Space Shuttle Elevator

View up the shaft of the elevator at the new city hall, Hannover, Germany. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Space shuttle astronauts travel distances in excess of a million miles. They accomplish this feat by flying at speeds of 17,500 miles per hour at altitudes between 190 and 330 miles above the surface of Earth. Astronauts travel the first two hundred feet, however, by way of an elevator.

Reliable elevators that can withstand the incredible forces of heat and stress during take-off play a significant role in any launch procedure. During a shuttle launch, 320,000 gallons of water are released in an effort to reduce heat and vibration. The extreme heat of a launch vaporizes most of this water, giving the impression of smoke engulfing the launch pad. The elevator systems must be constructed in such a way as to withstand this stress with minimal damage.

After the astronauts are positioned in the shuttle, the two 600-feet per minute elevators are placed at the bottom of the elevator shaft where the doors are opened and power is removed. The elevators continue to play a significant role in the launch procedure. If at any time during the countdown sequence an emergency is detected, rescue personnel are instructed to take one of the elevators to the astronauts where they are then evacuated. The hatch door on the top of the elevator is left open in case the elevator stalls and rescue personnel need to exit quickly. If this is the case, they may either take the second elevator or continue the evacuation procedure by foot.

After launch, the hoistways (elevator shafts), elevator cabs, and safety equipment are inspected and repaired. It is not uncommon for doors to have been ripped off, bolts torn away from walls and elevator cab roofs to have blown off during a launch. The elevator machine room, which is located above the hoistway at 365.5 feet, is also prone to maintenance problems. Elevator repair crews may take a day or longer to restore the elevators to service. This allows other NASA personnel to complete their inspections and maintenance of other launch systems.

Continued wear and tear has led to the replacement and modification of many elevator components. For instance, the hoistways have been entirely enclosed with solid walls in an effort to restrict the flow of water into the elevator shafts. The electrical systems have also been updated or relocated to vibration-resistant rooms. The elevator cabs themselves have been replaced by stainless steel. The roofs of the elevator cabs are sloped in order to allow for better water drainage. Hopefully, the newly-updated elevator systems will last for the remainder of the space shuttle program.