The following photographs are from a collection of "LC-39 Site Activation Reports" which detail the fitting out of the Mobile Launchers. As 500F was at Pad A being checked out, 501 components were arriving at the VAB for testing. At one point S-II-1 was not available because of cracks found in it's tank welds. A spacer the size of the S-II was used for fit tests of the first stage and interstage. I've seen little mention of the use of a spacer and no photos of it until now.The "test cells" or "Checkout Cells" were in the lowbay area of the VAB and were used to checkout the S-II's and S-IVB's prior to stacking.
S-IVB-501 in test cell |
S-II Spacer arrives in transfer isle |
AS-501's Instrument Unit |
S-IC-1 in transfer isle |
S-II spacer and interstage in test cell |
S-II spacer and interstage being hoisted for mating with S-IC-1 |
S-II spacer being mated to S-IC-1 |
S-II/S-IVB interstage for 501 |
S-II-1 in transfer isle |
S-II-1 in test cell |
Copyright 1997-2005 by John
Duncan |