Lightening delays space shuttle launch

Cape Canaveral, Florida – The launch of space shuttle Atlantis was delayed today by 24 hours due to a lightening strike a day earlier. It is reported to be one of the largest lightening strikes to have ever hit a launch pad at the Kennedy Space Centre. NASA officials decided to delay the launch of the space shuttle to give more time to the engineers to determine if the lightening caused any damages.

Although no noticeable damage initially was reported by the NASA managers but later they said that some engineers noticed a burnt smell. Engineers also found a small irregularity in the voltage of a shuttle circuit linked to a power-generating fuel cell. They wanted to be more thorough with the check.

“At this point we don't have enough data to know whether we have any problems," said LeRoy Cain, who oversees pre-launch activities. “We do know we took a significant lightning strike. We know just enough to know that we don't know enough to press on and launch on schedule. The best hope now is a Monday mid-afternoon launch. If there's damage it could take days to repair. The possibilities are endless.” Cain said

A tower is used to protect the spacecraft from lightening strikes at the launch pad. Lightening did not strike the shuttle directly. It probably struck a wire attached to the tower but it created a lightning field around the vehicle sending 100,000 amps of current rolling through the lightening protection system.

Veteran Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield called the one-day delay ‘a gift’ for the astronauts. “At least they know it's a delay and don't have to spend hours suiting up,” he said. “It's not like their hearts were set on the 27th of August. It's no big deal at all,” he added. “For them it's like, Great, a free day! I can finally get at those 30 things I've been meaning to do, like writing thank-you notes, and getting some preparation.”

Lightening Strikes at the launch pads are frequent, but this one caught on NASA video was stunning. Kathy Winters, NASA's shuttle weather officer has placed the prospects of favorable weather on Monday at 80 percent.