giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (07/14/84)
>> The sound suppression system, for those joining us late, is required >> because the launch pad is a giant slab of concrete. Apparently the >> old Saturn Vs had a relatively quiet ignition; when the SRBs of the >> Shuttle ignite, a *very* strong shock wave leaves the engines, hits >> the pad, and bounces straight back into the ET and orbiter. > I belive the Saturn V had a water spray system like the shuttles. > I don't know if it was kept when the pad was rebuilt. Maybe it > wasn't enough for the SRB's. Does anybody out there know? If I recall correctly, the water spray system for the Saturn Vs were for thermal protection of the pad. (Not so much to prevent outright melting as to avoid thermal shock & resulting fatigue). In contrast, the Shuttle water supply is used to absorb the sound of the engines igniting and the first few second of thrust. I'll ask my source for the other information I posted if the thermal protection system for the Apollo program was retained for the shuttle, but he has moved to Colorado and I frequently forget to mention things when I call. (Yup -- 23 & senile!). Bruce Giles {decvax, duke}!ucf-cs!giles university of central florida giles.ucf-cs@Rand-Relay orlando, florida 32816