Sound System Simulates the Roar of a Rocket Launch

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Sound System Simulates the Roar of a Rocket Launch

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday February 2, 2014 @08:52AM from the can-you-hear-anything-now? dept.

retroworks writes "Located in Noordwijk, Netherlands, and part of ESA's ESTEDC Test Center, is the Large European Acoustic Facility (LEAF), a sound amplification system 'powerful enough to kill a human being.' LEAF is capable of generating more than 154 decibels, the sound equivalent to standing next to several jets taking off. It is used to blast satellites and spacecraft with sound. Large horns are housed in a sound-proofed room that is 16.4meters tall. One wall of horns stands 11 m wide by 9 m deep and 16.4 m high. LEAF requires all the doors to be closed, operating in steel-reinforced concrete walls to contain the noise. The walls are coated with an epoxy resin to reflect noise, producing a uniform sound field within the chamber."

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the real question is by Anonymous Coward · 2014-02-02 08:55 · Score: 5, Funny

can it go to 11?
1. Re:the real question is by Ellis+D.+Tripp · 2014-02-02 09:06 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Sounds like this one might go up to 12 or more...and is large enough that it won't be trod on by a dwarf.
  
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2. Re:the real question is by Anonymous Coward · 2014-02-02 09:22 · Score: 1
  
  The real question is can we lock the US Congress in it and turn it up to 11.
3. Re:the real question is by binarylarry · 2014-02-02 09:37 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Since it's sound proof (and hopefully sealed air tight) lets just lock them inside and call it a day.
  
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  Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
4. Re:the real question is by Demonoid-Penguin · 2014-02-02 10:25 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  can it go to 11?
  (sigh) bloody Slashdot posters.... If you bothered to read the referenced article you'd see it starts at 11. [mutter, mutter].
5. Re:the real question is by flyneye · 2014-02-02 12:17 · Score: 1
  
  Big deal, Black Flag already been there and did that back in the 80s.
  Rockets have a ways to go to catch up.
  
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6. Re:the real question is by Chemisor · 2014-02-02 12:23 · Score: 1
  
  Whether it goes to 11 or not, it better have a 1/4 jack for Marty McFly to plug a guitar into.
7. Re:the real question is by RivenAleem · 2014-02-02 23:57 · Score: 2
  
  And can it blow the cloths off girls?
8. Re:the real question is by arisvega · 2014-02-03 09:40 · Score: 1
  
  If you bothered to read the referenced article you'd see it starts at 11. [mutter, mutter].
  No, you mixed up things: the one that starts at 11 is called DEAF.
  
  --
  The three laws of thermodynamics:(1) You can't win. (2) You can't break even. (3) You can't even quit.
9. Re:the real question is by Demonoid-Penguin · 2014-02-03 13:35 · Score: 1
  
  If you bothered to read the referenced article you'd see it starts at 11. [mutter, mutter].
  No, you mixed up things: the one that starts at 11 is called DEAF.
  Call it Joelene if you want, 11 is what it says.
  Oh, and that thing you call the "specific" - I'll continue to call "the Pacific" (ocean).
Questions not addressed in the summary by pushing-robot · 2014-02-02 08:59 · Score: 4, Funny

1. Can it play Van Halen?
2. How can I have one installed in my living room?

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How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
1. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by 140Mandak262Jamuna · 2014-02-02 09:02 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Of course I wish you could install it in your living room. Given that the volume can kill a person, it is going to be more like dying room. But, please be my guest. Once all these noise obsessed people have knocked themselves out of the genepool, real music might emerge someday.
  
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  sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
2. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by pushing-robot · 2014-02-02 09:04 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  They don't call it Death Metal for nothing, you know.
  
  --
  How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
3. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by jones_supa · 2014-02-02 09:47 · Score: 1
  
  Of course I wish you could install it in your living room. Given that the volume can kill a person, it is going to be more like dying room.
  Heh! Well played.
4. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by ShanghaiBill · 2014-02-02 09:50 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Given that the volume can kill a person ...
  Can it really? They say it is as loud as several jets taking off. I have been on aircraft carriers where the flight crews were in close proximity to jets taking off, and none of them died as a result of that. According to this chart noise around 150dB can rupture an eardrum in someone wearing no hearing protection. Ruptured eardrums are rarely fatal.
5. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by cheater512 · 2014-02-02 10:05 · Score: 1
  
  Decibels are a logarithmic scale, not linear. 154 decibels are over twice as powerful as 150 decibels.
6. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by DarwinSurvivor · 2014-02-02 10:06 · Score: 1
  
  Given that the volume can kill a person, it is going to be more like dying room.
  The irony, it BURNS!
7. Re: Questions not addressed in the summary by jd2112 · 2014-02-02 10:16 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Death metal? This thing has Disaster Area written all over it. They must be scheduled for a gig on Earth soon!
  
  --
  Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
8. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by jones_supa · 2014-02-02 10:20 · Score: 1
  
  But human hearing is logarithmic, again.
9. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by PopeRatzo · 2014-02-02 10:49 · Score: 1
  
  Once all these noise obsessed people have knocked themselves out of the genepool, real music might emerge someday.
  And that day, Perry Como will re-take his rightful place in the pantheon, right?
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
10. Re: Questions not addressed in the summary by Anonymous Coward · 2014-02-02 11:02 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  You don't die from hearing it, you die from feeling it. So twice as powerful as what it takes to rupture ear drums is in the range of rupturing capillaries in your whole body. Internal bleeding in the brain is a quick killer.
11. Re: Questions not addressed in the summary by snakeplissken · 2014-02-02 11:50 · Score: 2
  
  This thing has Disaster Area written all over it. They must be scheduled for a gig on Earth soon!
  the sound stage will be on earth, the band of course, will be on the moon!
12. Re:Questions not addressed in the summary by Andhesaidtome · 2014-02-02 12:01 · Score: 1
  
  TFS says jets, TFA says rockets. I don't think I'd want to be next to multiple rockets (or even one thanks).
13. Re: Questions not addressed in the summary by LookIntoTheFuture · 2014-02-02 13:22 · Score: 1
  
  They must be scheduled for a gig on Earth soon!
  I have 32 gig in my home server. Oh wait, nevermind.
  
  --
  Brave Sir Robin ran away. ("No!") Bravely ran away away. ("I didn't!")
14. Re: Questions not addressed in the summary by dwater · 2014-02-02 16:25 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Having experienced the Notting Hill Carnivan, I can totally believe this...the sound systems they have on the floats are so loud I found it quite difficult to even breath and started to make me feel sick. They're powered by quite big generators on the floats themselves....quite nuts.
  The floats/etc were a bit boring, imo. My wife and I didn't stay long.
  I find that they can reach 140db: http://www.theinformationdaily...
  
  --
  Max.
15. Re: Questions not addressed in the summary by send2erik · 2014-02-02 18:01 · Score: 1
  
  Nope, they will be orbiting Mars
16. Re: Questions not addressed in the summary by Dunbal · 2014-02-03 02:34 · Score: 1
  
  Not being able to hear a damn thing in a high risk environment is, uh deadly.
  WHAT?
  
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  Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
Maximum Rock And Roll by Frosty+Piss · 2014-02-02 08:59 · Score: 1

This would have been awesome back in the days of Punk...

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It's only a matter of time... by narcc · 2014-02-02 09:00 · Score: 5, Funny

...before this is stolen and installed in a '94 honda civic.

--
Required reading for internet skeptics
WHAT????? by Anonymous Coward · 2014-02-02 09:03 · Score: 1

WHAT DID YOU SAY??????
1. Re:WHAT????? by crutchy · 2014-02-02 09:10 · Score: 1
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
One of the first customers by rossdee · 2014-02-02 09:06 · Score: 5, Funny

Hotblack Desiato and his band Disaster Area
1. Re:One of the first customers by fahrbot-bot · 2014-02-02 09:09 · Score: 2
  
  Hotblack Desiato and his band Disaster Area
  With *everything* painted black, of course.
  
  --
  It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
2. Re:One of the first customers by physicsphairy · 2014-02-02 09:31 · Score: 1
  
  My neighbors will want one, too, but they might just rent one because they'll only need it around 4am on Saturdays.
  
  --
  When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
3. Re:One of the first customers by dwater · 2014-02-02 16:31 · Score: 1
  
  " ``It's the wild colour scheme that freaks me,'' said Zaphod whose love affair with this ship had lasted almost three minutes into the flight, ``Every time you try to operate on of these weird black controls that are labelled in black on a black background, a little black light lights up black to let you know you've done it. What is this? Some kind of galactic hyperhearse?''
  The walls of the swaying cabin were also black, the ceiling was black, the seats --- which were rudimentary since the only important trip this ship was designed for was supposed to be unmanned --- were black, the control panel was black, the instruments were black, the little screws that held them in place were black, the thin tufted nylon floor covering was black, and when they had lifted up a corner of it they had discovered that the foam underlay also was black.
  "
  
  --
  Max.
154dB is not fatal, or unusual by mpoulton · 2014-02-02 09:09 · Score: 3, Interesting

Car audio competitors exceed 154dB all the time. That's not even close to the sound pressure levels achieved in world-class competitions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... That's 28.5dB louder than this testing facility, a factor of 707 times more power.

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I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
1. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by Sparohok · 2014-02-02 09:29 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Car audio competitors exceed 154db:
  * In a very small enclosed space (not a 16 meter room large enough to test spacecraft)
  * With an acoustic design to focus sound on the microphone (not intended to create a uniform soundfield)
  * For just a few seconds before the speaker voice coils melt
  * At a very small range of bass frequencies
  * Strictly without nobody inside the car to avoid certain injury - or perhaps even death, we have no way to know
  154db may not be unusual but what the LEAF facility is doing certainly is unusual.
  Martin
2. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by Sparohok · 2014-02-02 09:41 · Score: 2
  
  "because we where[sic] peaking at 163db"
  No actually you weren't.
  Just because the meter says it doesn't mean its true.
  Martin
3. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by mpoulton · 2014-02-02 10:18 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  That's all certainly true. The facility is very impressive. Not because of the 154dB number, but because of all the other engineering factors involved. There's no doubt that the total amount of power involved is way higher than any audio system, and that it would be very unhealthy to stand in the box. It's just a bit odd and misleading to tout the SPL number as somehow being really impressive, when the chav blasting his ridiculous stereo at 3AM may be in the same dB ballpark.
  
  --
  I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
4. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by mpoulton · 2014-02-02 10:19 · Score: 2
  
  Car audio competitors exceed 154dB all the time. That's not even close to the sound pressure levels achieved in world-class competitions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
  That's 28.5dB louder than this testing facility, a factor of 707 times more power.
  Decibels relative to what? Maybe not ambient...
  Sound pressure level is measured relative to 1dB (duh), which is typically defined as 20uPa.
  
  --
  I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
5. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by pz · 2014-02-02 10:33 · Score: 1
  
  It's one thing to do that inside a car (which is what, 6 x 4 x 9 feet ... or maybe a little larger than that?). It's quite another to do it inside a huge room that's 36 x 30 x 54 feet in size. It's also worth noting that car audio competitions use a single frequency. The LEAP facility is broadband, since it needs to simulate the sound of a launching rocket.
  
  --
  
  Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
6. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by gishzida · 2014-02-02 10:34 · Score: 2
  
  I once had the opportunity to witness a night time test firing of an Atlas rocket engine set [three engines] at the Rocketdyne Santa Susanna Field Test Lab. We were put in an observation area at a distance of 3/4 of a mile away from the test stand. The test was about thirty seconds long. The sound pressure from the engines compressed the diaphragm enough to make breathing difficult or impossible.
  Imagine trying to take a breath and you find you are unable to do so all the while you are hearing an impossibly loud roaring and the flashing brightness of the engines bathing the hills with yellow-white light.
  It was the nearest I ever got to an actual ride into space... it was impressive and I found myself wanting "to go on that ride again" but never had the opportunity.
7. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by Dozy+Lizard · 2014-02-02 11:41 · Score: 1
  
  Um ... relative to 0dB ...
8. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by Trogre · 2014-02-02 12:16 · Score: 1
  
  Yes I also thought that 154 dB, assuming they're using dBA, seemed a little low to be considered fatal. Wikipedia's table of sound pressure levels claim that rocket acoustic tests typically operate at around 165dB.
  
  --
  "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
9. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by Trogre · 2014-02-02 12:51 · Score: 2
  
  You found breathing difficult from 3/4 mile away?
  That is impressive. The sound pressure 1m from the rocket must have been incredible, and well in excess of 154dBA I would guess!
  
  --
  "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
10. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by Dunbal · 2014-02-03 02:38 · Score: 1
  
  The fact that the government gets billed $15 million every time it's used to test a satellite when the actual testing cost is $130 and a half dozen doughnuts?
  
  --
  Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
11. Re:154dB is not fatal, or unusual by jbo5112 · 2014-02-03 15:40 · Score: 1
  
  Rockets are usually listed as MUCH higher. Saturn 5 was either 180 or 220 dB based on search results. Also about 200 dB is listed as lethal on a number of sites. Maybe this company calibrates their decibel differently. 0 dB has to be set at some pressure level.
Re:Oh, you mean my neighbors by crutchy · 2014-02-02 09:12 · Score: 1

it's all part of the new SETI@home project... blast the aliens with annoying sound till they come tell us to shut the hell up cos even though space is a vacuum they can still hear us (due to the "star wars space sound travel phenomenon")
Confessions Of an Ex-SLASHDOT BETA user by Anonymous Coward · 2014-02-02 09:38 · Score: 4, Insightful

Day 1: It wouldn't stop, the redirecting. At first I thought it was malware. Had my first drink in a long time.
Day 2: Barely had the strength to carry on as the BETA REDIRECTIONS continue.. trying not to talk to hallucinations at the bar and in the bathroom which laugh at me about these redirections.
Day 3: Discovered the BETA redirections were random, and while at first they looked somewhat usable, when I looked at me and my monitor screen in the mirror, a horrible woman with flesh hanging off of her body looked back, trying to lead me into a dance as the word BETA appeared across her rancid breasts.
Day 4: These BETA corridors go on FOREVER! On the plus side, I've taken up disassembling vehicles to corner this BETA beast and sacrifice myself rather than lead others to discovering it. I ate some red snow.
Day 5: Finding it harder to concentrate. I've ate some more of the red snow. The taste is starting to grow on me.
Day 6: This typewriter is the only entertainment I have, apart from throwing things at the walls, trying to get some response from the BETA which is now taking over my mind.
Day 7: Hahahahahha! Would you believe it? I'M STILL BEING REDIRECTED TO SLASHDOT BETA PAGES! AHAHhahahaah! Type, type, ding, ding! Wooo!
Day 8: The hallucinations are actually real! Would you believe it? They have offered to help me if I agree to work for them. I'm thinking about patenting this delicious red snow, the taste is unreal!
Day 9: Having black out sessions where I cannot remember large passings of time. Found some makeup, thought I'd paint a joker smile on my face to amuse the people only I can see!
Day 10: Productive today, part of what I wrote for my new screenplay:
I cannot opt out of Slashdot BETA!
I cannot opt out of Slashdot BETA!
I cannot opt out of Slashdot BETA!
I cannot opt out of Slashdot BETA!
I cannot opt out of Slashdot BETA!
I cannot opt out of Slashdot BETA!
I cannot opt out of Slashdot BETA!
I cannot opt out of Slashdot BETA!
I cannot opt out of Slas
(drops of blood on paper)
1. Re:Confessions Of an Ex-SLASHDOT BETA user by hankwang · 2014-02-02 19:49 · Score: 1
  
  "I'm still being redirected to SLASHDOT BETA"
  Poor you. Try http://slashdot.org/?nobeta=1 .
  
  --
  Avantslash: low-bandwidth mobile slashdot.
Missed headline opportunity by wonkey_monkey · 2014-02-02 09:38 · Score: 4, Funny

Sound system simulates strident sonics of soaring space ships

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Simpsons did it by Joe_Dragon · 2014-02-02 09:48 · Score: 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
powerful enough to kill a human?? mythbusters by Joe_Dragon · 2014-02-02 09:57 · Score: 3, Funny

powerful enough to kill a human?? sounds like the mythbusters need to test this!!
1. Re:powerful enough to kill a human?? mythbusters by lagomorpha2 · 2014-02-02 12:13 · Score: 2
  
  They should get Kari Byron to test it to see if they're so loud, they blow women's clothes off!
Pfttt... by Hamsterdan · 2014-02-02 10:18 · Score: 1

That's nothing compared to what my neighbors use in their living room...

--
I've got better things to do tonight than die.
hmmm... by ComputersKai · 2014-02-02 11:45 · Score: 1

...capable of generating more than 154 decibels, the sound equivalent to standing next to several jets taking off....

Or the equivalent of mentioning Obamacare to Congress
Glenn Research Plum Brook has one that goes to 163 by Anonymous Coward · 2014-02-02 15:03 · Score: 1

This is nice and all, but NASA built one of these for their Plum Brook Glenn Research Center that goes to 163dB.
wiki article
Re:Shows how inefficient rockets are. by 50000BTU_barbecue · 2014-02-02 15:12 · Score: 2

You'd be surprised at how little energy is needed for sound to be spectacular.
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/T...
Whether or not your speakers are efficient at transforming electrical power into acoustic power is another story. If you can lift your speakers by hand, your efficiency is maybe 1% if you're lucky.

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Next milepost .... by PPH · 2014-02-02 15:23 · Score: 1

.... Seahawks fans.

--
Have gnu, will travel.
move to Venus by troon · 2014-02-02 19:48 · Score: 3, Interesting

The maximum SPL on Earth is a trifling 193dB: the point at which the negative peak of the compression wave is a total vacuum.
Move to Venus with its 90atm ambient "air" pressure, and you could get up to 233dB!
Seriously, if you live near me and like thumping bass in your car, move there now! Ignore all that propaganda about high temperatures and acid rain... 233dB!!!

--
Ydco co ,df C erb-y go. a Ekrpat t.fxrapev
In space no-one can hear you scream. by mrthoughtful · 2014-02-02 21:55 · Score: 1

The obvious interpretation, that this device blasts satellites and spacecraft while they are in space, is impossible. Actually all sorts of things (including the aforementioned) are placed into a chamber for sonic vibration testing. Satellites are tested this way for launch-worthiness, not space-worthiness.

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Underwater version? by cameloid · 2014-02-03 01:56 · Score: 1

Can this be installed in a nuclear submarine and transported to the Marianas Trench?

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-- Cisk for the Cisk God
Re:Glenn Research Plum Brook has one that goes to by MasT3quila · 2014-02-03 02:53 · Score: 1

Goddard has one too and you can feel the building vibrate when it runs. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/unique_resources_prt.htm
Been around forever by judoguy · 2014-02-03 02:58 · Score: 1

My father was an EE for Western Electric and Bell Labs. Way back in the day, he worked on inertial guidance systems for ICBMs.
He told me about the shaker table they used to simulate boost phase. It used a 500 watt McIntosh amp as the pre-amp driving several foot tall water cooled tubes, (valves for our British friends) as the output devices.
I've always wanted a setup like that for my sub-sub-sub--woofer.

--
Peace is easy to achieve, just surrender. Liberty is much harder get/keep.
1. Re:Been around forever by vandamme · 2014-02-05 14:40 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, I had one in the 70's that I got off an excess list at the Air Force Research Lab. It was in a 6 foot cabinet with a bunch of big tubes. I think I tore the power supply out of it to use for something else, but I thought of hooking it up to a transducer and my guitar, but sadly never did. .
Get that noise maker off my lawn by thogard · 2014-02-03 04:39 · Score: 1

I could still hear the Saturn V when the 1st stage dropped off. It had lovely base with a crackling. Figuring speed of sound, vs speed of light and wind and sound drop off over distance, I suspect this thing isn't that loud.