{"id":777,"date":"2019-08-27T08:10:13","date_gmt":"2019-08-27T11:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/?p=777"},"modified":"2023-03-29T14:05:39","modified_gmt":"2023-03-29T17:05:39","slug":"winds-of-change-at-the-alcantara-launch-center-study-brings-brazilian-space-program-another-step-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/2019\/08\/27\/winds-of-change-at-the-alcantara-launch-center-study-brings-brazilian-space-program-another-step-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Winds of change at the Alcantara launch center: study brings Brazilian Space Program another step ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rosa Moraes, Scientific Journalist, Linceu Editorial, S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9 dos Campos, SP, Brazil<\/strong>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The article \u201cWind tunnel investigation of the wind patterns in the launching pad area of the Brazilian Alcantara Launch Center\u201d, published in Volume 11 of the Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management<\/em>, continues the studies developed by the Brazilian Space Program on wind flow patterns that affect the Alcantara Launch Center (ALC) region, emphasizing its analysis in the particularly critical area of launch operations, the Launch Pad Area (LPA).<\/p>\n

The study was designed for better understanding of the wind flow patterns, especially around Mobile Integration Tower \u2014 MIT \u2014 in order to identify regions of strong vorticity that can cause vibrations and overloads in its 33 meter high steel structure. In the experiment, a Launch Pad Area model, coated in black paint to minimize any laser reflections that could interfere with the results collection, was placed into a wind tunnel.<\/p>\n

The research was conducted in 2016, in the TA-2 aeronautic subsonic wind tunnel, located on the premises of the Instituto de Aeron\u00e1utica e Espa\u00e7o (IAE), Brazil. To simulate the typical atmospheric boundary layer of the Alc\u00e2ntara Launch Center, procedures were described in the study that detail the equations, methods and reference works used, as well as the results illustrated in graphs, tables and figures.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Source: FARIA, A.F., AVELAR, A.C. and FISCH, G.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Figure 1. LPA Model.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A hot wire anemometer system was used to measure turbulence and wind flow analysis was performed using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, an optical method that allows the visualization and analysis of particle motion in streams. The slope was simulated by supporting the model on a platform and the natural irregularities of the terrain were recreated by placing wooden blocks and spires at the entrance of the wind stream. Several angles of wind incidence were tested with the model in vertical and horizontal position.<\/p>\n

The results presented are issues of great interest in terms of safety and effectiveness of launches, since their proper planning and success depends directly on wind flows and their angle of incidence, speed and strength. In the case of sounding rockets and satellite launch vehicle, for effective launch operation, understanding of environmental conditions is fundamental (VAUGHN; JOHNSON, 2011).<\/p>\n

Being located on a coastal cliff 40 meters above sea level and by the ocean, the Alcantara Launch Center is subject to peculiar topographic and weather conditions. Such characteristics may even influence the atmospheric boundary layer and compromise the safety of launches. Issues such as rocket trajectory and propellant gas dispersion were also considered in this study.<\/p>\n

The Alc\u00e2ntara base is one of the best strategically positioned in the world, being in Atlantic coast area, with stable climate throughout the year allows a reliable launch schedule to be set up. In addition, its privileged location, very close to Ecuador, is shared only with the Guiana Space Center.<\/p>\n

References<\/h3>\n

VAUGHAN, W.W. and JOHNSON, D.L. Aerospace meteorology: some lessons learned from the development and application of NASA terrestrial environment design criteria. BAMS<\/em> [online]. 2011, vol. 92, no. 9, pp. 1149-1157, 2011. DOI: 10.1175\/2011BAMS3133.1<\/a>. Available from: https:\/\/journals.ametsoc.org\/doi\/abs\/10.1175\/2011BAMS3133.1<\/a><\/p>\n

To read the article, access it<\/h3>\n

FARIA, A.F., AVELAR, A.C. and FISCH, G. Wind tunnel investigation of the wind patterns in the launching pad area of the Brazilian Alc\u00e2ntara Launch Center. J. Aerosp. Technol. <\/em>Manag<\/em>. [online]. 2019, vol. 11, e0719 [viewed 27 August 2019]. DOI: 10.5028\/jatm.v11.996<\/a>. Available from: http:\/\/ref.scielo.org\/p8mf5j<\/a><\/p>\n

External link<\/h3>\n

Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management \u2013 JATM: <http:\/\/www.scielo.br\/jatm<\/a>><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The present article details an experiment using a scale model of the Launching Pad Area in a subsonic wind tunnel, using the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique to collect results in different wind flow incidence configurations. The results identify the peculiarities of the region\u2019s typical wind action, and its effects on launch structures and operations on one of the world’s most strategically located space launching bases. …<\/span> Read More →<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":288,"featured_media":779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6,22,12],"tags":[193,23],"class_list":["post-777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-engineering","category-jatm","category-press-releases","tag-engineering","tag-journal-of-aerospace-technology-and-management"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/288"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=777"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":781,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777\/revisions\/781"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}