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Lightning Strikes Delay Shuttle Launch

Posted by timothy on from the hey-we've-all-got-problems dept.

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."

2 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Don't sneeze near the shuttle by gavron · · Score: -1, Troll
    The part the public has been told:
    The US Space Shuttle was supposed to be reusable but contractor lobbyists and a weak congress allowed the specs to stray so now it's a big lumbering beast with ceramic tile issues, extar booster tanks, foam for icing protection on those tanks, falling ice and foam as a danger to the hull's integrity, etc.

    The part they haven't:
    If you sneeze near the shuttle or in any other way change the ambient air pressure you will be arrested.

    If you use a cellphone near the shuttle it will be called a lightning strike and you will collect no overtime for that pay period.
    If actual lightning strikes within 20 nautical miles and someone used a cellphone, it shall be charged to their pay period. If nobody used a cellphone it will be announced as "rogue lightning."

    If one of the launch directors wakes up facing the west side of the bed, the launch shall be scrubbed, and the 6th employee he sees after his 6th bite of his 6th donut shall be designated Evil Incarnate. (If he's on his 7th donut, making it 667, that employee shall instead be designated 667 - across the street neighbor from Evil Incarnate).

    Our nation's infrastructure towers over the puny shuttle. Yet the shuttle is grounded by a sneezing turle or a laughing hyena.

    E

  2. but... by at_slashdot · · Score: 0, Troll

    can we mount UV lasers on sharks?

    --
    "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -- Prof. Dumbledore