Launch pad

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A launch pad is an above-ground facility from which a

Most launch pads include fixed service structures to provide one or more access platforms to assemble, inspect, and maintain the vehicle and to allow access to the spacecraft, including the loading of crew. The pad may contain a flame deflection structure to prevent the intense heat of the rocket exhaust from damaging the vehicle or pad structures, and a sound suppression system spraying large quantities of water may be employed. The pad may also be protected by lightning arresters. A spaceport typically includes multiple launch complexes and other supporting infrastructure.

A launch pad is distinct from a missile launch facility (or missile silo or missile complex), which also launches a missile vertically but is located underground in order to help harden it against enemy attack.

The launch complex for liquid fueled rockets often has extensive

), as the vehicle awaits liftoff. This becomes particularly important as complex sequences may be interrupted by planned or unplanned holds to fix problems.

Most rockets need to be supported and held down for a few seconds after ignition while the engines build up to full

explosive bolts

, which are triggered when the vehicle is stable and ready to fly, at which point all umbilical connections with the pad are released.

Transport of rockets to the pad

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Soyuz rocket

to pad by train

.

Each launch site is unique, but a few broad types can be described by the means by which the space vehicle gets to the pad.^{[citation needed]}

• Horizontally integrated rockets travel horizontally with the tail forward to the launch site on a
  Electron
  launch vehicles.
• Silo launched rockets are assembled inside of a
  missile silo
  . This method is only used by converted ICBMs due to the difficulty and expense of constructing a silo that can contain the forces of a rocket launch.
• Vertically integrated rockets can be assembled in a separate
  Launch Complex 39 at the Kennedy Space Center is an example of a facility using this method.^[2] A similar system is used to launch Ariane 5 rockets at ELA-3 at Guiana Space Centre
  .
• Vertically assembled vehicles can also be transported on a mobile launcher platform resting on two parallel standard gauge railroad tracks that run from the integration building to launch area. This system is still in use for the
  Vulcan
  .
• At
  Kagoshima for the M-V
  .
• The former
  floating launch platform into geostationary transfer orbits
  .

• Ground segment – Ground-based elements of a spacecraft system
• Launch vehicle – Rocket used to carry a spacecraft into space
• List of rocket launch sites
• Missile launch facility
• Non-rocket spacelaunch
• Pad abort test – test of a spacecraft's launch abort systemPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
• Rocket launch
• Service structure – Structure built on a rocket launch pad to service launch vehicles
• Spaceport
• Stratolaunch Systems – American space transportation venture
• Transporter erector launcher – Self-propelled heavy missile systems

References