5 ms·

What do you mean vertical integration?

• krisoft 6y ago
  In this case "vertical integration" means that the rocket is standing upright while you are bolting the payload on to it. The alternative is "horizontal integration" where you bolt the payload on the rocket while the rocket is laying on its side. You transport the rocket to the launch pad on it's side, and only there do you tip the rocket+payload together to be upright. This sounds like a very small detail, but many payloads turns out to be highly optimized to only receive forces in one direction, and their structure is not certified to be cantilevered in such a way to "hang" from the tip of the rocket body.
• barney54 6y ago
  Here’s what I found: https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/43840/why-did-spacex-choose-vertical-integration-for-starship https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/43840/why-did-spac... It appears that it means the assembly of the rocket—whether it is assembled horizontally or vertically. SpaceX rockets and payload are apparently assembled horizontally and then lifted upright.
  • khuey 6y ago
    Yes, you can see a pretty cool video of it in the first 20 seconds of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSwFU6tY1c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSwFU6tY1c