Horizontal Integration Facility

A horizontal integration facility (HIF) is a location within which the stages of a multistage rocket are brought together, before the assembled stack is rolled out to the launch pad or complex (LC) and raised into vertical position for launch.

Contents

HIF in the United States

Site Pad Vehicle HIF
Coordinates		 Description Images Ref.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station SLC-37 Delta IV A seven-story white building containing 2 bays measuring 250 feet by 100 feet each. Construction was completed in June 2000. Its floors are said to be the most level in the US[1] varying only 3/8 inch across each bay. The first and second stages of the rocket, along with any boosters that are being used for that flight, are integrated in the HIF, and then the stack is moved to the pad and raised to vertical. The payload and fairing are assembled later. [1][2]
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station SLC-40 Falcon 9 A HIF is being built by SpaceX. It will be on the south side of the pad and will measure 225 feet long by 75 feet wide and stand about 50 feet tall.[3] [4]
Kwajalein Atoll Omelek Island Falcon 1 A HIF has been built by SpaceX. Aerial view Exterior Interior [5]
Vandenberg Air Force Base LC-6 Delta IV A "cavernous"[6] HIF exists. Aerial view Exterior [6]
Wallops Flight Facility Antares [7] Proposed site of a HIF to be built by Orbital Sciences. [8]

HIF elsewhere

Most Russian, Ukrainian and former Soviet launchers are integrated horizontally including Dnepr-1, Proton, Rockot, Shtil' and Soyuz.

References

  1. ^ a b Heavy-lifting Delta 4 rocket to take test flight, Spaceflight Now, Justin Ray, 2003-11-19.
  2. ^ Complex 37, GlobalSecurity.org, John Pike, 2005-01-06.
  3. ^ New SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket tests its Cape Canaveral pad, Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now, 2009-01-12.
  4. ^ Space Launch Report: SpaceX Falcon Data Sheet, Ed Kyle, 2008-12-02.
  5. ^ Falcon 1 Users Guide (Revision 7), SpaceX, 2008-05-15, page 35.
  6. ^ a b Launch Facility Profile: Vandenberg Air Force Base, The Aerospace Corporation, 2006-02-17.
  7. ^ Taurus II Development News, NASASpaceFlight.com Forums, Reply #7, Antonioe, 2009-01-09.
  8. ^ Development Status of a Medium-Class Launch Vehicle for ISS Cargo and Satellite Delivery, David Steffy, Orbital Sciences Corporation, 2008-07-15, page 9.

See also