r r i e r . T hi s equipment w i l l m on it or a ndr e co r d t h e e f f e c t s of v i b r a t i o n , d i f f e r e n t i a l p r e s s u r e , h u m id i ty , a ndt e m p er a t u re v a r i a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e s t a g e .


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E a r l y i n 1 96 5, Aero S p a c e l i ne s a g a i n s t a r t e d m o d i f i c a t i o n o f s e v e r a l B-377a i r c r a f t , t o g e t h e r w i t h c omponents f o r two C-97J a i r p l a n e s ( tu rb op ro p m i l i t a r yv e r s i o n s o f t h e c o m me rc ia l 3 7 7 ) . T h i s a i r c r a f t , n ick na me d t h e S u p e r Guppy,f i g u r e s 2 1 a n d 22 , c a n t r a n s p o r t a p a yl o a d o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 5, 00 0 p ou nd s an di s s p e c i f i c a l l y d e si gn ed t o c a r r y t h e S-IVB s t a g e , a s w e l l a s s i m i l a r s p a c ec om po ne nt s. T h i s a i r c r a f t i n i t i a l l y f l e w i n l a t e A ugu st 19 65 . When t h eSuper Guppy i s f u l l y o p e r a t i o n a l , a l l S-IVB s t a g e d e l i v e r i e s w i l l b e pe rfo rm edby M a rs h a l l Spa ce F l i g h t C e nt e r u t i l i z i n g t h i s a i r c a r r y m etho d.

F ol lo wi ng t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f l ow i n f i g u r e 1 2 , t h e S-IVB s t a g e w i l l b et r a n s p o r t e d f ro m t h e S pa ce S ys te ms C e n t e r , o v e r l a n d 5 m i l e s t o t h e L osA lam i to s N av a l A i r S t a t i o n . A t Lo s A l a m i to s , t h e s t a g e a nd i t s s u p p o r ta s s em b ly w i l l be r o l l e d f rom t h e t r a n s p o r t e r o n to t h e ca rg o l i f t t r a i l e rwhich w i l l r a i s e t h e s t a g e t o t h e ca rg o l e v e l o f t h e a i r c a r r i e r . When t h ec a r g o l i f t t r a i l e r i s r a i s e d t o t h e p ro p e r h e i g h t , t h e s t a g e w i l l b e r o l l e do n t o t h e p a r a l l e l r a i l s w i t h i n t h e S up er Guppy. The s t a g e w i l l t h e n b ef l ow n t o M at he r A i r Force Base which i s e a s t of S a cr a me n to a nd n e a r l y a d j a c e n tt o t h e S a cr a me n to T e s t C e n t e r . Th e s t a g e w i l l b e u nl oa de d from t h e a i r c a r r i e ra t t h e Ma th er A i r F o rc e Ba s e, p l a c e d o n a t r a n s p o r t e r , a nd towed o v e r l a n d t h e

F i g u r e 21. Super ~ u ~ ~ ~ - - ~ r t i s t ' so n cep t i o n


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Fi gur e 22. Super Guppy

s h o r t d i s t a n c e t o t h e S ac ra me nto T es t C e n te r. A f t e r t h e s t a g e h a s b ee n t e s t e d ,it w i l l be towed back t o t he Mather A i r F o rc e B as e and p l a c e d on t h e a i r c a r r i e rt o c o nt in u e i t s journ ey t o th e Kennedy Space Cen ter . The Super Guppy w i l l l a n da t t h e Kennedy S pa c e C e n te r s k i d s t r i p . The s t a g e w i l l r e c e i v e i t s f i n a lu n l oa d in g f ro m t h e a i r c a r r i e r a nd be t a ke n t o a l a u nc h a r e a a t t h e KennedySpace Center when it w i l l b e r e a d i e d f o r i t s f l i g h t i n t o o u t e r s pa ce .

Now t h a t th e major problem of how t o t r an sp or t th e S-IVB s ta g e ha s been so l ve d ,l e t u s r e f l e c t on some of t h e numerous a nd se em in gl y i n s i g n i f i c a n t l i t t l ed e t a i l s t h a t h av e t o b e r e s o lv e d i n o r d e r t o move t h i s 3 -s to ry s p ac e a ge g i a n t .Weeks o f s e a r c h i n g a nd i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e v a r i o u s p o s s i b l e o v e r l a n d t r a n s p o r -t a t i o n r o u t e s a r e r e q u i r e d . Then, when t h e on e r o u t e w i t h t h e b e s t a d v a n t a g e shas been chosen, th e r ight-of-way must be cl ea re d and o b s ta c le s removed. Whena s t a g e i s r ea dy f o r t r a n s i t , l a n d tr a n s p o r t a t i o n c a r r i e r s must b e a rr a ng e dand coo rdina ted by Douglas , and sch edu les es t ab l i s he d and m e t . Douglasn o t i f i e s NASA who a r r a n g e s f o r s e a o r a i r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . The d e s t i n a t i o na g e n c i e s m ust b e n o t i f i e d of t h e e x p e c t ed t im e and means o f a r r i v a l , s o t h a tr e c e i v i n g f a c i l i t i e s can b e made a v a i l a b l e . S t a t e , c o u n ty , and c i t y p e r m i t s


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m u st b e o b t a in e d t o move o v e r lo a d e d a nd o v e r s i z e d e q u ip m en t t h ro u g h t h e i rj u r i s d i c t i o n . The u t i l i t y com panies m ust b e n o t i f i e d a nd r e q ue s t ed t o lo we ro r r a i s e any l i n e s t h a t m ig ht p r e s e n t a n o b s t a c l e . The l o c a l l aw e nf o rc em e nta g e n c i e s m us t b e n o t i f i e d ; t h e r a i l r o a d must b e i nf o rm e d and p r ov i d e a f l a g -man w he re ve r t h e s t a g e c r o s s e s t h e t r a c k s . Even t h e l o c a l s ch o o l d i s t r i c t sa nd c om me rc ia l b u s l i n e s m us t be n o t i f i e d i n a dv an ce s o t h a t t h e y c a n r e r o u t et h e b u s p ic k u ps d u r i n g t h e t i me t h e s t a g e i s i n t r a n s i t on t h e i r r o ut e . Thesea r e j u s t a few of t h e many c o mp le x l a s t m in u t e i t e m s of c o o r d i n a t i o n t h a t mu stb e c om pl et ed f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e ati ion's Space program, and th e conven-i e n c e o f i t s p e o p le .

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n i s a v i t a l p a r t of t h e s pa c e p ro gr am an d i s d a i ly g ro win g m o recomplex. Even lon ger pe r i od s o f p lan n ing w i l l b e r eq u ir e d i n t h e f u t u r eb e c au s e o f t h e s i z e , c o m p l e x i t i e s , an d s e n s i t i v e n a t u r e of t h e c a r go . T od ay ,t h e p ri ma ry m i s s io n t o o u t e r s p a ce i s t r u l y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o r i e n t e d .


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transportation of douglas saturn s-ivb stages

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