Astrovan
The Astronaut Transfer Van , also known as the Astrovan , describes several vehicles that NASA used in the past to transport astronauts on the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center .
The first Astronaut Transfer Van was used for the astronauts on the Apollo missions. NASA also used this vehicle on the first space shuttle missions, as the crews for these missions consisted of only a few people. Only after a larger team required more space, was from the Mission -9 STS in November 1983 with a converted motor home type Airstream Excella used a larger vehicle, which was designated as Astrovan. The predecessor has since been exhibited in the Kennedy Space Center visitor center .
The vehicles transported astronauts on various tasks. This included transport from the Operations and Checkout Building to the launch pad for take-off exercises and the actual take-off, as well as transport back to the Operations and Checkout Building for astronauts on the Space Shuttles after landing. During the 20-minute drive to the launch pad for space shuttle launches, the vehicle stopped at least once to drop a pilot at the Shuttle Landing Facility , where he took off with the Shuttle Training Aircraft for weather observation. In addition, in addition to the driver and the astronauts, high-ranking NASA employees who were dropped off at the Launch Control Center along the way often drove with them.
Longtime Astrovan driver Ronnie King reported that NASA was ready to purchase a new Astrovan. The majority of astronauts have always spoken out against it, as this was a tradition of astronauts.
After the end of the space shuttle program, the last Astrovan was decommissioned.
