View source for Vehicle Assembly Building

{{Short description|Spacecraft assembly building operated by NASA at the Kennedy Space Center}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox building
| name                  = Vehicle Assembly Building
| image                 = VAB and SLS.jpg
| image_caption         = The [[Artemis I]] [[Space Launch System]] vehicle rolling out from the VAB at [[Kennedy Space Center]]
| map_type              = Florida#USA
| former_names          = Vertical Assembly Building
| building_type         = Integration facility
| location_city         = [[Brevard County, Florida]]
| location_country      = United States
| coordinates           = {{coord|28|35|11|N|80|39|5|W|display=inline,title}}
| completion_date       = 1966
| owner                 = [[NASA]]
| height                = {{cvt|526|ft}}
| diameter              = {{cvt|716|x|518|ft}}
| floor_count           = 1
| floor_area            = {{cvt|8|acre|m2}}
| main_contractor       = [[Morrison-Knudsen]]
| embedded              = 
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed                   = yes
| name                    = Vehicle Assembly Building
| location                = [[Kennedy Space Center]] [[Florida]], U.S.
| nearest_city            = [[Titusville, Florida|Titusville]]
| area                    = {{convert|8|acre|ha|0}}
| architect               = https://www.urbahn.com
| architecture            = Industrial
| built                   = 1966
| added                   = January 21, 2000
| refnum                  = 99001642<ref name="nris">{{NRISref |refnum=99001642|version=2010a}}</ref>
| mpsub                   = [[John F. Kennedy Space Center MPS]]
}}
}}
The '''Vehicle Assembly Building''' (originally the '''Vertical Assembly Building'''), or '''VAB''', is a large building at [[NASA]]'s [[Kennedy Space Center]] (KSC) in Florida, designed to assemble large pre-manufactured space vehicle components, such as the massive [[Saturn V]], the [[Space Shuttle]] and the [[Space Launch System]], and [[stacking (rocketry)|stack]] them vertically onto one of three [[mobile launcher platform]]s used by NASA. As of March 2022, the first [[Space Launch System]] (SLS) rocket was assembled inside in preparation for the [[Artemis I]] mission,<ref name="nsf-20220317">{{Cite news |last1=Barker |first1=Nathan |last2=Gebhardt |first2=Chris |date=March 17, 2022 |title=NASA moon rocket SLS rolls out to "rebuilt" LC-39B ahead of Artemis 1 rehearsal |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/03/sls-rollout-wet-dress-rehearsal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116162759/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/03/sls-rollout-wet-dress-rehearsal/ |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]]}}</ref> launched on November 16, 2022.

At {{convert|129,428,000|ft3|abbr=on}}, it is the [[List of largest buildings in the world|eighth-largest building in the world]] by volume as of 2022.<ref name="vab1">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/facilities/vab.html |title=Vehicle Assembly Building |access-date=September 23, 2007 |publisher=[[NASA]] |year=1999 |author=NASA |author-link=NASA |archive-date=December 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229063628/https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/facilities/vab.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> The building is at [[Launch Complex 39]] at KSC, {{convert|149|mi}} south of [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], {{convert|219|mi}} north of [[Miami, Florida|Miami]], and {{convert|50|mi}} due east of [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], on [[Merritt Island, Florida|Merritt Island]] on the [[Atlantic]] [[coast]] of [[Florida]].<ref name="vab1" />

The VAB is the largest single-story building in the world,<ref name="prn">{{Cite press release |date=August 5, 2007 |title=Groundbreaking Digital Experience for Endeavour Shuttle Launch |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2007/08/05/groundbreaking-digital-experience-for-endeavour-shuttle-launch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129231315/https://news.microsoft.com/2007/08/05/groundbreaking-digital-experience-for-endeavour-shuttle-launch/ |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |access-date=September 23, 2007 |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |place=Redmond, Washington}}</ref> was the tallest building ({{cvt|526|ft|disp=or}}) in Florida until 1974,<ref name="UNF">{{Cite journal |last=Taylor |first=George Lansing |date=September 20, 1988 |title=NASA Vehicle Assembly Building, Cape Canaveral, FL |url=https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/historical_architecture_main/2374/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731091332/https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/historical_architecture_main/2374/ |archive-date=July 31, 2023 |access-date=January 28, 2023 |journal=George Lansing Taylor Collection Main Gallery |publisher=[[University of North Florida]]}}</ref> and is the tallest building in the United States outside an urban area.<ref name="nasa-sm-07-01">{{Cite magazine |last=Aguiar |first=Laura |date=January 10, 2020 |title=The Many Stories of the VAB |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/spmjanfeb2020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219083441/https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/spmjanfeb2020.pdf |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |access-date=January 28, 2023 |magazine=Spaceport Magazine |publisher=[[NASA]] |volume=7 |issue=1}}</ref>

== History ==
The VAB, completed in 1966, was originally built for the vertical assembly of the [[Apollo program|Apollo]]–[[Saturn V]] [[space vehicle]] and was originally referred to as the ''Vertical Assembly Building''. In anticipation of post-Apollo projects such as the [[Space Shuttle]] program, it was renamed the Vehicle Assembly Building on February 3, 1965.<ref name="moonport-ch12">{{Cite book |last1=Benson |first1=Charles Dunlap |last2=Faherty |first2=William Barnaby |url=https://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-4204/ch12-7.html |title=Moonport: A History of Apollo Launch Facilities and Operations |publisher=[[NASA]] |year=1978 |chapter=VAB Nears Completion |id=SP-4204 |quote=The new name, it was felt, would more readily encompass future as well as current programs and would not be tied to the Saturn booster. |access-date=September 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025104911/https://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-4204/ch12-7.html |archive-date=October 25, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nasa-americas-spaceport">{{Cite web |year=2010 |title=America's Spaceport |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/438859main_amspaceport10.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219084111/https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/438859main_amspaceport10.pdf |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |access-date=February 22, 2013 |publisher=[[NASA]] |page=13}}</ref> It was subsequently used to mate the Space Shuttle [[Space Shuttle orbiter|orbiters]] to their [[Space Shuttle external tank|external fuel tanks]] and [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|solid rocket boosters]]. Once the complete space vehicle was assembled on a [[mobile launcher platform]], a [[crawler-transporter]] moved it to [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|Launch Complex-39A]] or [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B|39B]].

The building was designed with future expansion in mind but ultimately ended up being larger than NASA would ever need. Initially, during the planning of Kennedy Space Center, as many as five launch pads were proposed, and designs for a six-bay VAB were drawn up. However, as the plans were scaled back to just two launch pads, the VAB was reduced to four bays.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Benson |first1=Charles D. |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/moonport.pdf |title=Moonport |last2=Faherty |first2=William Barnaby |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration |year=1978 |pages=123–126, 163}}</ref> The contractors built the VAB to accommodate potential expansion to six bays, but such expansion was never required. In fact, only three bays were ever connected to the crawlerway. Bay 2, located on the west side of the building (farther from the launch pads), saw limited use during the Saturn V era and was eventually converted into a storage area for the Shuttle program.

Before the destruction of {{OV|102}} in 2003, NASA installed a sub-roof inside the VAB to deal with falling concrete debris due to the building's age.<ref name="caib-vol1-114">{{Cite book |last1=Gehman |first1=Harold W. |last2=Barry |first2=John L. |last3=Deal |first3=Duane W. |last4=Hallock |first4=James N. |last5=Hess |first5=Kenneth W. |last6=Hubbard |first6=G. Scott |last7=Logsdon |first7=John M. |last8=Osheroff |first8=Douglas D. |last9=Ride |first9=Sally K. |last10=Tetrault |first10=Roger E. |last11=Turcotte |first11=Stephen A. |last12=Wallace |first12=Steven B. |last13=Widnall |first13=Sheila E. |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20030066167/downloads/20030066167.pdf#page=114 |title=Columbia Accident Investigation Board, Report Vol. 1 |date=August 2003 |isbn=978-0-16-067904-9 |page=114 |author-link1=Harold W. Gehman Jr. |author-link4=James N. Hallock |author-link6=G. Scott Hubbard |author-link7=John Logsdon |author-link8=Douglas Osheroff |author-link9=Sally Ride |author-link11=Stephen A. Turcotte |author-link13=Sheila Widnall |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918072124/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20030066167/downloads/20030066167.pdf#page=114 |archive-date=September 18, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The VAB was designated as a [[National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark]] by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] in 2020.<ref name="floridatoday-20200111">{{Cite news |date=January 10, 2020 |title=Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC Designated as National Civil Engineering Landmark |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2020/01/10/vab-named-national-historic-civil-engineering-landmark/4436911002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111164153/https://www.floridatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2020/01/10/vab-named-national-historic-civil-engineering-landmark/4436911002/ |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |work=[[Florida Today]]}}</ref>

== Construction ==
[[File:VABConstruction.jpg|thumbnail|left|VAB during construction (1965) with the three [[mobile launcher platform#Saturn V and Space Shuttle|Mobile Launchers]] for the [[Saturn V]] rocket.]]
In 1963, NASA contracted Urbahn Architects to design and build the VAB as part of NASA's effort to send astronauts to the Moon for the [[Apollo program]]. Construction began with driving the first steel foundation piles on Aug. 2, 1963. Altogether, 4,225 pilings were driven down {{convert|164|feet}} to bedrock with a foundation consisting of {{convert|30,000|yd3}} of concrete. Construction of the VAB required {{convert|98,590|ST|lb kg}} of steel.<ref name="nasa-20130718">{{Cite press release |last=Granath |first=Bob |date=July 18, 2013 |title=Vehicle Assembly Building Prepared for Another 50 Years of Service |url=https://www.nasa.gov/content/vehicle-assembly-building-prepared-for-another-50-years-of-service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929213425/http://www.nasa.gov/content/vehicle-assembly-building-prepared-for-another-50-years-of-service/ |archive-date=September 29, 2016 |access-date=February 4, 2018}}</ref> The building was completed in 1966.<ref name="nasa-vab">{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=Vehicle Assembly Building |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/718659main_vab.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203233553/https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/718659main_vab.pdf |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |website=[[NASA]] |id=FS-2012-06-121-KSC}}</ref> The VAB is {{convert|526|ft|m|1|}} tall, {{convert|716|ft|m|1}} long and {{convert|518|ft|m|1}} wide. It covers {{convert|8|acre|m2}}, and encloses {{convert|129428000|cuft|m3}} of space.<ref name="futurism-vab">{{Cite web |last=Marquardt |first=Sarah |date=August 14, 2017 |title=An Exclusive Look Inside The Secretive Building Where NASA Makes Rockets |url=https://futurism.com/an-exclusive-look-inside-the-secretive-building-where-nasa-makes-rockets |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924214057/https://futurism.com/an-exclusive-look-inside-the-secretive-building-where-nasa-makes-rockets |archive-date=September 24, 2023 |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=futurism.com}}</ref> Located on Florida's Atlantic coast, the building was constructed to withstand [[hurricane]]s and [[tropical storm]]s. Despite this, it has received damage from several hurricanes (see [[#Hurricane|below]]).

== Capabilities ==
[[File:Space Shuttle Discovery lowered toward external tank and solid rocket boosters (STS-124).jpg|thumb|A crane lowers ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'' toward the [[Space Shuttle external tank|ET]] and [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|SRBs]] in high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building for [[STS-124]].]]
The north end of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) contains four “high bays” designed as enclosed, protected spaces for stacking rocket stages, payloads, and other components vertically on a [[mobile launcher platform]]. This configuration mirrors how the rocket will stand on the launch pad. Components and stages typically enter the VAB through the south side, which houses eight "low bays" used for storage and pre-assembly preparations. Platforms in both the high and low bays can be adjusted to provide crews safe access to all parts of the rocket. A {{Convert|92|ft|m|-wide|adj=mid}} transfer aisle runs the length of the building.<ref name=":0" />

The VAB is equipped with five [[Overhead crane|overhead cranes]], including two capable of lifting up to 325 tons, as well as 136 additional lifting devices. These systems enable precise handling and assembly of heavy components. Once the launch vehicle is fully assembled and tested, a [[crawler-transporter]] enters the VAB, lifts the mobile launch platform with the attached spacecraft, and transports it to the launch pad.

[[File:Space Port 1970 NASA.webm|thumb|''"Space Port"'' (1970) - official [[NASA]] promotional film reel.]]
Each high bay features a massive door—the largest in the world—standing {{Convert|456|ft}} tall. Each door comprises seven vertical panels and four horizontal panels and takes about 45 minutes to open or close.<ref name="nasa-vab" />

To manage internal conditions, the VAB is equipped with air conditioning, including 125 ventilators on the roof and four large air handlers located west of the building. The system provides a combined 10,000 [[ton of refrigeration|tons of refrigeration]] (120,000,000 [[BTU]]/[[hour|hr]], 35 MW), not to cool the building, but to control moisture. The air inside the building can be completely replaced every hour.<ref name="vab1" /> When the building's large doors are opened, fog can enter and linger, leading to incorrect but persistent rumors that the VAB generates its own weather or forms clouds.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Cardona |first1=Carolina |date=July 3, 2019 |title=Inside the VAB at Kennedy Space Center |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/moon-landing/2019/07/03/inside-the-vab-at-kennedy-space-center/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127231633/https://www.clickorlando.com/moon-landing/2019/07/03/inside-the-vab-at-kennedy-space-center/ |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |access-date=March 14, 2021 |publisher=WKMG}}</ref>

== Exterior ==
[[File:VAB aerial 1977.jpg|thumbnail|VAB in 1977, with the [[United States Bicentennial|Bicentennial Star]] opposite the flag. The Bicentennial Star was painted over with the NASA insignia in 1998. Note the [[Space Shuttle Landing Facility]] at upper left.]]
The [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] painted on the building was the largest in the world when added in 1976 as part of [[United States Bicentennial]] celebrations, along with the star logo of the anniversary, later replaced by the [[NASA insignia]] in 1998. It is {{convert|209|ft|m|1}} high and {{convert|110|ft|m|1}} wide. Each of the stars on the flag is {{convert|6|ft|m|2}} across, the blue field is the size of a regulation basketball court, and each of the stripes is {{convert|9|ft|m|2}} wide.<ref name="nasa-sn-20050527">{{Cite magazine |last1=Stuckey |first1=Jeff |date=May 27, 2005 |title=Vehicle Assembly Building's American flag flies again |url=https://www3.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/pdf/116563main_may27color.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219081729/https://www3.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/pdf/116563main_may27color.pdf |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |magazine=Spaceport News |publisher=[[NASA]] |volume=44 |number=12}}</ref>
{{anchor|Hurricane}}Work began in early 2007 to restore the exterior paint on the immense facility. Special attention was paid to the enormous American flag and NASA "meatball" insignia. The work repaired visible damage from years of storms and weathering. The flag and logo had been previously repainted in 1998 for NASA's 40th anniversary.<ref name="flag">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/vab_flag.html |title=Restoring Old Glory and a Massive Meatball |access-date=July 11, 2007 |publisher=[[NASA]] |date=11 January 2007 |last=Mansfield |first=Cheryl L. |archive-date=4 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304110808/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/vab_flag.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Vehicle Assembly Building damage from Hurricane Frances night view.jpg|thumb|Repair work after Hurricane Frances]]
The most extensive exterior damage occurred during the storm season of 2004, when [[Hurricane Frances]] blew off 850 {{convert|14|x|6|ft|adj=on}} [[aluminum]] panels from the building, resulting in about {{convert|40000|sqft|m2|-2}} of new openings in the sides.<ref name="flag" /><ref name="cnn">{{Cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Miles |date=September 6, 2004 |title=Frances tears panels from NASA shuttle hangar |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/09/06/nasa.frances.cnn/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220190206/https://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/09/06/nasa.frances.cnn/index.html |archive-date=December 20, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2007 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Twenty-five additional panels were blown off the east side by the winds from [[Hurricane Jeanne]] just three weeks later. Earlier in the season, [[Hurricane Charley]] caused significant but less serious damage, estimated to cost $700,000 to repair. Damage caused by these hurricanes was still visible in 2007. Some of these panels are "punch-outs", designed to detach from the VAB when a large pressure differential is created on the outside vs. the inside. This allows for equalization, and helps protect the structural integrity of the building during rapid changes in pressure such as in tropical cyclones.

The building has been used as a backdrop in several Hollywood movies including ''[[Marooned (1969 film)|Marooned]]'', ''[[SpaceCamp]]'', ''[[Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13]]'', ''[[Contact (1997 American film)|Contact]]'', and others.

== Future ==
[[File:Space Shuttle Discovery in NASA's VAB.JPG|right|thumbnail|''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'' in the Vehicle Assembly Building waiting for a ferry flight to Dulles, Virginia, for permanent display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. ]]

Originally, after the Space Shuttle was intended to be retired in 2010, the VAB would have been renovated for stacking of the [[Ares I]] and [[Ares V]] launch vehicles for the [[Constellation program]]; however, the Constellation program was cancelled in 2010. The Space Shuttle itself was retired in 2011, after which NASA temporarily (as early as 2012) offered public tours of the VAB. These tours were temporarily discontinued in February 2014 to allow for renovations to take place.<ref name="spacecom-20140122">{{Cite news |last=Pearlman |first=Robert Z. |date=January 22, 2014 |title=Rocket Renovations Will End Public Tours of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building |url=https://www.space.com/24372-nasa-vehicle-assembly-building-tours-end.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208205121/https://www.space.com/24372-nasa-vehicle-assembly-building-tours-end.html |archive-date=December 8, 2023 |work=[[Space.com]]}}</ref>

The NASA FY2013 budget included US$143.7 million for Construction of Facilities (CoF) requirements in support of what is now known as the [[Artemis program]] and its vehicles, including the [[Space Launch System]] (SLS) and [[Orion spacecraft]]. NASA began modifying Launch Complex 39 at KSC to support the new SLS in 2014, beginning with major repairs, code upgrades and safety improvements to the Launch Control Center, Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the VAB Utility Annex. This initial work is required to support any launch vehicle operated from Launch Complex 39 and will allow NASA to begin modernizing the facilities, while vehicle-specific requirements are being developed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/632670main_NASA_FY13_Budget_CECR-508.pdf |title=NASA FY13 Budget |access-date=2012-06-09 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051144/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/632670main_NASA_FY13_Budget_CECR-508.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The VAB could be used to some extent for assembly and processing of any future vehicles using Launch Complex 39, in addition to renovations for SLS capabilities. On June 16, 2015, NASA released an announcement for proposals (AFP) seeking interest in using the VAB High Bay 2 and other complex facilities for commercial use in "assembling, integration, and testing of launch vehicles". This move is in line with the intent to migrate KSC towards acting as a spaceport accessible to both government and commercial ventures.<ref name="nasa-15-128">{{Cite press release |editor-last=Schierholz |editor-first=Stephanie |editor2-last=Chevalier |editor2-first=Mary Ann |date=June 15, 2015 |title=NASA Solicits Proposals for Use of Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building High Bay 2 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-solicits-proposals-for-use-of-kennedy-space-centers-vehicle-assembly-building-high-bay-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219090907/https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-solicits-proposals-for-use-of-kennedy-space-centers-vehicle-assembly-building-high-bay-2/ |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |publisher=[[NASA]]}}</ref>

On April 21, 2016, NASA announced the selection of [[Orbital ATK]] (bought by [[Northrop Grumman]] as of 2019) to begin negotiations for High Bay 2. The "potential agreement" included an existing mobile launcher platform.<ref name="nasa-09-16">{{Cite press release |editor-last=Chevalier |editor-first=Mary Ann |date=April 21, 2016 |title=NASA Selects Orbital ATK to Begin Negotiations for Space in Iconic Vehicle Assembly Building |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-orbital-atk-to-begin-negotiations-for-space-in-iconic-vehicle-assembly-building/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219091147/https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-orbital-atk-to-begin-negotiations-for-space-in-iconic-vehicle-assembly-building/ |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |publisher=[[NASA]]}}</ref> NASA subsequently completed the agreement in August 2019 to lease High Bay 2 and [[Mobile Launcher Platform]] 3 to Northrop Grumman for use with their [[OmegA]] launch vehicle.<ref name="collectspace-20190816">{{Cite news |last=Pearlman |first=Robert Z. |date=August 16, 2019 |title=Apollo to OmegA: NASA signs over legacy launcher for new rocket |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-081619a-northrop-grumman-omega-mlp-vab.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923100542/http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-081619a-northrop-grumman-omega-mlp-vab.html |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |access-date=November 20, 2021 |work=collectspace.com}}</ref> However, development of OmegA was subsequently cancelled in September 2020. Northrop Grumman had yet to make any modifications to High Bay 2, and were using it for the storage of OmegA hardware. This hardware was scheduled to be removed from the VAB and returned to Northrop Grumman by the end of September 2020.<ref name="nsf-20200911">{{Cite news |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=September 11, 2020 |title=OmegA Launch Tower to be demolished as KSC 39B fails to become a multi-user pad |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/09/omega-mlp-ksc-39b-multi-user-pad/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603075853/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/09/omega-mlp-ksc-39b-multi-user-pad/ |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |access-date=November 20, 2021 |work=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]]}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="200" perrow="6">
File:VAB exterior and LCC.jpg|Aerial view of the Vehicle Assembly Building at [[Kennedy Space Center]] in 2011
File:2019VAB.jpg|The VAB in 2019
File:Aerial View of Launch Complex 39.jpg|Overview of the VAB and LCC industrial area
File:VAB transfer aisle.jpg|''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' on its way into the VAB during the launch preparations for [[STS-89]]. At the top of the doorway is the slot for the vertical stabilizer.
File:VAB Exterior Photos (KSC-20220119-PH-CSH01 0011).jpg|The VAB as viewed from the nearby parking lot, 19 January 2022
File:Artemis 1 First Rollout (KSC-20220317-PH-KLS03 0077).jpg|[[Space Launch System]] [[Artemis-1|Artemis 1]] rollout out of the VAB, 17 March 2022
File:VAB Beside the Artemis 1 lauching off in OBZ II PTZ Cam.jpg|VAB Beside the [[SLS Block 1]] [[Artemis 1]] during the Launch, 16 November 2022
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Kennedy Space Center map|highlight=3}}{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Vehicle Assembly Building}}
* {{structurae|id=20003280|title=Vehicle Assembly Building}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930211849/http://www.flheritage.com/services/sites/fht/record_t.cfm?ID=90&type=c&index=5 Vehicle Assembly Building, High Bay and Low Bay] at [http://www.flheritage.com/ Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs]
* [http://www.googleearthhacks.com/dlfile5889/NASA-VAB,-Cape-Canaveral,-FL.htm 3D model of the building for use in Google Earth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019231231/http://www.googleearthhacks.com/dlfile5889/NASA-VAB,-Cape-Canaveral,-FL.htm |date=2006-10-19 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Miami-Dade County Courthouse]]
| title = Tallest Building in Florida
| years = 1965–1974<br /><small>{{convert|160|m|order=flip}}</small>
| after = [[Independent Life Building]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Kennedy Space Center}}
{{NASA navbox}}
{{NASA centers}}
{{Apollo program}}
{{Space Shuttle}}
{{Artemis program}}

[[Category:Apollo program]]
[[Category:Artemis program]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Merritt Island, Florida]]
[[Category:Kennedy Space Center]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Brevard County, Florida]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1966]]
[[Category:Cubic buildings]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Integration facilities]]
[[Category:Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks]]