What Happened
2 Min Read NASA Simulations Improve Artemis II Launch Environment This simulation of the Artemis I launch shows how the Space Launch System rocket’s exhaust plumes interact with the air, water, and the launchpad.
Why It Matters
Colors on surfaces indicate pressure levels—red for high pressure and blue for low pressure.
Key Details
- The teal contours illustrate where water is present.
- Credits: NASA/Chris DeGrendele, Timothy Sandstrom Airflow around rockets as they travel from Earth into space can have a dramatic impact on a mission, which is why NASA used advanced simulations to provide the best possible launch conditions for the Artemis II test flight around the Moon. To better understand the Artemis Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s flight environment, engineers turned to a NASA-developed tool called the Launch, Ascent, and Vehicle Aerodynamics (LAVA) framework.
- The software addresses computational fluid dynamics, the flow behavior of gases and liquids. Using data from the 2022 Artemis I launch, researchers at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley used LAVA to simulate complex interactions between the rocket plume and a system that pumps water to suppress sound during launch.
- The system protects the rocket and other equipment from potentially damaging sound waves. Comparing simulations with and without the sound suppression system activated revealed that the water effectively reduces pressure waves from sound, but exhaust gases from the rocket could also redirect water, causing significant pressure increases in certain areas of the launchpad.
Background Context
2 Min Read NASA Simulations Improve Artemis II Launch Environment This simulation of the Artemis I launch shows how the Space Launch System rocket’s exhaust plumes interact with the air, water, and the launchpad. Colors on surfaces indicate pressure levels—red for high pressure and blue for low pressure. The teal contours illustrate where water is present. Credits: NASA/Chris DeGrendele, Timothy Sandstrom Airflow around rockets as they travel from Earth into space can have a dramatic impact on a mission, which is why NASA used advanced simulations to provide the best possible launch conditions for the Artemis II test flight around the Moon. To b
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Source: NASA – Original Link
Source: NASA
