VAB by wysiwig

Photography • Architecture • posted on Nov 01, 2009

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Description

People have asked me what it was like working in aerospace for thirty years. I generally respond that it was a waste of my time. I should have been pursuing my first passion, photography, during those thirty years. One exception to this was the time I spent as part of the launch operations team for my company. For about nine years, from the late 1980’s through the mid-1990’s, I would travel to Florida about once a year to support the launch of one of our company-built satellites aboard the Space Shuttle. I was privileged to witness six launches. I am pleased to share a part of this experience with you, beginning with the VAB. The Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, is located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. It is the fourth largest building in the world by volume. At 525 feet in height, the VAB is the largest one story building in the world. That’s right, one story. You can stand inside and look up at the ceiling 525 feet above you. What is not generally known is that, after the VAB was opened, the climate control for the building was discovered to be inadequate. Water vapor from operations and human expiration would accumulate near the ceiling and it would periodically ‘rain’ inside the building.

Comments (15)

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RodS Online Now!

1:09AM | Sun, 01 November 2009

Nice capture of this immense structure. There is no way to adequately describe the unbelievable size of this building. I had the pleasure of being on a tour of this building back when the Apollo program was active. Amazing!

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morningglory

6:12AM | Sun, 01 November 2009

Nice shot. Looking forward to the rest of your shots. I live nearby so I have seen a lot of launches over the years. Lucky you to have witnessed it up close.

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durleybeachbum

7:27AM | Sun, 01 November 2009

OOO! TMI! Raining other folks sweat and hot breath!

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auntietk

8:04AM | Sun, 01 November 2009

Largest by volume is a couple miles down the road from me ... Boeing's Everett plant. The ceiling height is only 112 feet, though. I drive by it all the time, but have never taken the tour. I'm waiting for a tourist, I guess! LOL!

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Faemike55

9:54AM | Sun, 01 November 2009

that truck in the parking lot gives a small indication of the sheer size of the building

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tennesseecowgirl

11:16AM | Sun, 01 November 2009

I have a friend that works for Nasa in Texas, nearly as many years as you have, I will have to send him this link. He has sent me some amazing photos from there, I have been to the visitor section in Florida, but hope to visit him in Texas someday and get a behind the scenes tour. Nice photo my friend.

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bangonthedrums

11:30AM | Sun, 01 November 2009

it's hard to capture such a behemoth in one frame, but you've done so quite well! nice to see the place where i worked temporarily early in my career... (thanks lynell for sending me the link!)

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sandra46

3:20PM | Sun, 01 November 2009

OUTSTANDING ! THANKS FOR SHARING

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flavia49

5:05PM | Sun, 01 November 2009

wonderful!! great shot!!! thanks for sharing!

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vaggabondd

8:53PM | Sun, 01 November 2009

Wow what a building, the rain is a funny little story on the building, thanks for sharing it with us

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psyoshida

9:36PM | Sun, 01 November 2009

A building that can generate it's own climate? Now that is a big building. I doubt your time there was a waste I'm sure you provided a valuable service to our space program. You were still able to take your wonderful photos at the same time. I look forward to this series. You're off to a spectacular start.

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danapommet

10:15PM | Sun, 01 November 2009

Great shot and I had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of the Gemini and Apollo launches in the mid 60s. Capsule retrievals. Dana

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myrrhluz

12:24AM | Mon, 02 November 2009

Very interesting huge box! I feel like my second son at a younger age. I want to point and say "What's that? What's it for? Why is that, there?" Driving with James in the car used to be quite an experience. Still is, but a little less hectic now. Wonderful capture! These Florida pictures are going to be very interesting! Did you notice that Nova starts a new series of 3 programs on human evolution this week?

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