NASA drained about 40 million gallons from the 66-million-gallon High Pressure Industrial Water Facility reservoir at its Stennis Space Center in Mississippi to replace a crucial fire suppression pump. The upgrade enhances testing safety and system reliability supporting the agency’s Artemis rocket engine tests.
What happened
In May, crews lowered the reservoir—measuring 800 feet in diameter and roughly 25 feet deep—to its lowest level since the 1960s by removing approximately 40 million gallons over three days. This reduction allowed for the replacement of a 3,000-gallon-per-minute pump responsible for supplying water to fire suppression systems across Stennis’s test complexes.
The existing pump, which reached the end of its service life, operated with narrowing piping from 14 inches down to 10 inches, causing higher stress on the system. The new upgrade features an improved 14-inch-to-12-inch pipe configuration, reducing internal velocity for less wear and longer equipment life.
The water system cools engine exhaust—reaching up to 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit—supplies the flame deflector, and aids sound suppression during RS-25 engine hot fire tests on the Fred Haise Test Stand. Approximately five million gallons are drawn from the reservoir per test, and used water is recycled through onsite canals back into the reservoir.
Why it matters
This water system is vital for the safety and operational efficiency of NASA’s propulsion test facilities, notably for the Artemis missions aiming to return humans to the Moon. The upgraded pump and piping enhance fire suppression reliability during tests, mitigating risk to personnel and infrastructure. The improvements also support commercial activities at Stennis, the largest multiuser propulsion test site in the United States.
Background
NASA’s Stennis Space Center has been a key site for rocket engine testing since the 1960s. Its High Pressure Industrial Water Facility supplies massive volumes of water critical for cooling and safety in rocket engine firings. Maintaining and upgrading this infrastructure ensures continued support for NASA’s current and future space exploration programs.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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