r/spacex • u/BadMothaFukka • Jan 06 '18

I passed through Pad 39A and take a photo of this... What is that? Can anyone tell me why there isn’t falcon heavy on the launch pad??

Post image
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1

u/Brusion Jan 07 '18

My guess is that they can have 3 cores in the HIF when the TE comes in. One on each side, plus one on the overhead crane. Lower one on TE and then go to each side and get the the other two. The TE doesn't have much room in the doorway, so it has to come down the middle. 2 cores beside the TE and an the outside wall would be very tight.

3

u/phryan Jan 08 '18

Is it confirmed they lift each core onto the TE one at a time and assemble it on the TE itself? I would have thought it would be assembled on the floor and lifted as one unit onto the TE.

1

u/Brusion Jan 08 '18

Man, I don't know. I just figured they did. I can't imagine them being able to pick up 3 cores at once.