Shuttle launch delayed: How can a cloud harm a space shuttle?

Question

The launch has been postponed until tomorrow (so far). I don't get it. Why are these space launches always delayed due to weather, could a cloud and a few spots of rain really do that much damage?

Answer 1

they need to film it all, extensively.

Answer 2

As well as the possible detrimental effects of a lightning strike and reduced visibility over the emergency landing strip, the other main concern is that flying through clouds could overstress the airframe due to turbulence.

Cumulonimbus ( the classic anvil, thunderclouds) are avoided by all pilots - even more so by those sat atop a liquid hydrogen / oxygen firecracker !!!

Even on a balmy clear day, NASA is concerned with high altitude winds and turbulence and will be collating data right up until the Go for Launch command is given. Ground Controllers will only stop worrying about the weather once the shuttle achieves stable orbit and then again when it touches down on terra firma

Answer 3

Actually it isn't so much the chance of lightning that postponed the shuttle launch but the fact that cloud cover could hinder a landing at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility.

Weather conditions have to be 'green' (OK) at several locations around the world, these are sites designated by NASA where the shuttle could landing in the event of an aborted launch.

Launches have been delayed in the past due to inclement weather over Madrid.

Answer 4

I'm watching MSNBC right now and this is how they're explaining the situation. What they are most concerned about are called anvil clouds, which are charged enough to produce lightning. They won't launch the shuttle if there is a chance of bad weather because when the shuttle launches, it leaves a trail of ionized particles that can attract lightning. When the crew is strapped into the shuttle, they're basically sitting on a gigantic bomb made of hydrogen. If lightning were to hit the shuttle at any time, you can guess what could happen. Lightning did hit Saturn V (which was launching Apollo 12 into space) right as the spacecraft was leaving the pad; there was minimal disruption to the computers and the mission went on as planned. There is a fascinating picture of this lightning strike on NASA's website.

Answer 5

As someone noted Apollo 12 was struck by lightning and it did not just cause some minor problems!!! They were seconds away from aborting the mission because the entire spacecraft went DEAD except for the 1st stage booster that kept on chugging because it had its own computer controlling it!! The lightning had tripped a critical circuit breaker!

I watched that launch and I saw the lightning!!! Fortunately, because of the crazy readings they were seeing on the ground in Houston, one of the ground controllers, John Aaron, had noticed the same crazy readings one day when a circuit breakerwas thrown. So he told them to flip a special switch called SCE and put it in AUX mode to bring on an auxillary power supply! Bingo, everything came back on line, and after they cruised on and began orbiting, they had to check every thing out on that ship, re-align they gryroscopes (platform as they call it) in about 2 hours before they were given the go for TLI (trans lunar injection) where they would re-fire the 3rd stage on the Saturn V and head for the moon. John Aaron became a legend that day and earned the rank of "Steely-eyed Missleman!"

Here' s the deal with the lightning on Apollo 12 That day they launched Apollo 12 in Nov 1969 (I was 8.5 yrs old), it was just cloudy and drizzly. No thunderstorms at all. However, with those 5 F-1 engines roaring out a flame sheath, it IONIZED the air and moisture and the rocket's exhaust itself caused the lightning strike!!

This is why even if it is just cloudy, NASA will not launch!!! They learned that lesson in Nov 1969 through the school of hard knocks!!

Answer 6

Lightning + Giant tank of rocket fuel = Kablooey

An in flight lightning strike might set off some of the explosive bolts that separate the different assemblies prematurely, causing a spectacular crash.

The long tail of hot gas leading down to the ground would turn the shuttle into an irresistable conduit for lightning.

Answer 7

well, i jus turned it on but. they're saying that although the shuttle is made of aluminum, its so thin that u could actually take ur fingernail and make a dent in the side. and supposedly they've seen a few lightning strikes which could really cause damage if it strikes the shuttle. the lightning could mess with the heat shield. or something like that

Answer 8

clouds contain water in the form of ice crystals. these crystals would stick to the shuttle as it passes through the cloud, building up on the skin of the rocket. If the buildup is not even, it could cause the rocket to wobble and go off course, endangering the lives of everyone aboard.

Answer 9

if there are big clouds covering the way, because of the rate of speed it will be going it can cause lightning in the clouds that can seriously mess up the space shuttle or even kill the people because of explosion or fire.

Answer 10

They said that conditions were good enough for a launch, but not safe for an emergency landing. I imagine any visibility problems at all could be very dangerous in that situation.

Answer 11

Yes it can do damage.Any ways the mission was scrubed because of LIGHTNING.If
lightning would have hit the shuttle it would
have killed the crew and Discovery would be history.Two shuttles would be left(not good)
Hope this helps.