The Crew Access Tower built by United Launch Alliance was constructed to support astronaut boarding operations for space travel missions, providing safe and efficient access for crews and ground personnel to the spacecraft through an elevated access arm. In addition to its access function, the tower houses critical utilities, communications systems, and safety infrastructure required during launch preparations. Rising approximately 200 feet, the open-frame industrial structure is engineered to withstand the harsh coastal launch environment as well as the intense acoustic and vibration loads generated during rocket liftoff.
Structurally, the tower relies on heavy steel braced frames, multi-level platforms, and integrated access bridges, forming a rigid yet adaptable framework capable of supporting both crew systems and complex launch infrastructure. A significant portion of the structural steel was modularized off-site, with large prefabricated sections assembled at a nearby yard before being transported to the launch pad. These modules were then erected during carefully planned construction windows, allowing work to proceed between routine rocket launches from the active pad—minimizing disruption to ongoing operations while accelerating the overall construction schedule.
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Modularized Assembly of Frames
Tower was Erected on an Active Launch Pad in Between Regular Schedule Rocket Launches
Design-Assist
