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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."

5 of 31 comments (clear)

  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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  2. 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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  3. 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.