If an emergency occurs during or before the launch process, shuttle crews, including the astronauts and others, can exit the launching pad by sliding down special harnesses attached by wires to
the ground below and away from the pad.
When they reach the bottom, they would run into this hardened bunker which, in theory at least, is designed to protect them in the event of a catastrophe.
The so-called egress system is being changed for the Constellation program. Instead of escaping in harnesses, the crew would jump into little cars, like those found on roller coasters, and slide down to the ground away from the pad.
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