If you’ve ever seen a rocket launch, perhaps a similar question came to your mind at that time: What is this cloud of white smoke that comes out as the rocket takes off, how and why does it form?
First of all, it should be noted that during the firing of these gigantic space shuttles and rockets, the emergence of high sound and pressure waves is inevitable due to the sudden temperature. These waves are so intense that they can cause serious damage to our space structures and even cause them to explode if they hit the ground and reflect back to the shuttle or rocket. The intensity of the sound waves can cause surrounding pipes to burst, walls to crack, and connections to loosen.
In order to eliminate this situation, a Water Sound Suppression System has been placed just below the launch platforms in order to absorb these sound and pressure waves.
This system floods the launch area with thousands of gallons of water at critical moments during firing, serving two purposes as such:
To prevent flames from spreading to surrounding structures and to prevent damage caused by sound waves.
Water filled under the rocket at the time of ignition; It absorbs the energy generated by absorbing sound and pressure waves and allows the space shuttle or rocket to take off without any problems. Meanwhile, due to the high heat generated in the rocket’s ignition engines, this water mass evaporates very quickly and that white cloud of smoke that we can see emerges.
Attempting to fire a rocket without this system will result in the equivalent of an earthquake and fire occurring around the launch site. Worse case, as a result of the whole rocket being exposed to fire, it will explode with the fuel inside and everything will go to waste and cause a chaos with fire.
Stay with science and knowledge.
Halit Yusuf Genç
Sources:
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/9-12/features/F_Preventing_Fires_on_the_Launchpad.html
Engineer For Space 