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148 points mstngl | 1 comments | 03 Nov 25 20:37 UTC | HN request time: 0.204s | source

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jedberg ◴[03 Nov 25 21:50 UTC] No.45804871[source]▶

My dad worked on the Space Shuttle main engine program in the 80s. One of the things they built was the turbopump [0], which generated 23,000HP (and could drain your average home swimming pool in one minute).

Seeing the test firings of the pump was pretty amazing, draining one "swimming pool" and filling another in a minute.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-25#Turbopumps

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interroboink ◴[03 Nov 25 22:14 UTC] No.45805078[source]▶

>>45804871 #

To say nothing of the launchpad sound suppression water system[1] that dumps 7,300 gal/sec (about 2–3 seconds for one swimming pool)!

Though that's just gravity-fed, of course. Still pretty cool though, I think (:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_suppression_system

replies(1): >>45805181 #

1. jauntywundrkind ◴[03 Nov 25 22:24 UTC] No.45805181[source]▶

>>45805078 #

The article uses various measures, so here's a quick table:

  Baikonur Cosmodrome: 4,800 gal/s (peak)
  Space Shuttle Launch Complex 39: 7,317 gal/s (net)
  Wallops: 4,000 gal/s (?)
  SLS: 18,333 gal/s (peak)

  Mack Super Pumper (this article): 146 gal/s (net)
  Replacement new Super Pumper 1: 87.5 gal/s (net)

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The Mack Super Pumper was a locomotive engined fire fighter (2018)