An innovative high-pressure water spray system has taken center stage at a commercial spaceport in south China's Hainan Province. In a bold move, the No. 1 launch pad kicked off a new era when an 18-satellite crew blasted into low Earth orbit atop a Long March-8 Y6 carrier rocket at 12:38 a.m. on Wednesday.
The breakthrough system, engineered by experts at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, uses three robust 300-cubic-meter storage tanks—one filled with water and two with high-pressure gas—to deliver a cooling performance that doubles the pressure of conventional setups. Unlike traditional systems where water tanks sit atop the launch tower, this system’s tanks are located on the ground, enabling water to be forced through underground conduits into a specially designed deflector device. This clever design not only protects the rocket and ground facilities from exhaust temperatures reaching 3,000°C, but also reduces launch noise by 10 decibels! 🚀💧
The modular steel structure of the No. 1 pad is packed with features like numerous drainage holes and water spray nozzles on its upper surface, all aimed at ensuring rapid recovery and a swift seven-day turnaround cycle. With the No. 2 pad already having celebrated its inaugural launch on November 30, 2024, this dual-pad setup stands ready to meet the surging demand for space missions.
It’s like something straight out of your favorite sci-fi flick—cutting-edge, efficient, and designed to keep pushing the limits of space exploration. This development paves the way for even more ambitious commercial space endeavors, marking a dynamic leap forward in space tech across Asia.
Reference(s):
Chinese commercial spaceport deploys innovative cooling system
cgtn.com
