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The track is steel doweled to the bedrock of the mesa. This rock mass is stable and free of fault lines. The welded track structure consists of two 105-lb-per-yard steel crane rails placed 59.062 inches apart in reinforced concrete foundations. Each rail is supported every 50 inches by alignment hardware. Optical truing of the rails provides for a maximum deviation of no more than 0.010 inch.
A 2,800-foot water brake system provides for initial deceleration with final arrestment by a hydro-mechanical arresting gear. This system is capable of stopping a 15,000 lb. mass traveling 200 feet-per-second. Sleds are propelled by solid propellant rocket motors. Redundant abort and shutdown safety systems are provided for protection of hardware being tested.
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