Astronaut transfer van

As an astronaut transfer van, more recently, Astrovan, several vehicles are called, who served in the past NASA to transport astronauts on the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center.

The first astronaut transfer van was used for the astronauts of the Apollo missions. Also used in the first Space Shuttle missions, NASA this vehicle, as the crews of these missions were composed of only a few people. Only after a larger team required more space, was a converted RV type Airstream Excella used from STS- 9 in November 1983 a larger vehicle, which was designated Astrovan. The predecessor has since been issued visitor center at the Kennedy Space Center.

The vehicles transporting astronauts during various tasks. This included the transportation from the Operations and Checkout Building to the launch pad for start exercises and the actual launch, as well as the Space Shuttle astronauts return transport after landing back to the Operations and Checkout Building. During the 20 -minute ride to the launch pad for space shuttle launch, the vehicle stopped at least once to sell a pilot on the Shuttle Landing Facility, where he started for weather observation with the Shuttle Training Aircraft. In addition, frequently drove next to the driver and the astronauts with high-ranking NASA employees who were on the road dropped off at the Launch Control Center.

The long-term driver of Astrovan Ronnie King reported that NASA was ready to purchase a new Astrovan. The majority of astronauts but has always spoken out against it, because it was a tradition of the astronauts.

After the end of the Space Shuttle program last Astrovan was decommissioned.