NASA - Moon and Mars at Kennedy

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Moon and Mars at Kennedy

Launch Pad 39B Handover
Pad 39B is prepared for Ares

Image: On Kennedy's Launch Pad 39B a crane removes the oxygen vent hood, called the "beanie cap," and the gaseous oxygen vent arm from the fixed service structure. A portion of the service structure is being removed for the pad's conversion as launch site for the Constellation Program's Ares I-X. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
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June 2009
The transfer of Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida from the Space Shuttle Program to the Constellation Program is the next step in preparing the first flight test of the agency's next-generation spacecraft and launch system.

The handover took place on May 31 after space shuttle Endeavour was moved to Launch Pad 39A for launch on the STS-127 mission. The ground operations team will finish modifying pad B for the Ares I-X rocket launch. Modifications will include removing the orbiter access arm and a section of the gaseous oxygen vent arm and installing access platforms and a vehicle stabilization system.