Will SpaceX’s New Launch Pad Outperform NASA’s?

Episode Summary:
Part 2 of this CSI Starbase Ultra Deep Dive Investigation examines THE MOST extreme thermal energy mitigation system ever integrated into a launch pad.

As Starship pushes beyond the limits of traditional launch infrastructure, managing the immense thermal, acoustic, and pressure loads at ignition becomes a problem no previous system was designed to handle.

In this episode we break down the engineering behind SpaceX’s approach — from the geometry of the flame deflector to the unprecedented scale of the water deluge system — and how these elements work together to absorb, redirect, and suppress the energy released during launch.

Its time to explore the solutions that may finally bring the launch pad up to the same level as the most powerful rocket ever built — and make rapid reusability possible.

Part 1: https://youtu.be/Xh-QBWtP444
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R&D Launch Mount & Stage Zero 2.0 Tee Shirts: https://csi-starbase.myshopify.com
Discount Code: RestInPieces

Please consider supporting CSI Starbase on:
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/CSI_Starbase
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CSI Starbase Production : Geoff Allan
https://x.com/DeffGeff

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Technical Resources:
Building KSC: https://public.ksc.nasa.gov/partnerships/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2023/03/Buildings-KSC-pad-VAB-LCC-O_C.pdf

Multiphase Modeling of Water Injection on MFD:
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20130014503/downloads/20130014503.pdf

Artemis 1 Ablation Analysis : https://tfaws.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/TFAWS23-PT-39-Presentation.pdf
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Huge thanks to the team of 3D Forensics Agents who make all of this possible!

Lewis Knaggs - Stage Zero 2.0 Renders
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/LewisKnaggs
𝕏 https://x.com/lewisknaggs42
▶︎ https://www.youtube.com/@LewisKnaggs

Ryan Hansen Space - CSI 3D Forensics Agent
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ryanhansenspace/
𝕏 https://x.com/RyanHansenSpace
▶︎ https://www.youtube.com/@RyanHansenSpace

📷Virtual Space 3D - Highbay & CSI Headquarters Renders
Patreon -
𝕏 https://x.com/Lolomatico3d
𝕏 https://x.com/Benedikt_3D
𝕏 https://x.com/2legit2quit3d

Andi Ashtorak - Starbase Sim Video Game:
𝕏 https://x.com/StarbaseSim

Nick Henning - Stage Zero V1 Flame Trench Concept:
𝕏 https://x.com/nickhenning3d

Chrome Kiwi - Water Cooled Deck Plate Conceptual Render
𝕏 https://x.com/AshleyKillip

Content Creators Featured In This Investigation:

📷 Starship Gazer - Starbase Photographer
Patreon - / starshipgazer
https://x.com/StarshipGazer
▶︎ @starshipgazer

Shaun Ghisler - Marcus House Channel
https://x.com/lifeatstagezero

Cosmic Perspective w/Audio from Andrew Keating
▶︎ / @cosmicperspective

Tim Dodd - The Everyday Astronaut
▶︎ / @everydayastronaut

AVID Space - 24/7 Starbase Livestreams
▶︎ / @labpadre

NASASpaceflight
▶︎ / nasaspaceflight

RGVAerialPhotography - Starbase Weekly Livestreams
Patreon - / rgvaerial
𝕏 https://x.com/RGVaerialphotos
▶︎ / @rgvaerialphotography

📷Greg Scott - Kennedy Space Center Photographer
Patreon - https://patreon.com/GregScott_Photo

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
3:06 Space Shuttle Deluge
10:24 SLS MFD
16:12 Stennis Upgrades
20:37 Superheavy Flame Deflector
31:33 Ridge Cap Manifold
34:02 18 Degrees (skit)
40:16 SHFD Final Touches
42:24 Launch Mount Install Prep
48:39 Protecting The Launch Deck
56:13 Water Cooled Launch Deck
1:08:27 Stage Zero 2.0 Final Touches
1:15:33 Material Selection
1:22:37 Final Audit / Outro
1:26:32 BONUS

Music Credits

0:01 Max H. Wisdom Blade - Licensed from Artlist IO
1:25 “Do You Remember" prod. by kochetkovv https://youtu.be/XXkND6MTJC8
3:03 https://youtu.be/68QeDAitSPo
6:58 https://youtu.be/LQMq4YEMvH8
10:23 Raz Burg - Dark Sparks - Licensed from Artlist IO
13:46 Ikoliks - Moon Town
16:31 Ikoliks - Technological Revolution - Licensed from Artlist IO
20:54 Ikoliks - Dive Deep - Licensed from Artlist IO
24:08 Tamuz Deke - Blue Beings - Licensed from Artlist IO
28:23 Ikoliks - Dying Light - Licensed from Artlist IO
31:31 https://youtu.be/V-_44B2Ltyc
38:26 Raz Burg - Night Chase - Licensed from Artlist IO
42:35 https://youtu.be/Wr9kwih7its?
45:41 https://youtu.be/gpC1MN1CFSk
49:16 https://youtu.be/TMIg0Q5FIQQ
50:36 https://youtu.be/V-_44B2Ltyc
56:07 Flint - Too Many Pixels - Licensed from Artlist IO
59:26https://youtu.be/TMIg0Q5FIQQ
1:02:59 https://youtu.be/gutOF86rhgI
1:05:03 https://youtu.be/TpJfT3bF7DE
1:08:24 https://youtu.be/w-bLNAqQKVM
1:12:324 Ikoliks - Technological Revolution - Licensed from Artlist IO
1:15:30 Ikoliks - Dive Deep - Licensed from Artlist IO
1:19:16 Ikoliks - Moon Town - Licensed from Artlist IO
1:29:01 Tamuz Dekel Plastic Breathe - Licensed from Artlist IO
1:30:55 Beat from https://www.beatopia.com/ "The Last Song Produced by Ghost"

Last but not least I want to give HUGE SHOUTOUT to the entire CSI Starbase team on discord!