Hey there, space fans! 🚀
Did you know that rockets can get super hot when they launch? Imagine flames as hot as 3,000 degrees Celsius—that’s hotter than a volcano! 🌋 To handle this, China’s new commercial spaceport in Hainan Province has come up with a cool solution. 😎
They’ve built an amazing high-pressure water spray system to keep rockets cool and reduce the loud noise during launches. Think of it like a giant sprinkler for rockets! 💦
On Wednesday at 12:38 a.m., they used this system for the first time when they launched 18 satellites into space on a Long March-8 Y6 rocket. This was also the first launch from their new Launch Pad No. 1. The Launch Pad No. 2 had its first launch last year, and now both pads are ready to send rockets to space. How awesome is that? 🌠
So, how does this high-pressure water spray system work? Let’s find out! 🧐
Engineer Zhang Guodong from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation explains that their system is different from traditional ones. Instead of having water tanks at the top of the launch tower, they have three big tanks on the ground. One tank holds 300 tonnes of water (that’s like 300,000 liters!), and the other two have high-pressure gas.
When it’s time to launch, the high-pressure gas pushes the water through underground pipes and sprays it onto the launch pad using a device called a “deflector.” This helps cool things down and also makes the launch less noisy. It’s like turning on a giant hose to keep everything safe! 🚿
Not only are there sprays under the rocket, but there are also special nozzles and holes around the launch pad. These help reduce the noise by up to 10 decibels, which protects the rocket and the equipment inside. Too much noise can be bad for sensitive instruments. 🎧
Another cool thing is that this launch pad can be ready to launch again in just seven days! That’s super fast and helps meet the growing demand for more rocket launches. It’s like getting ready for a big show every week! 🎉
China’s new spaceport and its innovative water spray system are making space launches safer and more efficient. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll watch a rocket launch there—or even be on one! 🌍🚀
Reference(s):
Chinese commercial spaceport deploys innovative cooling system
cgtn.com
