Shuttle Processing - great pics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a series of photographs related to shuttle processing, focusing on the procedures and safety measures observed during the payload insertion at the launch pad. Participants express their thoughts on the unusual aspects of the process and the safety protocols in place.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express appreciation for the photographs and find them interesting.
  • There is a discussion about the payload being inserted while on the pad, with some participants finding this surprising and questioning the rationale behind it.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the lack of hard hats among workers around the shuttle, with some suggesting that the hangar environment may be exceptionally safe.
  • One participant speculates that the infrastructure for loading cargo might be a safety precaution to minimize exposure to high-value payloads.
  • Another participant suggests that the decision to load the payload at the pad could relate to load capacity or balancing issues with the crawler.
  • Some participants discuss the nature of hard hats, suggesting they primarily protect against minor accidents rather than larger falling objects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the interest and quality of the photographs, but there are multiple competing views regarding the safety protocols and the rationale for loading the payload at the pad. The discussion remains unresolved on these points.

Contextual Notes

Participants express various assumptions about safety measures and the operational procedures without reaching a consensus on the reasons behind them. There are also unresolved questions about the specifics of the loading process and the safety environment of the hangar.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in aerospace engineering, safety protocols in high-stakes environments, and photography of shuttle processing may find this discussion relevant.

Ivan Seeking
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http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB11&Number=1016238
 
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A great series of photos, I enjoyed seeing those. Thanks!
 
Thanks, Ivan. That's very interesting, and excellent photography.
 
I didn't realize they insert the payload while on the pad. That's a little odd.
 
How come people working around shuttle don't wear hard hats? Is that hangar really that safe?
 
I had the same thoughts as Russ. It seems kinda strange to have all that extra infrastructure to load the cargo. There are no photos of that portion of the prep. Maybe it is a safety precaution to mate the cargo at the last moment to mitigate any hazzard exposure to the cargo, as sometimes it is worth hundreds of millions of dollars if not more? Seems like a lot of steps to go through tho. Realy cool photographs, Thanks.
 
Adding the payload at the pad kind of surprised me, too. I wonder if it might have something to do with either the load capacity or balancing issues with the crawler.
 
what said:
How come people working around shuttle don't wear hard hats? Is that hangar really that safe?

Yeah, it's an unusual sight. I would guess that nothing falls in that place, as in "NOTHING falls". Every nut and bolt must be secured and accounted for, unlike your typical building site. At some point, not even a hair falls as all workers wear clean room attire.
 
Great pics!

out of whack said:
Yeah, it's an unusual sight. I would guess that nothing falls in that place, as in "NOTHING falls". Every nut and bolt must be secured and accounted for, unlike your typical building site. At some point, not even a hair falls as all workers wear clean room attire.

Either that, or anything capable of falling is too big for your average hard-hat to be of any use!

When I've been on geology field trips and forced to wear a helmet, the guide has always stressed to us "This thing will protect you from falling pebbles. Anything larger and whether or not you have your helmet on will be inconsequential."
 
  • #10
That's why hard hats are largely protection against your own stupidity, not objects falling on you. If there's nothing for you to bump your head on, no need for a hard hat.
 
  • #11
Very cool photos!
 

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