The Construction of Space Shuttle Launch Complex 39-B
A very personal and technical written and photographic history, by James MacLaren.
Page 3: Introduction - First Look, Basic Elements.
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This will be our first photograph of the series. Taken on the sly, from just outside the Sheffield Steel field trailer in which I "worked."
This photograph has been altered to correspond with what you see in the sketch I first introduced on the preceeding page, so that you may better understand what's in the sketch, by the fading-out of all structural elements which had been raised by a crane and either welded or bolted into place by Union Ironworkers from Local 808, working for Wilhoit Steel Erectors, between the time the sketch had been created and the photograph was taken.
I would guess that a period of a few weeks, maybe a full month but probably not, went by between the creation of the sketch and the taking of this first photograph.
The erection of primary-framing structural steel is a surprisingly-fast process, so we're already learning how this stuff works. In the time it takes for you or I to build a moderately-detailed scale model of something, union ironworkers have already finished their first hundred vertical feet and are well on their way with the second. There will be much more to come. Much more to learn.
Above the low concrete hulk of the pad itself, from left to right, you are seeing:
The water tower which fed Sound Suppression Water into the pad, and the dark tangle of the 9099 Building (which includes much more than the "9099 Building" itself, but this whole deeply-complicated area was invariably referred to as the 9099 Building, so that's what we're going to call the whole area too, unless further cosiderations dictate that we specify any of the other systems and/or equipment in this area by thier own specific names) on top of the pad, below and in front of the water tower.
The tall red multi-platformed structure of the FSS, with the Hammerhead Crane on top of it, and the Lightning Mast on top of that.
The bewildering snarl of steel comprising the nascent RSS resting on and supported by the falsework which held it up until it became self-supporting and the falsework could then be removed.
Falsework is a whole world unto itself, well-worthy of further consideration, and will be given that consideration in due time.
But not right now.
We're still trying simply to find our way around this place, and I'm not going to hit you with too much, too soon, ok?
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