Space History Photo: Two Men on Lily Pad Guide Crane

News
By
published
space history, NASA, radiation research
Workers stand on the lily pad, guiding a crane to remove a shrapnel shield until it is needed again. (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, two men standing on the lily pad in 1959, guiding a crane to remove the third of the three large, white twenty-ton shrapnel shields that nest over the pressure tank. The shields were then stacked off to the side until it was time to reposition them on top of the pressure tank.

Since the support beams could rotate 365 degrees, the overhead crane could reach any location in the containment vessel. The pressure tank hatch is open.

For more information browse the Plum Brook Facility Page.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

NASA Archives
NASA Archives
U.S. Space Agency

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes,  satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov.