Rocket port extension melt, unlike rocket port.

It's a bit odd I suppose, but the Launch Pad does NOT transfer heat so even a Lead one can withstand a Hydrogen Engine.  The Modular Launch Pad Ports (and extensions) DO transfer heat. So they will be material dependant.

My opinion is to make the Launch Pad exchange heat like everything else.

Edited May 2, 2025 by ONIZone

7 hours ago, ONIZone said:

My opinion is to make the Launch Pad exchange heat like everything else.

Problem is petroleum engine start at 2900 C exhaust, which melt all except for tungsten early/mid game.
So either make exhaust heat weaker (so they wont melt basic materials for low tier rockets), or remove heat exchange for rocket ports.

Edit: Actually it seem quite accurate and make rocket port at early stages an one time use, and when you start advancing in tech, you can reuse it with better materials.

Edited May 3, 2025 by Tranoze

Yeah, the CO2 and Steam engines are pretty tame. The sugar and petro engines seem fine with steel cables and such under them. The hydro engine has always required anything built under those center 3 tiles be built from tungsten and or Thermium.

 

I get the impression you alreay know all this however for others:

For reference, the code reads that Pretroleum Engines exhaust CO2 @ 1263.15K or 990C.

Then there is additional heat injected into the cells below the engine in kilojoules less than or equal to the exhaust temp or 1263.15kj / 200ms or 5 times per second for every second it's burning.

There are several additional variables the come into play for what final temp the solids, liquids, or gasses under the engine will end up at during launch and land.  Part is the engine of course as it dictates the exhaust element and the heating kilojoules.  Another variable is how heavy the rocket is.  It sits longer at the initial start/end point longer when heavy.  The heat injection has a max temp and will only continue adding heat until the cell reaches the max temp of 3200K or 2926.85C.  So in a way the exhaust gas will end up absorbing heat from the cells cooked by the injected heat as those cells will continuously have new gas added to them.

Edited May 3, 2025 by ONIZone

Small blurb here.

I reenabled the structure temp transfer in a local mod I use for tweaking the game.  So far the results are as expected.  I totally lost a Gold launch pad using only the Small Petroleum Engine;  while the Steel launch pads survive coming to rest at around 1300 degrees after launch/land.  I haven't tested with the Large Petroleum Engine nor the Hydrogen Engine.  It will be interesting to see if Tungsten negates the Hydrogen Engine's damage potential; I'm pretty sure the Steel launchpads won't stand up to it as I've had Steel cables and rails melt under it (though the slightly better Thermium rails have survived).

Edited May 8, 2025 by ONIZone