Questions tagged [launchpad]
Questions regarding vertical rocket launch platforms and facilities in their immediate vicinity supporting final preparations for a rocket launch.
119 questions
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What is the purpose of the jets of water often under rocket engines during launch?
I have watched several STS launches, and noticed that there were always huge jets of water that would begin right before the rocket engines lit. They were right under the rocket, mounted to the pad.
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user12
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Will the Falcon Heavy be far enough in 12 seconds to not cause damage?
Elon Musk has stated that he will consider it a success if the Falcon Heavy gets far enough away from the launch pad to not cause damage if it blows up. The Falcon Heavy underwent a 12 second static ...
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Why do Crew Dragon astronauts need to climb up one level using the stairs before ingress?
While watching the launch of SpaceX Crew Dragon, I noticed that, once the astronauts came out of the elevator in the fixed service structure, they had to 'climb up' one level using the stairs, before ...
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Why isn't SpaceX constructing the Super Heavy launch mount on top of the water?
With SpaceX creating their launch facility in Boca Chica Texas, right next to the water, why would they bother building a huge launch pad to withstand the blast, as opposed to building it on top of ...
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What is a launch vehicle resting on prior to launch?
While a launch vehicle is being fueled on the launch pad, what is holding it up? Surely not all that weight is being held up by the engine nozzles. What parts of the launch vehicle are supporting its ...
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How close can I get to a rocket launch and not get killed?
There was a question regarding the closest distance regular people are allowed to be near a rocket. At that distance (Baikonur I, 1.1 miles, 1.8 km), even if a rocket explodes, there is a small chance ...
user6738
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What kept crosswinds from pushing Apollo rockets into their own gantry?
Watching this unnamed Saturn V launch (Apollo 13?), I see the gantries pull away, and the rocket takes 13 seconds to clear the tower.
That seems like enough time ...
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Was LC39A built with a rocket much larger than the Saturn V in mind?
The interesting question What are the most difficult challenges SpaceX will face getting astronauts to Mars by about 2025? links to Elon Musk's position paper Making Humans a Multi-Planetary Species ...
user12102
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What is the base of a launchpad made of?
I'm curious as to what launchpad bases are made of - it seems to always be made of concrete, but wouldn't the concrete disintegrate rather quickly with jets of fire pounding on it?
user12
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Why do KSC crawler-transporters use caterpillar treads instead of rail tracks?
The two Kennedy Space Center crawler-transporters, used to transport Saturn V, Shuttle and SLS rockets to the launchpad, move on caterpillar treads:
Here's a SpaceFlight Insider video clip about ...
- 27.2k
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What damage/repairs have to be done to the launch pad every time SpaceX launches?
As SpaceX is a company that is very focused on rapid reusability, low-cost operation and a philosophy of "the best part is no part", what repairs have to be done to the towers and general ...
- 703
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Why does the CRS-8 Falcon 9 rocket appear to be swaying before launch?
I just saw the video from the YouTube channel SpaceX Edits titled SpaceX B1021: The First Rocket to Fly Twice (a supercut of highlights mentioned in the Pod Bay, and noticed the Falcon 9 for the CRS-8 ...
user12102
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Why are rocket mass on the launch pad and payload mass to LEO not strongly correlated?
What explains the relation between how much a launcher weights on the launch pad, and how much mass it can lift to orbit?
I had expected that more payload requires more fuel to be launched and that a ...
- 27.2k
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What exactly is the purpose of connection links strapped between the rocket and the launch pad
I am curious on what are those multiple connection cables latched between the rocket and launch pad.
What exactly is the purpose of it, I am aware that one should be for filling up the fuel. But ...
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How can a rocket go straight up after ignition? [duplicate]
We have seen during rocket launches that the rocket goes straight up after the launch clamps have disconnected.
What ensures that it doesn't tilt because of the uneven mass distribution?
How does a ...
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