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[paranoid123]

Does anyone have a link or document that describes launch pad structures? I'm interested and curious about the launch gantry structure, what structures holds up the rocket, and where does the spent exhaust goes during launch.

Thank you.

[jamescanvin]

I suspect the place to ask this would be at nasaspaceflight.com

Each type of rocket is going to have a different pad - your likely to find the most info about the shuttle pads - a quick Google brings up a few interesting hits.

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/facilities/lc39a.html

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/nasafact/padstoc.htm

I'm woefully unqualified to answer your questions but I can have a quick stab. No structures hold rockets up, if they are strong enough to survive the ascent they can quite happily sit on the ground under there own weight, the gantry is used to service the rocket, not hold it up.

The exhaust go into a flame trench to direct it away from the vehicle at launch.