Why NASA Spews Out Half A Million Gallons Of Water During Rocket Launches

NASA created this half a million gallon fountain as part of a test for its Space Launch System, scheduled to launch for the first time in 2020.

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#NASA #Rocket #TechInsider

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Why NASA Spews Out Half A Million Gallons Of Water During Rocket Launches

Following is the transcript of the video:

Alex Appolonia: This is almost half a million gallons of water being blasted a hundred feet into the air.

The most impressive part? It was all done in just 60 seconds.

NASA created the massive fountain as part of a test for its Space Launch System, scheduled to launch for the first time in 2020.

It will be the largest, most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. Standing upright, the SLS will reach 322 feet in height, 17 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty, and weigh almost 6 million pounds.

Its first planned mission? A 25-day trip around the moon.

When it lifts off, its engines will generate 8.4 million pounds of force and sound waves so powerful that they could easily destroy the rocket from the ground up.

That's where NASA's Ignition Overpressure and Sound Suppression System comes in. NASA projects the water onto and over the launchpad during ignition and liftoff. This not only protects the ground from the rocket's engines it also prevents the sound waves from bouncing off the ground and back up which could cause catastrophic damage to the engines. The system also prevents the giant flames generated by the engines from catching anything on fire.

During an actual launch, some of the water will evaporate due to the extreme heat, while the rest exits through nozzles. This test is just one of many more that NASA will conduct over the coming months in preparation for the rocket's first launch.

The SLS is designed for deeper space missions able to explore far beyond Earth's orbit. It can carry astronauts in an Orion capsule, or ferry other cargo, like exploratory robots, to distant worlds like Jupiter and Mars. Pretty impressive, huh?

This latest test, performed in the beginning of October, was to evaluate any needed upgrades, like corrosion control, renovating the water storage tank, and checking the conditions of the pipes and valves. Now, it will be in tip-top shape for when the SLS is ready to make its debut flight in 2020.

[lwocttk]

A science channel not using S.I. units is not a science channel

[kennethjansson]

ever heard of something called the metric system?

[JVONROCK]

The water deadens the noise. Been using since the get go.

[gracecalis]

"Guys, this'll be one of the biggest rockets ever launched. Which rocket should we compare it to to emphasize the size?"
"The Statue of Liberty"

[bornburn]

The engines will produce 25, 200, 000 bananas of force! Let's keep it scientific, Tech Insider. Don't use those weird units.

[lordadams]

How much water do you need?
Nasa: yes

[siddhishnair]

*Going around the moon? Better not use 1970s camera this time*

[averagejoe]

NASA is just following the old axiom, "pee before you go".

[greyrunner]

Why compare it with a statue...instead of oh I don't know how about a Saturn five rocket? Or any rocket?

[_Clipper_]

How much is a gallon?
You guys need to know not only americans watch your channel.

[RAJ_K_]

Why would people still use "Pound" as mass unit in 2018?

[Awol]

You missed the "over pressure" part of the description. The evaporated water will be generated at a great rate and raise the local air pressure which effectively increases the rocket thrust through the first 40 feet or so.

[charliegale]

Thought they had invented a steam powered rocket for a minute 😂😂😂

[pierre-angetirel]

Could you also give units in the metric system ? Thanks!

[merc]

Thankyou for not using S.I. Units. I couldn't put into perception any numerical value that you used.

[justicewarrior]

I need Olympic pools as a measure tool

[PRODBYLIIVID]

*Nasa:* "Let's go ahead and jet out 500k gallons of water to drown out sound"

*Africa:*

[jacobhanekamp]

Why does the narrator sound like a high schooler presenting a presentation for her science class

[thoriqrahmat]

2:26 : Pretty impressive, huh?
Me: No, as long as you keep using pounds and feet.

[hrdorn]

2020 watching this video “I don’t think so.” 🙄