ATDC Banner.  Aerial view of ATDC Complex on left.  ATDC logo.  View of launch pad on right.

ATDC Phased Development Overview

The ATDC will be developed in five Phases, each Phase will build upon existing infrastructure.  Please refer to the LC-20 Site Map below:

For further information on the ATDC Project Phases, please click on the appropriate link below:

ATDC Phase 1 | ATDC Phase 2 | ATDC Phase 3 | ATDC Phase 4 | ATDC Phase 5

 

 

ATDC Phase 1

This Phase will develop a Liquid Oxygen (LO2 ) Area (max capacity 56,000 gallons LO2), containing the appropriate infrastructure to safely provide, control, distribute, test, and remove LO2.  Supporting facility and GSE systems, such as a Gaseous Nitrogen (GN2) purge capability, safety systems, instrumentation system, command and control system, closed-circuit cameras, and communications, will also be provided at this time.  At the end of Phase 1, the ATDC will be able to qualify LO2 cryogenic components and will support the Shuttle Program by performing LOX Pump qualification testing.

Liquid Oxygen Area Infrastructure Provided:

  • Cryogenic (LO2) Subsystem
  • Pneumatic (GN2) Subsystem
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Camera Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems (e.g., Power, Grounding, Potable Water, Roads)
  • Structures
  • Safety Subsystems (e.g., Safing, Lightning Protection, Area Warning, Emergency Shower)

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ATDC Phase 2

This Phase will develop a Liquid Hydrogen (LH2 ) Area (max capacity 68,000 gallons LH2), a Liquid Nitrogen (LN2 ) Area (max capacity 28,000 gallons LN2), and a Launch Mount.  As with the LO2 Area, the appropriate supporting facility and GSE systems will be provided.  At the end of Phase 2, the ATDC will be able to qualify LH2 and LN2 cryogenic components and could support companies developing “2nd Generation Vehicles” by being able to support cryogenic loading testing on company-provided simulators and equipment.

Liquid Hydrogen Area Infrastructure Provided:

  • Cryogenic (LH2) Subsystem
  • Pneumatic (GHe) Subsystem
  • Pneumatic (GN2) Subsystem
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Camera Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems (Deploy in Complex 20 Blockhouse for Hazardous Ops)
  • Structures
  • Safety Subsystems

Liquid Nitrogen Area Infrastructure Provided:

  • Cryogenic (LN2) Subsystem
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Camera Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems
  • Structures
  • Safety Subsystems

Launch Mount Infrastructure Provided:

  • Cryogenic (LH2, LN2, LO2) Subsystem
  • Pneumatic (GN2, GHe) Subsystem
  • Umbilical/Hold-down Subsystem
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Camera Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems
  • Safety Subsystems

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ATDC Phase 3

This Phase will develop a non-flight Test Demonstrator and its Park Site.  The Test Demonstrator will contain avionics, instrumentation and cryogenic tanks that can be loaded multiple times and used as a testbed to develop the next-generation cryogenic loading system.  A permanent capability to create Densified Cryogenics (LO2 and LH2) will be added during this Phase.  The instrumentation systems initially deployed in the LO2 Area, LH2 Area, LN2 Area, and Launch Mount will receive augmentation.  At the end of Phase 3, the ATDC will facilitate research and development of umbilical systems, cryogenic loading concepts, and new instrumentation to provide more insightful information on system health and abnormal trending.

Test Demonstrator Infrastructure Provided:

  • Cryogenic (LH2, LN2, LO2) Subsystem
  • Pneumatic (GN2, GHe) Subsystem
  • Umbilical/Hold-down Subsystem
  • Avionics Subsystem
  • Structures
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Camera Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Transporter Subsystem
  • Facility Systems (Including Park Site)
  • Safety Subsystems

Cryogenic Densification Area Infrastructure Provided:

  • Cryogenic (LH2, LN2, LO2) Subsystem
  • Pneumatic (GN2, GHe) Subsystem
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Camera Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems
  • Safety Subsystems

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ATDC Phase 4

This Phase will extend existing High-Pressure GN2 and Gaseous Helium (GHe) Pipelines to SLC 20, and add both a 2,000 sq. ft. Shop Facility, and a 5,000 sq. ft. Processing Facility.  The instrumentation, safety systems and infrastructure deployed during Phases 1 through 3 will be augmented and receive a  “Technology Refresh.”  The Test Demonstrator will grow in fidelity; avionics systems will be added to help develop new instrumentation to better understand the loading processes and leak isolation techniques.  A Checkout and Control System, deployed in the Processing Building, will provide new control software to lessen the workload of the operator.  At the end of Phase 4, the ATDC could support multiple research, development, test, and qualification activities, with a relatively quick reconfiguration time.

Processing Facility Infrastructure Provided:

  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Camera Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems (including accommodation for the Checkout and Control System)
  • Safety Subsystems

Shop Facility Infrastructure Provided:

  • Pneumatic (Air) Subsystem
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems
  • Safety Subsystems

Checkout and Control System Infrastructure Provided:

  • Computer Processing Subsystem
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems (to support both hazardous and non-hazardous operations)
  • Safety and Safing Subsystems

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ATDC Phase 5

This Phase will expand the usage and capabilities of the ATDC to support emerging or commercially viable Spaceport Technologies.  Extensive market research to reevaluate spaceport technologies will be performed prior to this phase.  The ATDC will utilize “technology insertion” and feedback from both the market research and from operational analysis to selectively upgrade infrastructure deployed in earlier phases.  The Checkout and Control System, as well as the instrumentation, safety systems and infrastructure deployed during Phases 1 through 4will be augmented with a  “Technology Refresh.”  This Phase has been budgeted to reflect 30% of the total cost of the ATDC infrastructure deployed in Phases 1 through 4.  At the end of Phase 5, the ATDC will be a “world class” site for developing, testing and qualifying Spaceport Technologies.

 Future Infrastructure to be Provided:
NOTE: Some of the subsystems identified below may be deleted.

  • Cryogenic Subsystem
  • Pneumatic Subsystem
  • Umbilical/Hold-down Subsystem
  • Camera Subsystem
  • Computer Processing Subsystem
  • Instrumentation Subsystem
  • Control Subsystem
  • Communications Subsystem
  • Facility Systems
  • Safety Subsystems

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Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you!


ATDC Project Manager: Dave Taylor
ATDC Facility Manager: Mike Dunkel
Pump Test Project Manager: Wayne Prince
ATDC Web Development: ATDC Web Team
Page Last Revised: March 30, 2006


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