{"id":55116,"date":"2024-03-10T23:32:57","date_gmt":"2024-03-10T22:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=55116"},"modified":"2026-03-10T01:40:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T00:40:41","slug":"nasas-armored-vehicles-of-military-origin-at-the-kennedy-space-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2024\/03\/10\/nasas-armored-vehicles-of-military-origin-at-the-kennedy-space-center\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA's armored vehicles of military origin at the Kennedy Space Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States space agency has been using military equipment for many years, including aircraft and ground vehicles.<\/p>\n

The furthest car park: the three wheeled vehicles that were abandoned on the Moon<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe history of space suits worn by astronauts from 1961 to today<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

One of the problems faced by space rocket launches is fire.<\/strong> A fire implies a serious risk considering that a rocket is full of fuel. The best-known proof of this danger occurred on January 27, 1967<\/strong> at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral (Florida), when a fire killed the three Apollo astronauts 1:<\/strong> Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee.<\/p>\n

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During the Apollo program, one of the acquisitions that NASA made to provide means to rescue astronauts in case of fire were four M-113A2 armored vehicles<\/strong>, which in 1961 entered service in the US Army. United States as a troop transport. This model of armor has been and continues to be used by many armies<\/strong>, and is even used today in the Ukrainian War.<\/p>\n

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Initially, NASA's four M-113A2s were painted dark<\/strong>, with large numbers painted in white, and a fireproof coating was added, in addition to being completely sealed.<\/p>\n

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These vehicles were later painted white with red numbers.<\/strong> The vehicles were operated by the Kennedy Space Center Fire Department, although one of them was always near the launch pad <\/strong>, without a crew, to be used by astronauts in case they need an escape vehicle.<\/p>\n

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Finally, NASA's M-113A2s were painted yellow with a reflective stripe<\/strong>, in the style of many vehicles from different fire departments in the United States.<\/p>\n

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These M-113A2 were in service until 2013<\/strong>, when they were finally retired after many years in service at the Kennedy Space Center. These M-113A2 lacked weapons<\/strong> and did not have some of the military accessories characteristic of this type of armor vehicles.<\/p>\n

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In addition to these M-113s, NASA also acquired an M-577A3 command vehicle<\/strong>, which was provided by the manufacturer of these armored vehicles, Food Machinery Corporation (FMC). The vehicle was modified by NASA's Ames Research Center (ARC), it was named HAZMAT XHRV-1<\/strong> and was used as an experimental response vehicle.<\/p>\n

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On its front part, this vehicle had a manipulator arm for hazardous materials. The rear ramp was equipped with two accesses for special suits<\/strong>, which offered the possibility of accessing the suits directly from the vehicle. A transparent dome was installed in the driver's position.<\/p>\n

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A prototype of the HAZMAT XHRV-1 was made that was active between 1994 and 1997.<\/strong> Today it is preserved by the Eagle Field Foundation<\/a>, painted as if it were a military ambulance.<\/p>\n

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In December 2013, NASA acquired four BAE Caiman MRAP armored vehicles<\/strong>, a model used by the US Army in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to replace its M-113A2.<\/p>\n

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These Caiman MRAPs arrived at NASA from the US Army's Red River Depot<\/strong> in Texarkana, Texas, where they were temporarily stored. These wheeled vehicles are painted white, without numbers or markings of any kind. They are faster than the M-113 and offer better visibility to the driver.<\/p>\n

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In 2012, the Kennedy Space Center published this video about its M-113A2<\/strong>, a year before its retirement from service:<\/p>\n