Lightning Strikes Delay Shuttle Launch

Tisha_AH writes "The Space Shuttle has had its launch delayed for inspection after several lightning strikes to the launch tower and/or shuttle. Several different technologies have been applied by NASA to divert the strike energy to ground potentials with Air Terminals (lightning rods), surge protectors or the often-disputed use of static dissipator brushes. One technology that appears promising is to cause a lightning strike (to a safe location) through the use of short pulsed ultraviolet lasers. Maybe in the future, once the technology matures, we may find widespread use of UV lasers to protect space launch vehicles, antenna towers or buildings."

Comments

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[timeOday]

Not pertinent to the current delays, but this story reminded me of a cool picture.

I wonder if lasers could be used to divert lightning from commercial airliners in-flight? There was some speculation it could have contributed to the recent Air France crash, though apparently it's not a leading theory.

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[nethenson]

At least you would control the impact point, and would be able to divert the lightning from the most sensitive areas like the engines or the electronics. And you could force it to hit at a more prepared area of the airplane.

power

[heptapod]

Maybe they'll use the short pulsed ultraviolet lasers to make sure lightning strikes the vicinity of vast capacitors to generate energy for a city.

Video of the incident

[sponga]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYHY_BVj1Xo

I can't imagine the water tower being too complicated in electronics,open valve to get the water to the site to cool the concrete right?

Other electronics on shuttle though must be checked.