The Largest land vehicle on the planet (NASA-Crawler-Transporter)

credit: third party image reference

The crawler-transporters, officially known as the Missile Crawler Transporter Facilities, are a couple of followed vehicles used to move rocket from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) along the Crawlerway to Launch Complex 39. They were initially used to ship the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz programs. They were then used to ship Space Shuttles from 1981 to 2011. The crawler-transporters convey vehicles on the portable Launcher stages utilized by NASA, and after each dispatch come back to the cushion to return the stage to the VAB.]

The two crawler-transporters were planned and worked by Marion Power Shovel Company utilizing segments structured and worked by Rockwell International at an expense of US$14 million each. Upon its development, the crawler-transporter turned into the biggest self-fueled land vehicle on the planet. While different vehicles, for example, basin wheel excavators like Bagger 293, dragline excavators like Big Muskie and force scoops like The Captain are altogether bigger, they are controlled by outside sources.

The two crawler-transporters were added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 21, 2000.


credit: third party image reference

The crawler-transporter has a mass of 2,721 tons (6 million pounds) and has eight tracks, two on each corner.[1] Each track has 57 shoes, and each shoe weighs 900 kg (1,984 lb). The vehicle estimates 40 by 35 meters (131 by 114 ft). The range from ground level to the stage is customizable from 6.1 to 7.9 m (20 to 26 ft), and each side can be raised and brought down freely of the other. The crawler utilizes a laser direction framework and a leveling framework to keep the Mobile Launcher Platform level inside 10 minutes of circular segment (0.16 degrees; around 30 cm (1 ft) at the highest point of the Saturn V), while climbing the 5 percent evaluation to the dispatch site. A different laser docking framework gives pinpoint precision when the crawler-transporter and Mobile Launch Platform are situated in the VAB or at the platform. A group of about 30 designers, experts and drivers work the vehicle, fixated on an inside control room, and the crawler is driven from two control taxis situated at either end.


credit: third party image reference