FME's ALCO Engines Transport Space Shuttle
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August 29th, 2006
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With Tropical Storm Ernesto forecasted to bring up to 70-mph winds NASA is moving Space Shuttle Atlantis away from Launch Pad 39B back to the Vehicle Assembly Building as a precaution. The shuttle sits on top of the mobile launcher platform, which in turn rests on the crawler-transporter. The crawlertransporter, which weighs in at 5.5 million pounds, utilizes two (2) 16 cylinder FM/ALCO engines rated at 2,750 horsepower. At 1.6 mph the four mile journey takes six hours to traverse. First built in 1966 the crawler-transport recently celebrated 40 years of service of advancing space flight. Vehicles have included Saturn 1B Rockets, Apollo Saturn V Rockets that propelled US Astronauts to the moon, and all five shuttles that have been in space.
About Fairbanks Morse Engine
Since the company's inception in the 1870s Fairbanks Morse Engine, based in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA has been a worldwide leader in engine technology and manufacturing. Today, the core business of Fairbanks Morse Engine, an EnPro Industries company, is to provide its customers the highest quality diesel engines and generator sets, dual fuel engine generator sets, OEM replacement parts, and knowledgeable field service support. Primary markets include stationary power generation and marine propulsion for the United States Navy and commercial markets. |
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