1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,400 Hi, I'm Kimberly Ennix, an aerospace engineer working here at the Propulsion and Performance 2 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,480 Branch at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. 3 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,440 Wow, an aerospace engineer. 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:16,280 What does an aerospace engineer do? 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,680 I do flight test research on different types of planes. 6 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:24,600 We actually put our experiments on real jet engines, install the engines in experimental 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,360 planes and then we go out and fly them. 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,200 That sounds really cool. 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:30,760 Add that to the career list. 10 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,920 We're doing a project and we need to learn more about pulleys. 11 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,440 We saw on the website that NASA uses pulleys to lift the space shuttle onto the back of 12 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:39,640 a 747 plane. 13 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,480 How can pulleys help lift the space shuttle? 14 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:47,240 Well, to lift the space shuttle, they use the mate-demate device known as the MDD. 15 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:54,080 The MDD is this large gantry-like steel structure where the space shuttle receives post-flight 16 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:59,240 servicing and is prepared for the ferry flight back to NASA Kennedy Space Center. 17 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:05,440 The MDD has two 100-foot towers that are connected at 80 feet by a horizontal structure. 18 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,920 What does the horizontal structure do? 19 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:12,720 It controls and guides a large lift beam that attaches to the space shuttle to raise or 20 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:14,000 lower it. 21 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:19,440 There are three large hoists or pulleys that are used to raise and lower the lift beam. 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,440 Those must be some big pulleys. 23 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:23,200 Yes, they are. 24 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:29,440 The shuttle can weigh up to 232,000 pounds, but each of the three pulleys has a 100,000-pound 25 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,120 lift capability. 26 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:36,520 Operating together, the total lifting capacity of the three pulleys is 300,000 pounds. 27 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:41,880 But, for safety reasons, we don't exceed 240,000 pounds. 28 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:46,080 Wow, that's about 120 times. 29 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:47,080 You're good at math. 30 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:52,360 There are also two equipment pulleys built into each tower at the 60-foot level. 31 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,400 Each pulley is capable of lifting 10,000 pounds. 32 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,680 Sounds like pulleys can lift a lot of weight and are pretty important at NASA. 33 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,480 What happens to the space shuttle once it's lifted? 34 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:07,440 Well, the space shuttle is then placed on special mounts atop the fuselage of the NASA 35 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,480 747 shuttle carrier aircraft. 36 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,660 It is then flown back to the Kennedy Space Center. 37 00:02:13,660 --> 00:02:16,720 The space shuttle actually gets a piggyback ride. 38 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:17,840 About how long does it take? 39 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,320 Depending on the weather, it usually takes one to two days. 40 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:22,320 Thanks, Ms. Enix. 41 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:23,320 You've been a big help. 42 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:24,320 You're welcome. 43 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,600 Call if you need anything else, and good luck. 44 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,240 Wow, that is so cool.