Water Tower near SR 436 or the Sound Suppression System

Whenever my parents drive with me by State Road 436 (Semoran Blvd) in Seminole County, past Apopka, and this water tower shows up.

Also went to the Maitland Blvd Extension and saw the same thing at a bigger distance.

I wasn't sure what to think, but after seeing photos of the Space Shuttles and going to the Kennedy Space Center for tours, I realized that I was thinking I was seeing the Sound Suppression Water System which is used to dampen rocket noise by 5 dB with 300,000 gallons of water to prevent damage to the launch pads.

And if they didn't suppress the sound.
Not only would the launch pads be damaged, the sound bouncing off of them would also hit the rockets and damage them and ruin a perfect space mission and their money.

And looking the other direction from SR 436, I could've seen something like the Launch Pad (like 39), and a big cube at the distance, (which would be the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)) but at the time, the launch tower was demolished for modifications for the new Falcon rocket.

I am MINDBLOWN with how the houses and stores near that tower withstood ALL THOSE SHOCK WAVES from the rockets.

They aren't even close to a mile or half a mile, not even a quarter of a mile from it, and the closest to watch a launch(especially for VIP) is 5 km, just over 3 miles, and even there it's very powerful(though I haven't been to a launch, but know about it since it's true).

And everyone probably had to clear out of this area and the surrounding few miles from it every time a rocket would launch, to stay safe from all the powerful noise and shock waves.

So very hard to believe the houses and stores near that water tower surviving such noise and power.

So convinced that really was the Sound Suppression Tower, but from a different view and distance.

And with the new work on the SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy, after seeing images of the modifications of the tower, I believe if I go back to SR 436 or Maitland Blvd, and see that thing, I might possibly see the SpaceX logo painted on it. Wouldn't that be cool?

And I haven't seen any more water towers designed like that anywhere, not even on photos of other places, so that really could've been it.

I could've sworn this was near Titusville, in Cape Canaveral.

The Water Tower needs more attention, even to those driving by 436 Semoran and Maitland Blvd.

Best viewed on Street View.

Attachments:

Water Tower Near SR 436.kmz (2.76 KB)

These photos will hopefully give you ideas of what I'm talking about if you don't understand.

Here's the street view from SR 436 (top photo)

And here's the view from Maitland Blvd (bottom photo, taken from my son's camera)

The third photo, on the bottom, is zoomed in footage from before the final Space Shuttle launch (STS-135), as seen from from Banana Creek, 5 kilometers (3.1068559611866697345 miles) from the launch pad.
(Note that SR 436/Semoran Blvd would cross in between the water tower and launch tower at 22.5 degrees to the right relative to the angle the camera is focusing on)
(and lately I found that the launch pads have been demolished as a way to build up new ones, for the Falcon Heavy and Space Launch System (SLS)).

And the fourth photo(the bottom-most) is the modified Sound Suppression System with the SpaceX logo painted onto it, as a modification for the Falcon Heavy, which is expected to launch sometime early 2017.

The photo on Semoran, on the opposite direction from the direction facing the Sound Suppression System, shows an open water area, which would be Banana Creek.


And further out in the distance, a mast shows up, which should be a left over from a distant Launch Pad, as well as a Lightning Mast (used to protect rockets and their towers & pads from lightning), Launch Pad 39 is certainly closer than that in order to be between Banana Creek and the Sound Suppression System.



And anyone seeing and passing near a giant hill-like thing while driving on 436 was seeing the Launch Pad.


The bottom photo shows Banana Creek viewed from the VIP Press Site, where visitors with VIP press passes can watch launches from, at 5 km from the pads, it was taken before the Atlas V with the Curiosity Rover launched.

And you'll get some idea.

For any of you getting onto this thread.

NASA launched an Atlas V rocket carrying a SBIRS missile detection satellite.

So for that matter, people had to clear SR 436 for safety reasons, so they wouldn't get too close to the launch pad when it went off.

Again, it's hard to believe how those buildings, stores and houses near it survived All That POWER!

Very good equipment for both the houses, stores and launch pads.

The Atlas V SBIRS launch was successful.

The Launch Pad 39 has completed modification for the Falcon X (Falcon Heavy).

The Falcon X is expected to launch at 10:01 a.m. EST on February 18, though there's a tiny leak on the top stage, which could put the mission to an end too soon.

It would be the first time since July 8, 2011 that Launch Pad 39 is being used (last used during the launch of STS-135 Atlantis, the final Space Shuttle).

The several km radius, including that of SR 436 is being evacuated for safety.

It would put us a new step toward developing the technology to send humans back to the Moon and to Mars for a historic goal in technology and humanity.

It's Saturday.

February 18, 2017.

The Falcon X is planned to launch, hopefully the leak is resolved.



Evacuation in the several km radius is underway.



It is planned to launch at 10:01 AM EST at Cape Canaveral from Launch Pad 39.



If launched, the Sound Suppression System will dump 300,000 gallons of water into the launch pad to reduce vibrations, to keep the rocket safe from the echo of them.



A new step toward developing the technology to send humans back to the Moon and to Mars.

The launch has been aborted due to technical issues, including the leak on the second stage.


You see , if the rocket launched, while there was a leak, it would've exploded, and we would've lost a multi-billion dollar mission, and would never take a step forward to returning to the Moon and going to Mars.

So SR 436 is safe to drive by for another 20 hours.

Today is the second attempt to launch the FalconX.

It is planned to launch at 9:38 AM EST.

Evacuations of the 5 km radius, including that of SR 436, are resumed.

If all goes as planned, the Sound Suppression System will dump 300,000 gallons of water onto the rocket and pad to reduce the noise and vibrations.

And the rocket will launch to put a satellite into orbit around Earth, bringing us a new step closer to developing the technology needed to send humans back to the Moon and to Mars.

Only 38 minutes until the second launch attempt of the Falcon X.

Here's a photo from the last 38 minutes.

At 9:39 AM EST, one minute delayed due to weather issues, The Falcon X had launched successfully, with 300,000 gallons of water poured from the Sound Suppression System through the pipes into the rocket and pad.
No explosion.

The first launch from Pad 39 since July 8, 2011 with the last Space Shuttle, STS-135 Atlantis.

And the landing was perfect, again no explosion.

And again, HOW ARE THOSE BUILDINGS TOO CLOSE TO THE PAD ABLE TO SURVIVE?
Must be VERY GOOD Equipment like the Launch Pad.

After the steam and smoke clear, 10 km of SR 436 will be open again for drivers.

The Water Tower from 180 Maple St in 2015.

Google Street View images need more updating.

I took my son to see his doctor, and drove by SR 436.
And saw not only the Sound Suppression System, but also the Launch Pad and Launch Tower.
And saw the SpaceX logo and he was right.
Yet I also knew there would be stores like Kohl's near it.
Photos were taken with his camera.

But...

Why is there a Kohl's near the Launch Pad?

(bottom photo looking the opposite side from top)

The Sound Suppression Water Tower Now. from SR 436.

I found SR 436 when touring Google Earth, and I've seen it on photos of the KSC launch pads, and with the sound suppression, you're right about that.

And How lucky you are to have a camera, and why would they make a road that crosses too close to the launch pad?

And Why would they even put stores like Kohl's too close to it?

There must be spacesuits in there, and when a rocket's about to launch, they really must block the road off for safety, you don't wanna die too close.

And also, the stores near it must be very strong and good structure, I can't even imagine living too close to the pad.

OMG I can't believe someone noticed me!

It was about time someone would come by.

And I can't believe people would drive and shop too close to a rocket.
It's DANGEROUSLY close!

You'd die in the vincity of a launch that close.

Yeah.