From NasaCRgis

(Redirected from K6-0848)

K6-0848

Center:	Kennedy Space Center
Location:	Cape Canaveral, Florida
Year Built:
Historic Eligibility:	National Register Listed
Important Tests:

Back To Multimedia

[top] History

The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) was listed in the NRHP on January 21, 2000 under the historic context of the Apollo program. It has since gained importance in the context of the Space Shuttle program. It is considered significant under Criterion A in the area of Space Exploration, and under Criterion C in the area of Engineering. Because the VAB has achieved exceptional significance within the past 50 years, Criteria Consideration G applies. Structurally completed in 1965, the VAB was originally built to support the vertical assembly of the Saturn launch vehicles used for the Apollo, Skylab and the Apollo-Soyuz programs. Beginning in 1976, the VAB was reconfigured to support the Space Shuttle program. Currently, High Bays 1 and 3 are used for the integration and stacking of the complete Space Shuttle vehicle atop the MLP. Bays 2 and 4 are used for storage and processing of the Shuttle's external tank (ET). High Bay 2 is also used as contingency storage (safe haven) for the orbiters, and High Bay 4 serves as the site for payload canister operations and SRB contingency handling. Constructed specifically for the assembly of space flight vehicles, the VAB is distinguished by the specially designed platform systems that provide access to specific components. It is also one of the world’s largest buildings by volume. The resource boundary extends from the outer footprint of the building approximately 3 m (10 ft), which includes all necessary components historically required to support its functions.

[top] Photos

1966-01-27 Aerial of Vehicle Assembly Building & Saturn V Program Preparations	1966-06-17 Apollo Saturn V Test Vehicle	1967-01-01 Saturn V Vehicle for the Apollo 4 Mission in the Vehicle Assembly Building	1967-01-01 Saturn V Instrument Unit for the Apollo 4 Mission in the Vehicle Assembly Building	1967-01-01 Saturn V Instrument Unit for the Apollo 4 Mission in the Vehicle Assembly Building
1967-01-01 Saturn V S-II (Second) Stage for Apollo 6 in the Vehicle Assembly Building	1967-03-03 Apollo 4 Saturn V Launch Vehicle Mating inside Vehicle Assembly Building	1967-06-01 Saturn V S-IVB (Third) Stage for the Apollo 4 Mission in the Vehicle Assembly Building	1967-06-20 Apollo Spacecraft 017 moved for mating with Saturn V launch vehicle	1967-12-01 Saturn V S-IC (First) Stage for Apollo 8 in the Vehicle Assembly Building
1967-12-01 Saturn V S-IC (First) Stage for Apollo 8 in the Vehicle Assembly Building	1968-10-07 Apollo 103/Saturn 503 Mate	1968-12-03 First stage of Saturn launch vehicle in KSC Vehicle Assembly Building	1969-02-06 Hi-Bay 2 of KSC's Vehicle Assembly Building with Apollo spacecraft 106	1969-03-04 Stacking of S-II stage for Saturn 506, Apollo 11
1971-11-15 Skylab 4 Saturn IB AS-208 Launch Vehicle in storage	1972-01-27 Apollo 16 Saturn V Launch Vehicle is transferred from LC 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building, High Bay 3	1977-06-09 Aerial of VAB, OPF, and Shuttle Landing Facility Runway, NW.	1981-01-06 Mission Control during rollout of STS-1 from VAB to launch complex 39	1983-04-21 Aerial view of the Vehicle Assembly Building and surrounding area
1997-12-12 STS-89 Endeavour in Vehicle Assembly Building	2000-09-12 Aerial of the Vehicle Assembly Building	2003-02-25 Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls toward Bay 1 in the Vehicle Assembly Building	2003-03-14 Atlantis is lowered toward the floor of the transfer aisle in the Vehicle Assembly Building	2003-05-20 The external tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is destacked from the solid rocket boosters