Space Shuttle Countdown:

Landing to Launch

Although the distance between the VAB and the Launch pad is only about three and a half miles, moving the fully assembled Space Shuttle mounted on the Launcher Platform takes several hours. The process for onlookers is amazingly regal. Picture an eight-lane freeway spanned by one huge Crawler, supporting the Orbiter, Solid Rocket Boosters and External Engine atop the Launcher Platform, creeping slowly towards Pad. To get an idea of the size, click on the picture at right and compare the size of the Crawler with the size of the three people pictured!

This month our series will visit the process and people involved in getting the shuttle to the launch pad for the final preparations for launch. Join Brandt and Mike as they "walk" you down one of the tracks covered with inches of river rock. Feel the excitement of this larger-than-life experience.

WebCast uses RealMedia	See: Launch Control Center

February Programming

Event type	Date	Grade level	Time	Technology Required	Subject
	Wednesday Feb. 9	K-12	10-11am PST 1-2pm EST 6-7pm GMT	Special Chat Room Archive	Michael Ciannilli focuses on "the big picture" of space shuttle processing. He is maintains all of the Orbiter systems along with the full compliment of systems on the external tank and solid rocket boosters.
	Wednesday, Feb. 16	First hour: All ages Last 30 minutes for University level questions	10-11:30am PST 1-2:30pm EST 6-7:30pm GMT	Question Forum and RealVideo View Archive	The long trip to the Launch Pad Mike and Brandt show you up close the Mobile Launch Platform, the Crawler and the Crawlerway - describing that 3 1/2 mile pilgrimage.

• A Brief Introduction
• The Instructional Model
• Getting Started

As you prepare your students to attend the March segment of the Launch to Landing series, we would like to suggest some very simple activities that will help them make the most of this online experience! We encourage you to review the following three options and determine which may be appropriate for your classroom:

Step 1:Assign groups one of the following suggested topics to be covered during the week.
Read about the Mobile Launcher Platform
• How many tons does the unloaded platform weigh?
• By how many posts is the shuttle attached to the MLP?
• What is inside the two stories of the MLP?
• View the archive of the VAB tour in April 1999.
  Describe some of the ways the MLP has been adapted for the Shuttle.

Read about the Crawler-Transporter
• Calculate how long it will take the Crawler-Transporter to reach Launch Pad 39A if there are no delays?
• What does the Crawler do to keep the shuttle level during the climb to the launch pad?
• What happens at the launch pad to the Crawler?
• How many miles would be displayed on a Crawler odometer?
Both groups should read about the Crawlerway
• Read Brandt's description of the roll-out of STS-96
  
• Read Alan Wood's description of the roll-out of STS-90

Step 2: During the Internet Workshop, ask students to share their work and to formulate questions that will be presented during the live event.

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Option B - An Internet Workshop Project:
This type of Internet use brings the class together in teams to do a project.

Step 1:Make a proportional sketch of the size of the Crawler and/or the mobile launcher platform.

Assign students to work in groups to investigate and report:

• How many crawler-transporters are there?
• What was the first purpose of the mobile launcher platform?
• What changes have been made to the MLP and when?
• What specific roles do the crawler-transporter and MLP have?
• What happens at the launch pad to the MLP and the crawler?

Have individual students or small groups:
Write a journal describing what you think you would see if you watched the roll-out.

Listed below are NASA Web sites that may be used as a reference:


Mobile Launch Platform statistics
Mobile Launch Platform statistics description
Crawler Transporter statistics
Description of the Crawler Transporter
Crawlerway statistics
Crawlerway description
Space Shuttle Program History
STO Photo Gallery
STO Journals
Map of the Launch Control Center area
Launch Control Center - Firing Room

Step 2: Attend the event allowing your students to compose questions and incorporate what they learn into the project's outcome. Use the Internet Workshop as a forum for working on the project and filling in the timeline once they have attended the live event.

Option C - Inquiry Supported by Internet Workshop:
Students familiar with the Internet develop theories and use the Internet to conduct original research.

Step 1: Students are provided with the following framework and encouraged to direct their own learning about the LCC and Shuttle launch procedures.

• Question: Students identify an important question they wish to explore.
  • Engage in group or individual brainstorming during Internet Workshop.
  • Guide their initial research by helping them identify related topics and information.
• Search: Students use the Internet to find useful information related to their topic.
  • Use the Internet Workshop to demonstrate Internet search techniques.
  • Remind students of more traditional resources found in the classroom or school library.
• Analyze: Students analyze all of the information they have located and respond to the questions they initially posed.
  • Sometimes this will lead students to address another question they discover to be more important than their initial question.
• Compose: This phase requires students to compose a presentation of their work. This may take the form of a traditional written report, a poster session, a multimedia presentation, a web site, or an oral report.
  
• Share: Students share their work and respond to questions about that work. This may take place during the Internet workshop or during a special science or social studies fair.

• Some suggested links and activities to help students get started:
  • Space Team Online Home Page
  • NASA Quest Live Events Schedule
  • NASA Home Page
  • Kennedy Space Center Homepage

Step 2: Students then use the live interactive event to test their theories and promote their ideas. These findings and student strategies are reported during the Internet Workshop.