Editing Vehicle Assembly Building (section)

== 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.

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>