Why don't rocket support stancheons melt?

Question

With the repeated launches of NASA space shuttles and rockets from the same location, I would think that the intense heat of rockets blasting off would weaken, if not melt, the structural supports holding them at launch. Why don't they weaken or melt? How long do they stay hot and when can workers safely approach them after a launch?

Answer 1

The exhaust isn't hitting them all that long, so they don't have time to heat up. The hottest part is inside the engine anyway. As soon as it exits the throat of the nozzle it expands and cools. It is still hot, but not AS hot.

Answer 2

The supports are repaired after every launch, but the damage is mostly superficial, the effort is mostly keeping it from rusting away below the rocket.

Also the whole pad is flooded with water during launch to protect it from heat and vibrations. Also, the huge mass of the launch pad can absorb a lot of heat energy.

The pad can be accessed already shortly after launch.

Answer 3

hardly any flame comes out the spouts... it's just a really intense flame.... and ti's directed downwards, not towards anything else...

of course they get hot, but not hot enough to start making the metal pliable

the smoke is misleading.... the smoke really does make it seem like it's aloooooot hotter then it is. (the general area, not the flame.)

Answer 4

A few seconds before the engines ignite, thousands of water jets are turn on; every part of the launch pad is drenched. About 350,000 gallons of water are pumped during the launch. This is why there is so much "smoke" on the launch pad; it's actually steam because the fire boils away the water without getting the launch pad too hot.

Answer 5

Did you know there are six huge sprinklers that go off as the launch begins? That's the reason for all the smoke that appears during the launch. It's actually steam coming from the water being released to cool off the launch pad and nearby areas.