Exclusive Look Inside Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building Ahead Of Space Launch

There are many iconic scenes at Kennedy Space Center but one of the biggest is known as the VAB, which stands for the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Friday, November 13th 2020, 9:39 am

By: News On 6


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There are many iconic scenes at Kennedy Space Center but one of the biggest is known as the VAB, which stands for the Vehicle Assembly Building.

It sits roughly three-and-a-half miles from Launch Pad 39-A where the SpaceX Crew-1 is scheduled to blast off from on November 15, 2020.

The VAB sits on 8 acres and is 525 feet tall and 518 feet wide.

From the outside, it is a recognizable piece of space history.

Finished in 1966, it was the final assembly point before launch.

But inside, it's overwhelming to see its size.

There are five overhead cranes to help move, assemble, and position the various parts.

It was also the final assembly point for the shuttle to the external fuel tanks and solid rocket boosters.

Very few people have been allowed inside, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine gave News On 6 that chance.

Bridenstine said this job has been a dream come true.

"When you run NASA, you have a front-row seat to the creation; you have scientists who come and tell you what the latest discovery--like we found methane on Mars. The methane cycles of Mars match the seasons of Mars and all of these discoveries have implications on what we're going to do next," said Bridenstine.

Right now at the VAB, engineers and crews are working on the SLS (NASA's Space Launch System).

It will be a powerful and advanced launch vehicle for beyond earth's orbit.

News On 6's LeAnne Taylor got to see some of the parts before assembly, such as the booster rocket and the mobile launch platform.

LeAnne said it was hard to tell when she walked onto the launch platform, until they told her.

So, the SLS is what will eventually send the next crew to the moon, which will include a woman!

That program is called Artemis and the crewed launch is expected to happen in 2024.

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