Houston, We Have A Problem

These were the words uttered by engineers at Boeing's McDonnell Douglas Division upon discovering the problems of transporting space vehicle components for a $97 billion International Space Station project. The station, which is being transported to Florida's Cape Canaveral from Los Angeles in intensely high ambients, includes components that are extremely temperature sensitive.

Boeing's consulting firm initially suggested use of a stationary commercial refrigeration system on the container. But that solution required chassis changes, a gen set and other considerations which brought the price tag to $250,000.

Then one of the engineers had another idea when he saw Thermo King-equipped reefers were able to protect other loads under similar high ambient conditions. That led to a contract with Roe Hughes, general manager of Thermo King of Southern California, who was sought out for advice.

Hughes suggested two Super II 50 MAX+ systems, one mounted on the left front of the container and the other placed diagonally at the rear. Tests were conducted following installation to demonstrate the units' pulldown capabilities for a container that is 16 feet high x 16 feet wide x 48 feet long.

"In an 84 degree F ambient, we pulled the temperature down to 32 degrees F in less than an hour," said Hughes, "and Boeing/McDonnell Douglas was satisfied that we could protect the components of the space vehicle."

Because of the size of the container, it had to be made in two sections by Western Truck and Trailer Company of Fontana, Calif. The top half of the container is removed for loading and unloading of components. As many as 14 trips will be required to transport all of the components from California to Cape Canaveral.

Each trip is a logistical adventure. The container is transported by truck from Los Angeles to Houston. In Houston, it is loaded on a barge and moved to Florida through the intercoastal waterway. Aboard the barge, the Super II 50 MAX+ units are plugged into the ship's electrical power.

"This was an unusual challenge for us as well as for Western Truck and Trailer," said Hughes. "But we were able to provide temperature control for a fraction of the originally-projected cost and, in the process, met a critical need."

Houston, problem solved.