A horizontal integration facility (HIF) is an integration facility where missiles and rockets are assembled before launch.
HIF in the United States Site Pad Vehicle Coordinates Description Images Ref. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station SLC-37 Delta IV A seven-story white building containing 2 bays measuring by each. Construction was completed in June 2000. Its floors are said to be the most level in the United States, varying less than 0.38 in (9.6 mm) across each bay. The first and second stages of the rocket, along with any boosters that are being used for that flight, are integrated in the HIF, and then the stack is moved to the pad and raised to vertical. The payload and fairing are assembled later. Heavy-lifting Delta 4 rocket to take test flight, Spaceflight Now, Justin Ray, 2003-11-19.Complex 37, GlobalSecurity.org, John Pike, 2005-01-06. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station SLC-40 Falcon 9 SpaceX built its first Falcon 9 HIF on the south side of the pad. It measures long by wide and stands about tall. A former payload integration facility is directly adjacent to the HIF. The HIF was extended to a length of at least 72 metres to accommodate the longer versions of the Falcon 9. Space Launch Report: SpaceX Falcon Data Sheet, Ed Kyle, 2008-12-02.Kennedy Space CenterLC-39AFalcon 9 / Falcon HeavySpaceX built its second HIF on the Crawlerway leading to the Launch Complex 39A just outside of its perimeter. It can accommodate both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. It is able to support 5 boosters side by side. Inside the HIF the Falcon 9 / Falcon Heavy rockets are assembled and the payload, encapsulated in the fairing is connected to the rocket. Kwajalein Atoll Omelek Island Falcon 1 An HIF has been built by SpaceX. Exterior Interior Falcon 1 Users Guide (Revision 7) , SpaceX, 2008-05-15, page 35. Vandenberg Air Force Base SLC-6 Delta IV A "cavernous" HIF exists. The HIF contains two bays that can accommodate the Delta IV and Delta IV Heavy. Exterior Launch Facility Profile: Vandenberg Air Force Base , The Aerospace Corporation, 2006-02-17. Wallops Flight Facility Antares Taurus II Development News, NASASpaceFlight.com Forums, Reply #7, Antonioe, 2009-01-09. HIF built by Orbital Sciences Corporation. The HIF is long by wide by tall. It opened in 2011. Development Status of a Medium-Class Launch Vehicle for ISS Cargo and Satellite Delivery , David Steffy, Orbital Sciences Corporation, 2008-07-15, page 9.
HIF elsewhere Most Russian, Ukrainian and former Soviet launchers are integrated horizontally, including Dnepr, Proton, Rockot, Shtil' and Soyuz. The Electron launch vehicle is also integrated horizontally and European Ariane 6 also uses HIF to integrate its rocket stack.
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