Crawler-transporter

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/crawler-transporter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the vehicle type?Crawler-transporter
2. What is the location of operation?Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA
3. How does the Crawler-transporter move?It has 16 crawler assemblies, each with 57 treads, that can steer independently. The treads are powered by electric motors that are fed by generators from two diesel engines.
4. Why does the Crawler-transporter use a special 13‑mile path?The path, called the crawlerway, is 100 feet wide and made of compacted gravel. It spreads the transporter’s weight so the ground doesn’t get crushed and keeps the ride stable.

Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB): A monumental structure at NASA's Kennedy Space Center designed for the vertical assembly of large spacecraft.
Crawlerway: A specialized, wide path constructed of compacted gravel, engineered to support the immense weight of the Crawler-transporter and its payload.
Space Launch System (SLS): NASA's super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle, designed to carry crew and cargo beyond Earth orbit, notably for the Artemis program.
Hydraulic System: A mechanical system that uses pressurized liquid to generate force and motion, crucial for the Crawler's lifting and leveling capabilities.