Measurements of the ground acoustic environments for small solid rocket motor firings

During the ground launch of a space vehicle, the mobile launcher deck and tower are exposed to severe acoustic environments. These environments, if not properly managed, can weaken ground support equipment and result in structure failure. The ground acoustic environments are different than the vehicle acoustic environments. They are typically more severe because of the close proximity of the rocket plume, which often involves direct impingement. They are more difficult to predict, and their measurement and data reduction remain challenging. This paper discusses these challenges and describes the methods of processing ground acoustic data during a series of static firings of a 5-percent scale solid rocket launch vehicle and mobile launcher, known as the Ares Scale Model Acoustic Test.