john f. kennedy space center brevard county, florida - Environmental ...

DESCRIPTION: LP 39B is comprised of four main features: the hardstand, the Flame Trench
and Deflector system, the Fixed Service Structure (FSS), and the Rotating Service Structure
(RSS), which includes the Payload Changeout Room (PCR). All components are constructed of
either poured concrete or structural steel.
The LP 39B hardstand has overall dimensions of 584 feet (ft) in length (north-south) and 546 ft in
width (east-west), which includes the sloping retaining walls. The top surface of the hardstand
sits at 53 ft above sea level, and has dimensions of 450 ft in length and 351 ft in width. The
Flame Trench sits just east of center, extending across the entire length of the hardstand. Built
within the hardstand are various subsurface areas. To both the west and east sides of the Flame
Trench are 37.5-ft-wide catacombs that span 352 ft in length. At the east end of the hardstand,
partially within the retaining wall, is the High Pressure Gas storage area, with a length of
approximately 110 ft and a width of roughly 56 ft. To the west of the Flame Trench, past the
catacombs, is a 112-ft by 96-ft environmental control systems (ECS) area, with the 143-ft by 65-
ft pad terminal control room (PTCR) to its south. To the north of the ECS area is the 30-ftdiameter
blast room. Additional areas within the hardstand include piping and cable tunnels. On
the surface of the hardstand, in line with the FSS, are six mount mechanisms that support the
Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP), with the assembled Space Shuttle Vehicle, at the pad. There
are three of these mechanisms on either side of the Flame Trench. The surface of the hardstand
also contains rail tracks for the solid rocket booster (SRB) side flame trenches, as well as for the
RSS.
The Flame Trench, which measures approximately 490 ft in length, 58 ft in width, and 42 ft in
height, is constructed of concrete and refractory brick. At the north end, where the flat surface of
the hardstand terminates, the trench walls angle towards the west and east, in conjunction with the
retaining wall system. The Deflector system contains two main elements. The first is an inverted
V-shaped steel structure that sits within the trench and has rough dimensions of 114 ft in length,
58 ft in width, and 42 ft in height. The apex of this deflector sits approximately 205 ft from the
north end of the hardstand surface, roughly in line with the south end of the FSS. The north side
of the deflector is shaped for the SRBs, while the south side is formed around the Space Shuttle
Main Engines (SSMEs). The other element of the Deflector system is the pair of moveable
deflectors that help direct the flames from the SRBs. Each deflector, which measures
approximately 50 ft in length, 58 ft in width, and 20 ft in height, sits on rails within the surface of
the hardstand. Their position along the north-south axis may be adjusted to anywhere between
the apex of the main deflector and the north end of the hardstand.
The FSS, formerly part of the Apollo-era Launch Umbilical Tower (LUT), measures
approximately 40 ft in both length and width, and 347 ft in height, including the hammerhead
crane and the lighting mast. The centerline of the FSS is positioned roughly 190 ft from the north
edge of the hardstand, and 66 ft from the western edge of the Flame Trench. To the northeast of
the centerpoint of the FSS is a set of metal stairs; to both the southeast and the southwest is an
elevator. The FSS has eleven platform levels, excluding the roof level and the hardstand surface.
The first level is at 80 ft above sea level, and the remaining ten levels continue at 20-ft intervals.
At the 100-ft level, there is a catwalk to the hypergolic area, and access is provided to the MLP.
The 140-ft level provides access to the PCR main floor, while the 160-ft level has a platform to
the orbiter midbody umbilical unit. At the 200-ft level is the orbiter emergency egress arm,
which measures 65 ft in length, 5 ft in width, and 8 ft in height, and provides access to the orbiter
crew compartment, and at the 220-ft level is an access point to the roof of the PCR and the
external tank (ET) gaseous hydrogen vent arm, which measures 48 ft in length and allows access
to the ET’s intertank compartment, as well as aiding in the mating of ET umbilicals to the vent
lines. The last elevator landing is at the 260-ft level, but the stairs continue to the top of the FSS.