The installation of the Crew Access Arm and White Room by NASA, Boeing and United Launch Alliance (ULA) completes the major construction of the first new Crew Access Tower to be constructed on Florida’s Space Coast since the Apollo era.
Crew members will cross the arm and prep in the White Room before climbing through the Starliner’s hatch and getting into place for liftoff on Commercial Crew Program missions carrying astronauts to the International Space Station to conduct research in orbit.
A standard commercial crew mission to the station will carry up to four NASA or NASA-sponsored crew members and about 220 pounds of pressurized cargo. The spacecraft will remain at the station for up to 210 days, available as an emergency lifeboat during that time.
Space Launch Complex 41 is one of the most active launch complexes in Brevard County, Florida, and construction of this tower has taken place between launches, with segments of the structure being built off-site and then assembled at the pad.
Photo credit: NASA
