Sarens was commissioned recently by SpinLaunch to assist in the heavy lifting and transport operations at their site in Truth or Consequences in New Mexico from December 2020 until February 2021.

SpinLaunch is currently developing and testing a mass accelerator to launch satellites into space orbit using kinetic energy instead of rockets. The vacuum chamber represents a central piece of their technology.

Sarens team, in close collaboration with SpinLaunch engineering and construction, had to lift, tilt, and transport the chamber at the New Mexico site. A detailed engineering study and lifting plan was worked out with the client to develop a unique concept design for lifting and tilting the launching chamber.

The equipment was mobilised in 32 trucks from Sarens’ site in Virginia and Houston and assembled in four weeks. The wind, snow, and freezing temperatures added to the challenge.

The chamber measured 33 metres in diameter and weighed over 1000 tons. The chamber was lifted vertically over 16 metres, rotated 90 degrees, and transported 200 metres.