Cape Canaveral Updates

[Yazata]

The Pad 39A Ship Quick Disconnect Arm (SQD) just rolled out at Kennedy Space Center

[Image: G-LsVhRXsAA765N?format=jpg&name=medium]

[Yazata]

Photo by Julia Bergeron of nasaspaceflight.com showing the Roberts Road Gigabay under construction at Kennedy Space Center. It's harder to get close to this one like people can at Starbase, due to the stricter federal security arrangements at Cape Canaveral. This photo is from one of the public viewing areas a long distance away.

This GB and the one at Starbase are twins in a lot of ways, with 24 work stations each tall enough to be able to work on a completely stacked ship or booster. Lots of specialized equipment in each work station for particular tasks like robot welding or tile application. There will be bridge cranes running on rails near the ceiling to move giant vehicles around from station to station. The idea is series production of spaceships like Tesla churns out cars. Elon wants to build thousands of them.

Someday they will be flying back and forth to the Moon and Mars like airliners!

[Image: G-L2FilWYAAoMnv?format=jpg&name=medium]

[Yazata]

Aerial photo taken just a few days ago showing the current state of the Cape Canaveral Pad 39A Starship launch mount:

It's basically identical to the one at Pad 2 at Starbase, but with some subtle differences that caught the engineers' eyes. For one thing, it's about 1.5 meters lower. And the water, CH4 and LOX lines leading to it aren't as cramped.

(Photo taken from a Cessna by discussion board participant 'EventDudes' and published by RGV Aerial Photography. Don't worry, they stayed above the Flight Restrictions and used a very powerful telephoto lens.)

[Image: G_cYdPPWQAAJipf?format=jpg&name=medium]

Comparison view. Pad 39A at the left, the more complete Pad 2 at Starbase on the right.

(Comparison view by RGV Aerial Photography)

[Image: G_cmrHnWkAANDI2?format=jpg&name=medium]

NASA's Artemis II SLS on its Pad awaiting its launch as soon as February 6:

(Photo by EventDudes)

[Image: G_cWCbdXsAAq8ui?format=jpg&name=medium]