Why do launch vehicles need to be transported vertically?

What is rocket vertical transfer?

The so-called transfer, also called transfer, is to transfer the rocket that has already carried the payload vertically from the assembly plant to the launch tower. After the rocket is assembled and tested, it can be transported to the launch pad in two ways: horizontal transportation and vertical transportation. In the early days of aerospace development, horizontal transportation was widely used because it was relatively simple. Nowadays, countries are increasingly favoring vertical transportation.

Why use vertical transportation?

Vertical transportation can keep the status of the rocket and spacecraft unchanged to the greatest extent, and improve the reliability and safety of the test. If the rocket is transported horizontally and erected only for launch, the reliability may not be high. Therefore, after the rocket is assembled and transported to the launch pad, vertical transport is generally used.

Mobile launch platform

Core mission: transport the rocket from the factory to the launch tower nearly 3 kilometers away

Movement method: leaning like a train wheel The heavy-duty steel rails, driven by the power supply car, slowly move forward

Unique features: Unlike the launch platforms used at launch sites in the past, the Wenchang Space Launch Site handles almost all ground support work They are all concentrated on this launch platform. This is mainly because Hainan has a changeable climate and frequent typhoons, so it is necessary to minimize the stay time of the rocket at the launch site and complete the launch quickly

"Chang 7" rocket< /p>

The core stage of the Long March 7 launch vehicle has a diameter of 3.35 meters, a booster diameter of 2.25 meters, a take-off mass of about 597 tons, and a low-Earth orbit carrying capacity of 13.5 tons. Therefore, it looks smaller than the Long March 2, which has frequently appeared in recent years. The F rocket is more stocky.