Orbital Pegasus - Manual (Page 85)

Release 7.0 Apr 2010 B-2
Pegasus User’s Guide
B1.0 GROUND SUPPORT SERVICES
The payload processing area within the VAB will
be made available to the payload 30 calendar
days prior to launch for independent payload
checkout. This area is intended to allow payload
preparations prior to mate.
All work performed within the VAB is scheduled
through the Orbital Site Manager. Orbital will
support and schedule all payload hazardous or RF
test operations conducted within the VAB that
require Range notification or approval.
B2.0 PAYLOAD SERVICING AREAS
The VAB includes a payload preparation area
accessible via motorized roll-up doors and double
doors. Personnel access is via separate doors.
Separate areas in the facility are designated for
payload servicing, test, and integration with
sufficient space for payload-specific checkout
equipment.
The VAB is temperature and humidity controlled
and kept “visibly clean.” A soft wall cleanroom is
available if required for cleanliness levels greater
than visibly clean for payload preparation and
mating. The cleanroom will enclose Pegasus
Stage 3 during processing as shown in Figure B-1.
Floor loading is consistent with a fully loaded
Pegasus on its AIT.
B3.0 AVAILABLE GROUND SUPPORT
EQUIPMENT
The VAB is equipped with 552 Kpa (80 psi)
compressed air and 115 VAC/220 VAC 3-phase
power. Overhead sodium lamps provide a mini-
mum of 824 lux (75 ft-candles) of illumination in
the payload and vehicle processing areas. Full
lightning protection and dedicated extended
building grounding comply with the standards for
ordnance processing. Conductive floor surface
and continuous grounding strips support the full
building and personnel antistatic disciplines. All
personnel are required to wear leg stats when
working near the rocket in the high bay areas of
the VAB. Access to the integration facility is
strictly controlled with a badging system. The
number of payload personnel allowed in the entire
facility is limited to no more than 10 at any time
whenever Pegasus motors are in the facility. This
requirement will vary depending on total facility
activities and is driven by operational safety
constraints.
Orbital will provide a forklift, hydraulic lift table, 5-
ton bridge crane, and 1-ton cleanroom crane for
payload handling, as needed. Any payload-
specific handling hardware required for interfacing
with the lift table or crane (e.g., handling crane,
rotation fixture, attachments, test equipment, etc.)
should be supplied by the payload unless other
arrangements have been made.
B4.0 PAYLOAD WORK AREAS
Orbital will provide approximately 37 m2 (400 ft2)
of work space in the west coast VAB for payload
use starting 30 calendar days prior to a planned
launch operation and extending to 1 week after
launch. Approximately 9 m2 (100 ft2) of admini-
strative office space will be provided at a site close
to the VAB.