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Building A Mobile Launch Pad

NASA's Mobile Launcher under construction at Kenned Space Center. Photo: JP Donovan Construction
NASA's Mobile Launcher under construction at Kenned Space Center. Photo: JP Donovan Construction

The building of NASA's SLS rocket starts on the Mobile Launcher. It's a giant piece of machinery that is towed into the Vehicle Assemble Building. When the rocket is ready for launch, it's towed across Kennedy Space Center to the pad.

This is the way it was done during Apollo and Shuttle. Now, NASA's Ground System Development and Operations (GSDO) is working to finalize the launcher ahead of Exploration Mission 1.

So just what goes into building a movable launch pad? Construction Manager Mike Canicatti joins the podcast to bring us up to speed. 

Brendan covers space news for WMFE, everything from rocket launches to the latest scientific discoveries in our universe. He hosts WMFE's weekly radio show and podcast "Are We There Yet?" which explores human space exploration. Brendan is a native Floridian, born and raised in Broward County. He moved to Central Florida in 2005 to attend the University of Central Florida. He began working at WMFE as a college intern where he discovered his love for public radio.