Apollo 13 And Newton's Laws

The NASA

Crawlers are two huge vehicles, pallets were set on heavy chains, designed to carry heavy weights from the assembly complex and rocket launchers (VAB Vehicle Assembly builiding) to the launch pad (Launch Complex 39). Only a distance of 5.6 km is traversed with extreme caution in about five hours. Were created for the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo lunar project and then used for the shuttle program.

were built identical duplicate of this huge vehicle. Were ordered to Marion Power Shovel, using components and designed by Rockwell International Corporation Belcrus. These vehicles, called Hans and Franz, were delivered to NASA

in 1965, with a guarantee of 50 years or 5,000 miles and a cost of $ 14 million each. Its dimensions are Herculean, measuring 40 meters long and 35 meters wide, as wide as an eight-lane American highway. Its height is adjustable between 6.1 meters and 7.9 meters, this is because the rear horizontal lifts to keep the spacecraft that carries and exceed 5% slope leading to the platform Release. To give us an idea of \u200b\u200bits accuracy, the top of the space shuttle carrying it never moves more than 25 cm, and talk of a rocket several hundred feet high. To maneuver with precision, Hans and Franz use laser technology.

Each unit weighs 2,400 tons, and is seated on four double sets of tracks. Each track has 57 links, each weighing 910 kg, the same as a Peugeot 107. The tracks were replaced in 2004 after an inspection revealed the precarious state after four decades of use. The capacity of these behemoths is perhaps its most important feature, but it is a fact that has not been published. It is estimated that some 5,000 tons have already been loads of 4,000 tons.

Its two diesel engines are 16 cylinder unit and a power of 2,750 hp. Their combined power is 5,500 hp, which supplies power to four electric generators of 1,340 hp, which then act on 16 traction motors. Two generators powered by two 1,000 hp diesel engines of 1,065 HP are responsible for feeding the hydraulic systems, lighting, ventilation and other auxiliary tasks. There are two generators of 200 hp at standby mode.

Fuel consumption is 35,000 liters per 100 km. The fuel tank has a capacity of 19,000 liters, enough for a few trips back and forth to the launch area. Top speed with load is 1.6 km / h, has a peak load of 3.2 km / h. A person on foot is faster. Five technical

are needed to operate, they bear considerable responsibility. Despite the high level of automation and electronic renewal of the machines, the human factor is essential when carrying a load whose base is 27 by 27 meters. Since its purchase in 1965, machines have accumulated some 4,000 km, with most shot Franz. This distance is equivalent to a return trip between Cape Canaveral and New York.

Best of all, we still are under warranty and NASA plans to continue using them in the future. From 2010 onwards, instead of carrying rocket launchers move Ares I and Ares V, designed to carry heavy loads. We are thinking of providing engine more potent at the Crawler to that effect.