The massive Apollo machines that never actually left the ground
In short: While the Apollo rockets famously reached the moon, the heavy-duty machinery that prepared them for flight stayed firmly on Earth. This video explores the distinct roles of the crawler transporters and mobile launch platforms.
The video clarifies the distinction between two often confused pieces of hardware: the crawler transporters and the mobile launch platforms. While the crawlers move the launch platforms and vehicles between the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the launch site, they are not part of the launch itself. Instead, the crawlers leave the platforms behind during launch attempts and return once the mission is complete.
This essential technology has a long legacy, having supported the Apollo, STS, and Constellation programs, and it is slated for use again with the SLS.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: More Bits Historic Apollo Hardware Which Never Left The Ground.
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