WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE, NOR ANY DROP TO COOL STARSHIP LAUNCH AT BOCA CHICA

Science, Space.Tech

 

Nasa vs. SpaceX: Water deluge system: Starship Water Deluge — Heat and Energy Absorption

The shuttle needed 300,000 gallons to fight heat and sound...Starship needs 350,000 just to fight the heat! 

The Shuttle's system was all about sound. NASA's water deluge system pumped out 450,000 gallons of water to suppress the excessive noise produced during launches — protecting the vehicle and launchpad structures from acoustic damage. 

The water absorbed sound waves before they could reflect off the pad and damage the rocket or payload above.

Starship's problem was entirely different. SpaceX's deluge system uses water to absorb energy from the rocket as it lifts off, with most of the water expected to be vaporized by the heat of the rocket engines. 

With 33 Raptor engines firing simultaneously, the issue wasn't noise — it was raw thermal energy obliterating the pad itself.