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New NASA System to Keep Lightning Off The Launchpad
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."
This same complex will be used for their next-generation launchers as well, not just the Shuttle.
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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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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
What's the matter, James? No glib remark? No pithy comeback?
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.
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.
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.