Supersonic jet noise from launch vehicles: 50 years since NASA SP-8072

Area of Science:

• Acoustics
• Aerospace Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• NASA SP-8072 (1971) established early launch vehicle noise modeling.
• This foundational report, despite limitations, still influences current noise prediction methods.
• Significant advancements in understanding rocket plume acoustics have occurred since 1971.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in the physics of noise generation and radiation from rocket plumes.
• To survey state-of-the-art methods for mitigating launch vehicle noise.
• To discuss modern noise modeling approaches for supersonic jets and rocket plumes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of research on supersonic jet and rocket plume acoustics.
• Analysis of noise generation and radiation physics.
• Evaluation of empirical, numerical, and reduced-order modeling techniques.
• Review of noise mitigation strategies.

Main Results:

• New insights into the physics of noise generation and radiation from rocket plumes have been gained.
• Advanced noise modeling techniques, including numerical and reduced-order models, show promise.
• Current methods can capture rocket noise characteristics not addressed by NASA SP-8072.

Conclusions:

• Modern research has significantly expanded the understanding of rocket noise beyond the scope of NASA SP-8072.
• Advanced modeling approaches offer more accurate and comprehensive predictions of launch vehicle noise.
• Continued development in noise modeling and mitigation is crucial for future space exploration.