Space Launch System: Construction of the Mobile Launch Platform

A NASA compiled footage of NASA engineers building the SLS Mobile Launch Platform and Launch Tower outside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. After installation of the retractable rocket arms, the MLP is moved via the crawler transporter to pad 39B for testing - the first time since the Space Shuttle!
After systems testing at the pad, the structure is rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay area, for the assembly and vertical stacking of the Space Launch System components from CAHRF, ready for its epic first mission - Exploration Mission 1.
#spacelaunchsystem
#nasa
#mobilelaunchplatform
#kennedyspacecenter
Credit: NASA
Music by Stellardrone.

[@1sts118]

Only 149 views ? One more again thanks for Stellardrone's music , the best space music composer !

[@AluminumOxide]

he’s my all time favorite space music composer, and yes the best space music ever, that’s also free to use!

[@leerussel2033]

So glad too see it finally being used. Can't wait for the launch Go Artemis!

[@jonahsgang8830]

Can’t wait to see this fly in November

[@Bluethunder29]

Fun fact: enclave using this to signal satalite to strike liberty prime

[@maxborde210]

Så much development, buildings and construction etc. Not a flat area, and lonely area anymore!

[@mattgixxer776]

GOOSEBUMPS.

[@triumphtr6551]

Would like to see the tower painted orange like the Saturn V days. It would stand out much better than the gray and pay homage to the Apollo program.

[@noeprado1778]

Maybe save that for future missions to the moon? Those should be the ones to pay homage to the Apollo program.

[@masonmtb7]

@@noeprado1778 this MLP is the mobile launcher for the SLS for the artemis program. Which is going to the moon

[@okankyoto]

The orange was partially lead-based which is a big part of why it was phased out. Even the military dropped it for that reason.

[@derekwood6705]

Paint orange or red like the Apollo days

[@andyelkins883]

looks like a mini half scale saturn v pad

[@firstlast9731]

amazing

[@albclean]

Got something finnished.

[@bryanbree5915]

I sense that mankind in general still has not embraced space travel!!!!

[@JohnnyThund3r]

Gotta say the animation at the end kinda ruined it a bit for me... but everything else was magnificent! A work of Art!

[@MaRs-tah]

That was the LR11000?

[@mattgixxer776]

2019 is going to be epic.

[@RUNDNB85]

maiden flight slipped to June 2020, so 2019 ain't going to be that epic as you put it

[@mattgixxer776]

True. What about SLS? Also we will have more falcon heavy flights. And some really good BFR structure updates hopefully. I'm keeping optimistic lol.

[@RUNDNB85]

you won't see much of sls next year I reassure you of that and you might see one falcon heavy launch but apart from that nothing special 2020 will be a good year I'm sure.

[@RUNDNB85]

dragon v2 and Falcon​ 9 will get human-rated next year that will be interesting.

[@mattgixxer776]

vlad the lad ah yes falcon 9 will carry NASA astronauts soon. Forgot about that. What about boeings capsule? Is that thing gonna fly on top of an atlas V next year?

[@ninovitaliano7943]

^^^ the guy above me wants the tower painted orange ^^^

[@iztormazanders4797]

apollo part 2

[@RBFR01]

why do they wet the ground as the crawler drivers over?

[@AluminumOxide]

To keep rock dust down

[@daleval2182]

I'd this still ongoing

[@jdmlegent]

That looks a lot with the Saturn V Mobile Launch Platform... a little smaller tower in length though. I wonder , they scrapped the old Saturn platforms? If yes, how stupid of them...they could have reused the Saturn's crawler, platforms and towers!

[@goatdocfilms504]

that is a saturn mobile launch platform. after apollo program they used the mobile launch platform for the shuttles, they just retrofitted the platforms for shuttle use. and now again for SLS.

[@scottlyttle5586]

Well, they have reused the Saturn's Crawlers..or one of them, at least.. CT-2 was upgraded for heavier vehicles, like the SLS. As for the towers, well, they were rusting after years of non-use, and the paint on them that was flaking off was an environmental hazard. Much as fans were trying to raise money to refurbish them for museum items, not enough money was raised. (and some of the Saturn LUT towers were used on the Fixed Service structure at pads 39A and B..)

[@jonahsgang8830]

If space x would want to use them you would see them a lot more

[@_mikolaj_]

The only thing left from saturn/shuttle towers at this point is the Crew AccessTower at LC-39B, now used by spacex And an MLP that is yet to be scrapped. OG Saturn MLs are long gone, they were reconfigured for shuttle years ago. Besides with now much heavier rocket to transport, sometimes its better to start from scratch.

[@PopExpo]

Paint that shit orange.

[@albclean]

Probably took four government employees to watch one person fly the drone. Wonder why things cost so much when the government gets doing things

[@thethirdman225]

My, aren't we cynical?

[@scottlyttle5586]

answer: top heavy management.