Launch pad complexes are massive, expensive establishments, and at present only a few countries possess them. They can be considered to be pinnacles of engineering excellence involving multidisciplinary efforts. Intensive care is necessary to provide safety and reliability. Launch exercise for satellites and exploratory space missions are expected to be a continuously growing activity and, therefore, launch pads will become more and more busy. Needless to say, lightning protection of the satellite launch pad as well as the launch vehicle is mandatory. Protection engineering should encompass threats posed due to a direct (natural or triggered) strike and a nearby stroke.

Inspec keywords: artificial satellites; reliability; safety systems; lightning protection

Other keywords: lightning protection; reliability; satellite launch pads; launch vehicle; protection engineering; safety; satellites space missions; exploratory space missions

Subjects: General aspects of aircraft, space vehicles and satellites