4 ms·
> A source indicated that one of the lightning towers may not be salvageable, and that the transporter-erector may also be damaged beyond repair. My first thou
by WalterBright 5mo ago
> A source indicated that one of the lightning towers may not be salvageable, and that the transporter-erector may also be damaged beyond repair.
My first thought is why wasn't the t-e moved away before launch?
- regnerba 5mo agoIt was a static fire, not a launch. Also means that payload was not lost as out wasn’t yet integrated
- gregoriol 5mo agoKaty Perry was not lost, the world can go on
- ceejayoz 5mo agoBlue’s TEL is part of the launch pad. You can see it retract in some of the explosion videos. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C87e9x0tLix/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/C87e9x0tLix/
- NetMageSCW 5mo agoI don’t see how it can do much transporting if it is part of launchpad.
- ceejayoz 5mo agoIt transports the (horizontal) rocket to the pad, erects it, and provides umbilical connections for power and fuel to the rocket during launch; TEL. You can see them disconnect in the video I linked. SpaceX does similar; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transporter_erector https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transporter_erector / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transporter_erector_launcher https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transporter_erector_launcher > SpaceX uses the central spine of the transporter erector as a strongback, restraining the rocket, providing stability until the tanks are pressurized with fuels, and contain the fluid hoses along with power and telemetry cables. Consequently, it remains at the launch pad through the launch and is typically tilted away 1.5° from the rocket just a few minutes prior to launch and 45° away from the rocket at the moment of liftoff. The Shuttle's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_launcher_platform https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_launcher_platform played a similar dual role.