SpaceX Utilizes Schweiss Bifold Doors

SpaceX is getting to be a name as identifiable as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Since government funding was cut for NASA, SpaceX has been in the forefront of space exploration. They have already developed expendable rockets able to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS).

“SpaceX is like Special Forces… we do the missions that others think are impossible. We have goals that are absurdly ambitious by any reasonable standard, but we’re going to make them happen. We have the potential at SpaceX to have an incredible effect on the future of humanity and life itself,” said Elon Musk – SpaceX CEO and chief designer.

The same goes for Schweiss Doors, a 35-year-old company that specializes in large custom-made doors. Schweiss has built large doors installed at various SpaceX locations going back to 2008 for Cape Canaveral, Waco, Texas and Vandenberg AFB in California.

Their latest orders just left the Schweiss Doors factory. They will soon be installed on a new steel hangar at Cape Canaveral. The largest of the two is a Bifold Liftstrap door 90 feet wide x 61 feet tall. The second door on that shipment is 40 feet wide x 69 feet tall. Each of the doors is equipped with automatic latches and are wind-rated to 150 mph. After they arrive at the site, they will be clad in 26 gauge sheeting and have 4-inch blanket insulation. Bottom-drive, 480-volt, 3-phase motors and patented Schweiss liftstraps will do the lifting of these doors that exceed 46,700 pounds.

SpaceX maintains launch sites at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Boca Chica, Texas. Each location offers key benefits to support our customers’ missions. SpaceX tests its engines and structures at a 4,000-acre state-of-the-art rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas.

For more information, visit Schweiss Doors.