Pads 39-A and 39-B are virtually identical and roughly octagonal in shape. The distance between pads is 2.6 km. The pad base contains 52,000 cubic meters of concrete. The ramp leading up to the pad is inclined at a 5% grade. The flame trench is 13 meters deep, 137 meters long and 18 meters wide. The orbiter flame deflector is 11.6 meters high, 22 meters long and 17.5 meters wide. It weights 590 t . The SRB deflector is 12.95 meters high, 12.8 meters long and 17.4 meters wide. It weights 499 t. The Sound Suppression Water System is used to protect the launch structure from the intense sound pressure of liftoff. Its water tank is 88.9 meters high and has a capacity of 1,135,000 liters.
There are 6 permanent and 4 extensible pedestals that are used to support the mobile launch pedestal (MLP) at the pad. Dynamic loads at rebound are 3,175,200 kg to 4,762,800 kg at liftoff. The pad is lit with 5 clusters of Xenon high-intensity searchlights (total searchlights: 40) around the pad perimeter.
The height of the Fixed Service Structure (FSS) is 105.7 meters to the top of the lightning mast (referenced to the pad base) and the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) is 57.6 meters high. The Fixed Service Structure (FSS) and Rotating Service Structure (RSS) on Pad 39A underwent a renovation between June and September 1993. Some 13,773 gallons of paint were used on two coats and 1,866 tons of sand were used in the sandblasting operation.
Watch the video and have a close glimpse of launch pad systems
(Courtesy: NASA )
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