Anyone want to install a lightning rod?

[Mark / Ohio]

Well, it'll be a little more complicated of a job than that.  

I received this today in my NASA news letter subscription:

RELEASE: 19-07

NASA ISSUES LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA on Monday issued a request for proposals
for the construction of a lightning protection system at Launch Pad
39B in support of the Constellation Program and the next generation
of space vehicles.

The request for proposals outlines work to be performed in fabricating
and erecting three 600-foot-tall self-supporting structural steel
towers, and installing a suspended overhead wire system with
associated conductors and electrical grounds. The proposals are due
to the Kennedy Space Center on June 6 and a contract is expected to
be awarded in August.

The system will support launches of the Ares I and Ares V boosters,
their spacecraft and cargos throughout the life of the program. The
first Ares I launch from Pad 39B with the new system in place will be
the second Ares I flight test in 2012.

This project, along with several other Constellation initiatives, was
reviewed for environmental compliance as required under the National
Environmental Policy Act and found to not produce significant
environmental impacts. NASA published an environmental assessment in
late March for public and regulatory agency review and received no
adverse comments.

For more information about NASA's Constellation Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/constellation

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


-end-



To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov  
[/b]

[capeweather]

Good idea seeing that the Shuttle is the lightning rod as of now....

[Mark / Ohio]

I thought they already had a lightning protection system like that.  So I did some digging and found this:

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/nasafact/lightningpad.htm

I assume one of the storms damaged it or they are just upgrading it due to age.  
 

[kruzzen]

what do rods run these days? price wise and would i need more than one on my home?

[Mark / Ohio]

what do rods run these days? price wise and would i need more than one on my home?

Yes, you would need more than one.  The number would depend on how big and the style of your home.  Don't quote me on it but I think I read somewhere the cost to have them professionally installed was typically in the $2,000 - $4,000 range for the average home.  I think professional installation is the way to go.  If you miscalculate something or don't do it right they can cause more harm than good.

Here's a government document geared towards farm protection but it gives a lot of good information:

http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001801-d001900/d001825/d001825.html

[Mark / Ohio]

Well dang!  Seems I was out bid for the lighting rod construction project.  

NASA SELECTS LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEM CONTRACTOR

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA has selected Ivey's Construction Inc. of
Merritt Island, Fla., to build a new lightning protection system for
Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. The system will support
launches of the Constellation Program's Ares I rockets.

The lightning protection system is designed to reduce the probability
of a direct lightning strike to the Ares I and associated launch
equipment during processing and other activities prior to flight.

Under the contract, the company will provide all labor and materials
to fabricate and construct three 600-foot, self-supporting structural
steel towers and an overhead wire system with associated conductors.

Ivey's Construction Inc. will receive a fixed-price contract for
$27,915,000. The system is expected to be complete by March 2010.

For more on NASA's Constellation Program, including an image and
animation of the lightning protection system, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/constellation


No storms will be allowed over pad 39B between now and March 2010.  They will be chased away by an F18 with a drunk pilot.  

 

[WeatherBeacon]

Well dang!  Seems I was out bid for the lighting rod construction project.  

Yep. You got greedy and bid $28,000,000!

Ivey's Construction Inc. will receive a fixed-price contract for $27,915,000.

And that's just for the bolts!

[SLOweather]

And that's just for the bolts!

"Lightning" bolts?