You spend a tedious 5 minutes manually pumping open the hydraulic-controlled steel lockpins you open the monstous blast door to the LCEB, and unlatch the lever that holds the door shut. Then you put your back into moving the monster door open - slowly - and the first thing that impacts you is the noise level: all the pumps and motors that supply the Environmental Control Systems (ECS) are quite loud - hazardously so, actually, if endured for too long. You and the FM don ear protectors before entering. It is also pitch black and muggy inside - all that equipment puts off a lot of heat that the ECS has problems coping with at times - since the priority cooling goes to the LCC.

With the door secured open and the overhead fluorescent lights turned on, you and the FM step inside and now get a good view of the LCEB interior - almost the size of a small 2 story house. This capsule-shaped building is actually smaller than the one containing the LCC, but seems roomier due to the smaller volume of equipment it contains. To get an idea of the scale, the Diesel Generator Enclosure (large gray box on the left) stands about 6ft high. The 4 huge shock isolators that suspend the floor from the ceiling of the building act as shock absorbers if the structure is rocked by ground shock from a nearby bomb blast. The LCC is equipped with similar ground shock protection.

1. Tunnel Junction 2. Blast Door 3. CBR Filter and Makeup Air Fan 4. Shock Isolator (x4) 5. Control Air Compressor 6. Lube Oil Storage Tank 7. Diesel Fuel Filter 8. Diesel Fuel Day Tank 9. Diesel Generator and Noise Enclosure 10. Fuel Transfer Pump 11. Steam Separator 12. Ventilation Exhaust Fan 13. Blast Valve (Exhaust) 14. Power Control Center 15. Water Tank Level Indicator 16. Blast Valve Hydraulic Control Unit 17. Hardened Cable Air Compressor-Dryer 18. Blast Valve (Intake) 19. Ventilation Supply Fan 20. Air Plenum 21. Brine Chiller Unit 22. Emergency Shutoff Valve

This is a slightly closer view of the Power Control Center and the Hydraulic Control Unit for the Blast Valves. The FM has some readings to take here, and a leak to clean up, then both of you exit the LCEB and turnout the lights.

After closing the ponderous door and leaving the Facilities Manager to pump the latch pins closed, you and your team member cross the tunnel junction area and enter the access tunnel for the Launch Control Center.