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New NASA System to Keep Lightning Off The Launchpad

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the shockingly-good-ideas dept.

coondoggie writes to tell us that NASA is building a new system to protect people and equipment on the shuttle launchpad from lightning strikes. "The new structure called a catenary wire system, will be the largest on the space compound and will feature large cables strung between three 594-foot-tall steel and fiberglass towers. Each tower is topped with a fiberglass mast and a series of catenary wires and down conductors designed to divert lightning away from the rocket and service structure. This configuration helps keep the vehicle isolated from dangerous lightning currents, NASA said."

31 comments

  1. For the Future As well... by Stanistani · · Score: 4, Informative

    This same complex will be used for their next-generation launchers as well, not just the Shuttle.

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    1. Re:For the Future As well... by Dunbal · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This same complex will be used for their next-generation launchers as well

            That is, if they can ever afford to build a "next generation launcher".

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  2. Kinda like by ravnous · · Score: 2, Funny

    So, kinda like what Doc Brown invented?

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    When does this happen in the movie?
    1. Re:Kinda like by iknownuttin · · Score: 1

      You're thinking of the time travel experiments NASA will be doing one day. The problem, though, is how do you get the Delorean on the boosters and keep them there?

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    2. Re:Kinda like by pushing-robot · · Score: 1

      The problem, though, is how do you get the Delorean on the boosters and keep them there?

      Hire these guys.

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  3. This is not that new you can find things just like by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 1

    This is not that new you can find things just like it at a power substation.

  4. Ground me in reality. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Interesting
    This configuration helps keep the vehicle isolated from dangerous lightning currents.

    Until it's launched, of course. Unless it will also trail a very, very long grounding wire...
    From: What is NASA's Anvil Rule for Thunderstorms?

    The Shuttle can CAUSE more Lightning: When the space shuttle goes high into the atmosphere, the long plume from the exhaust gives a pathway through which lightning can flow. In addition, the plume will reduce the electrical field necessary to trigger natural lightning.
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    1. Re:Ground me in reality. by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well since they as a rule don't launch the shuttle when lightning appears possible (as stated by the "Anvil Rule" itself), that would perhaps imply that this is more to protect the vehicle and the launch structures when they aren't being launched.

      In particular if a launch is scrubbed because of inclement weather with the shuttle already on the pad, then it would seem like a very good idea of having some sort of ground-based lightning protection. in-flight protection being irrelevant since they aren't launching...

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    2. Re:Ground me in reality. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless it will also trail a very, very long grounding wire...

      Sounds like a recipe for getting hit to me, not avoiding it.

      /yes, I know you were joking...

    3. Re:Ground me in reality. by RedWizzard · · Score: 2, Informative

      They're not going to start launching during thunderstorms. But having a system that protects the vehicle for the days leading up to the launch is certainly worthwhile. Actually the Shuttle launch facilities already have lightning protection, this story is just the new system they will be using for Ares launches. The system is already in place at LC-40 and LC-41 where is very obvious.

  5. Movies / Pictures by MavEtJu · · Score: 1

    Does anybody know of movies or pictures of rockets being hit by lightning?
    (Must be terrifying for the people working on it, knowing it can kind of ruin their toy...)

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    1. Re:Movies / Pictures by imemyself · · Score: 1

      I don't think they clearly show the actual lightning strike, but here are a couple videos about the Apollo 12 launch (Apollo 12 was hit by lightning shortly after launch). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33NnEZMS5RY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWQIryll8y8

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    2. Re:Movies / Pictures by the_povinator · · Score: 1

      Your .sig killed my xterm, you a***ole!

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  6. Old tech! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I work in a 13th century building and it has something like this, it's basically a fuck off metal pole that's bigger than anything else around and is well grounded it's called a lightning conductor :p

  7. Biased by Gertlex · · Score: 0, Troll

    Lightning might not be the best calendar utility out there, but why should NASA ban it completely?

    Brings a tear to my eye. :'(

  8. Gotta be careful by DarkNemesis618 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Let's not forget that Apollo 12 was twice struck by lightning during launch. Don't think NASA wants to risk another chance of that happening as they probably 1.) shouldn't have launched Apollo 12 that day and 2.) probably got incredibly lucky.

    Apollo 12 landed on the moon and came back safely seemingly without any side effects from the strikes

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    1. Re:Gotta be careful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      They did suffer equipment problems immediately after the strike. Only through the quick thinking of EECOM John Aaron and Alan Bean remembering the obscure procedure was the launch saved from an abort. The Apollo hardware wasn't that flimsy. Apollo 12 and 13 showed us it's quite robust.

  9. New for NASA? by Ceriel+Nosforit · · Score: 1

    This system seems to be just one of those where an artificial electrostatic charge of the same polarity as the the clouds basically 'pushes' the lightning away. Lightning here needs to overcome less resistance to strike somewhere further away than where the electrostatic charge is being generated.

    Not really a new concept. AFAIK lots of tall buildings have these.

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  10. Has the space shuttles ever been hit by one? by antdude · · Score: 1

    Even a small one? If so, then what happened? What type of damages?

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    1. Re:Has the space shuttles ever been hit by one? by Boilermaker84 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, and strikes within the pad perimeter are fairly frequent during the summer months. Central Florida is the lightning capital of the country and space center gets its fair share of ground strikes.

      The last few strikes have not resulted in any major damage. One in 2006 resulted in a delay of an Atlantis launch.

  11. so they created a lightning rod? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    it's just a) it's *NASA* and b) it's made of *FIBREGLASS*.

    What's the story here?

    1. Re:so they created a lightning rod? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You forgot c) it's 594 feet tall. That is officially a Big-Ass Lightning Rod.

    2. Re:so they created a lightning rod? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is America, so technically it would be *FIBERGLASS*.
      We don't need any more metric conversion errors TYVM !

  12. Worth the price? by Sibko · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Not only does NASA only launch when the weather is good, but the Space Shuttles themselves are about to go out of service.

    Unless they launch other rockets from Cape Canaveral this building seems wholly useless; and even if they do, it still seems unnecessary considering the few problems NASA has actually had with lightning. [Mostly thanks to their proactive decision to not launch during lightning storms.]

    Quite honestly, I'd have rather seen the money for this giant lightning rod go to one of the canceled science missions.

    1. Re:Worth the price? by Carnildo · · Score: 1

      Considering they've used the same launch pads for everything from Apollo onwards, I'd say that a lightning-repeller is a good investment.

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      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
    2. Re:Worth the price? by iphitus · · Score: 0

      Same setup will be used for Ares.

      Furthermore, it doesnt matter that they only launch when the weather is good. The orbiter is on the pad before launch. If they scrub because of stormy weather, they'll need the system. The shuttle also spends a while on the pad before launch, during which it may experience stormy weather (afaik, Ares will spend less time on the pad)

      It's not a "giant lightning rod" it's a set of towers with wires between them.

      Nor is it "unnecessary" because they've had few problems -- problems have been prevented because they have had lightning diversion systems in the past. It's better to prevent the problem, rather than take chances -- particularly with manned spaceflight.

  13. How about lasers? by TheLink · · Score: 1

    I think you could use lasers powerful enough to ionize the air and provide a path for lightning to the ground.

    Maybe not practical, but more fun than lightning rods :).

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    1. Re:How about lasers? by ThreeGigs · · Score: 1

      A laser powerful enough to ionize the air sufficiently will also render it non-transparent to laser frequencies, thus stopping it from working for more than a few feet.

      It's been proposed to use an ultra short pulse laser for this purpose (picosecond laser), however in that picosecond the laser must deliver enough power to ionize an expanding cone of air a kilometer high. Currently not workable, although it's been demonstrated in the lab over shorter (~1 meter) distances.

      Google for something like triggered lightning strike laser and you'll get some good info.

    2. Re:How about lasers? by Maximum+Prophet · · Score: 1

      So, use multiple lasers each with just under the power to spark the air, but scan the area where they come together from a grounding rod to the sky. You also have to adjust the focus as you scanned, because you want the beam to dissipate rapidly.

      You might not even need to ionize the air for it to be effective. Heated air has less resistance than cold air. This is what makes a Jacobs ladder work.

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  14. Actually, not the shuttle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Launch Complex 39B had its last shuttle launch last December. After that, NASA immediately started construction needed to support early flight testing and eventual operations of the Ares 1 rocket and Orion capsule. One of the first things they're doing is building the new lightning protection structure. They'll also be dismantling the current launch tower, which is specific to the shuttle and rebuilding the infrastructure for Ares 1. As I understand it, the current lightning protection system is built into the shuttle's launch tower and has not been sufficient to completely prevent strikes, so this new system will provide better protection for the new rocket. The same modifications will be done to Launch Complex 39A after the shuttle's final flight in 2010.