3.4 SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
3.4.1 Ground
The CSBF provides maintenance, operations and logistics support for NASA’s
scientific balloon program and facilities. In addition, they provide sophisticated
ground and flight systems for launch, control, data retrieval, commanding, and
recovery.
Other facilities and equipment available to support a launch include:
• Operations Control Center.
• Payload Integration Hanger.
• Vacuum Chamber.
• Tracking radar.
• Tracking Aircraft.
• Specialized launch equipment such as collar restraints, test equipment.
• Support vehicles such as helium trucks, balloon trucks, etc.
Some of the more visible categories of ground support equipment are the vehicles
that are present when preparing the balloon for launch. No matter the launch site,
they are always required for what is called the “dynamic method” of launch. This
established methodology is the safest way to launch such large balloons carrying
very expensive payloads (often costing millions of dollars).
In addition to the launch vehicle that brings out the gondola and instruments
and launches it are all the others that prepare the launch site, carry helium, materials, personnel, and various equipment. The following are descriptions and photos
of the launch vehicles.
Tiny Tim
The first launches from Palestine, TX were performed using a rented crane with
outriggers to keep the launch vehicle from tipping over onto its side. The NSBF
owned a 35 ton crane that was used for a long time, but during a balloon launch
under heavy wind the front end of the crane lifted off the ground and turned the
crane about 90°. NASA realized that renting a local crane to assist with inflation
and bringing the balloon and its payload to the site was inappropriate for the job.
NSBF engineers designed a more suitable, more sophisticated, and considerably
larger launch vehicle with the flexibility to provide an adequate launch platform
for any launch configuration and for heavy payloads. They let a contract to R. G.
LeTourneau Co., to develop the specialized new launch vehicle. This became the
famous “Tiny Tim”. This vehicle helped to improve the launch success rate. The
initial vehicle was a three wheeler, was difficult to maneuver and didn’t distribute
the load on the pad sufficiently. Later it was modified to a four wheel vehicle that
had hydraulic steering and reduced the loads on the launch pad.
3.4 Support Equipment 49
3.4.1 Ground
The CSBF provides maintenance, operations and logistics support for NASA’s
scientific balloon program and facilities. In addition, they provide sophisticated
ground and flight systems for launch, control, data retrieval, commanding, and
recovery.
Other facilities and equipment available to support a launch include:
• Operations Control Center.
• Payload Integration Hanger.
• Vacuum Chamber.
• Tracking radar.
• Tracking Aircraft.
• Specialized launch equipment such as collar restraints, test equipment.
• Support vehicles such as helium trucks, balloon trucks, etc.
Some of the more visible categories of ground support equipment are the vehicles
that are present when preparing the balloon for launch. No matter the launch site,
they are always required for what is called the “dynamic method” of launch. This
established methodology is the safest way to launch such large balloons carrying
very expensive payloads (often costing millions of dollars).
In addition to the launch vehicle that brings out the gondola and instruments
and launches it are all the others that prepare the launch site, carry helium, materials, personnel, and various equipment. The following are descriptions and photos
of the launch vehicles.
Tiny Tim
The first launches from Palestine, TX were performed using a rented crane with
outriggers to keep the launch vehicle from tipping over onto its side. The NSBF
owned a 35 ton crane that was used for a long time, but during a balloon launch
under heavy wind the front end of the crane lifted off the ground and turned the
crane about 90°. NASA realized that renting a local crane to assist with inflation
and bringing the balloon and its payload to the site was inappropriate for the job.
NSBF engineers designed a more suitable, more sophisticated, and considerably
larger launch vehicle with the flexibility to provide an adequate launch platform
for any launch configuration and for heavy payloads. They let a contract to R. G.
LeTourneau Co., to develop the specialized new launch vehicle. This became the
famous “Tiny Tim”. This vehicle helped to improve the launch success rate. The
initial vehicle was a three wheeler, was difficult to maneuver and didn’t distribute
the load on the pad sufficiently. Later it was modified to a four wheel vehicle that
had hydraulic steering and reduced the loads on the launch pad.
3.4 Support Equipment 49