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NASA's Water Deluge System at the Kennedy Space Center launch pad projected 450,000 gallons of water about 100 feet into the air. They do this in order to reduce the extreme heat and energy generated by launching a rocket.
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A screenshot of the NASA Kennedy Space Center tests a water deluge system.(Photo: NASA)

Who knew that rocket launches could require as much water?

As part of the preparations for its new space launch system, NASA tested the Water Deluge System, which projects 450,000 gallons of water onto the Kennedy Space Center launch pad.

NASA posted Friday a video of the October 15 test on YouTube.

According to NASA, the water deluge system serves to reduce the extreme heat and energy generated after launching a rocket.

The Space Launch System is essentially a giant rocket that NASA will use in a series of missions to the Moon and Mars.

The system is designed to carry larger payloads and generate more energy, which could pave the way for missions in the deep space "including robotic science missions to places like Mars, Saturn and Jupiter". says NASA.

Exploration Mission-1, the first mission to use the space launch system, will serve as a test for the Orion system and new spacecraft, designed to transport astronaut crews into missions in deep space. Its launch is scheduled for June 2020.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @ brettmolina23

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