TEXAS WELLHEAD SLS worked in cooperation with Hicks Lightning Protection to diagnose the cause of suspected lightning damage to a well-head transformer in Texas. After examining the evidence, SLS provided several explanations for the observed damage and recommended strategies to prevent recurring damage. Categories News Publications Projects
PORT OF PROVIDENCE WIND TURBINE FABRICATION A large wind turbine fabrication facility is located at the Port of Providence in Rhode Island. SLS worked with Northeast Lightning Protection to design both the lightning protection and grounding systems for the main wind turbine towers during their final assembly. Categories News Publications Projects
LAUNCH VEHICLE TEST STAND SLS was tasked to evaluate the lightning susceptibility of a first stage booster while it is affixed to the test stand. SLS performed detailed Monte Carlo lightning risk assessments to determine where lightning is most likely to attach to the facility given the current lightning protection system. Categories News Publications Projects
KSC LAUNCH COMPLEX 41 SLS was tasked by the NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) to provide lightning monitoring services for Launch Complex 41 (LC-41), where the Atlas V family of vehicles are launched. NASA payloads are launched from LC-41 including the Mars rovers, and the Voyager and New Horizons spacecraft. SLS is now continuously monitoring
KSC LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A The historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) was recently leased to a commercial spaceflight provider from NASA. LC-39A was previously home to the Apollo moon missions and many Space Shuttle flights. LC-39A is now being renovated to support launches of commercial vehicles and eventually, human-rated vehicles. SLS was tasked to design an
KSC LAUNCH COMPLEX 39B (NASA) SLS Chief Technologist Dr. Carlos Mata was the Lead Design Engineer for the lightning protection system at NASA’s next-generation Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) at the Kennedy Space Center. Home to quite possibly the most advanced lightning protection system ever constructed, LC-39B will host NASA’s massive Space Launch System rocket during
KSC LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A The historic Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center was recently renovated to accommodate new commercial vehicles. One of the main considerations was how well the new vehicles would be protected from lightning by the existing lightning protection system at LC-39A while on the pad. SLS performed a detailed Monte
CCAFS LAUNCH COMPLEX 46 SLS was tasked by AECOM and Space Florida to design a new lightning protection system (LPS) for the newly-renovated Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. LC-46 is being re-purposed to support up to nine different small to medium class orbital launch vehicles. SLS performed detailed 3D rolling sphere
CCAFS LAUNCH COMPLEX 36 (BLUE ORIGIN) Blue Origin is a major player in the booming commercial spaceflight industry. Blue Origin recently leased Launch Complex 36, located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, from the United States Air Force. To protect their massive New Glenn rocket from lightning, Blue Origin contracted SLS to design a brand
ARMY CORE OF ENGINEERS LASER DEVICE PROJECT SLS worked in conjunction with Modern Lightning Protection to provide lightning protection design support for the Army Corps of Engineers Laser Device Project. SLS designed the lightning protection system to minimize the probability of a direct lightning attachment to the laser system. SLS also reviewed the proposed lightning
