Preparing to launch to the Moon, the NASA rocket was suddenly hit by 4 lightning bolts in a row
Four bolts of lightning hit the area around the Pad 39B launch pad, where NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) first rocket was undergoing fuel testing for the Artemis 1 mission to the moon. The rocket is protected from lightning by three towers and a chain structure that redirects strikes to the ground, away from the booster.
NASA officials said the first three lightning strikes were of relatively low energy. But a fourth more powerful lightning struck “tower one” of the lightning protection system. You can watch a video of the lightning strike from NASA’s live video stream of the refueling test.
Video of lightning hitting the rocket launcher area.
Jeremy Parsons, deputy director of NASA’s Ground Exploration Systems, said the lightning strike was the deadliest since the new lightning protection system was installed. Fortunately, thanks to the enhanced lightning protection system, there are no consequences for missile devices. The SLS Space Launch System and the Orion capsule are both safe.
Parsons says NASA has upgraded the Pad 39B’s lightning protection system to include improved shielding of lightning strikes and faster current isolation. Each lightning protection tower is mounted on the same fiberglass mast and chains that divert electricity away from the active structures of the missile system.
The new system also has a range of sensors, both on the ground and on the mobile launcher, that help to quickly determine the condition of the missile if a lightning strike occurs.
SLS system with Orion capsule.
Although the Artemis 1 rocket system was not damaged, NASA has suspended the refueling test phase due to recent incidents.
Artemis 1 is NASA’s first mission in its program to return astronauts to the moon in 2025 or so. The Artemis 1 flight will be a trip around the moon to test the SLS Space Launch System and the Orion capsule, carrying a series of experiments and sensor-covered dummies.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: genk.vn – Read the original article here
