Lightning-induced voltages in a satellite launch-pad protection system

Modern satellite launch pads are provided with lightning protection systems to take care of direct lightning strike to the satellite launch vehicle during the launch preparation period. This paper presents the results of the study on induced voltage on the conductors interlinking the towers of such a protection system due to a nearby lightning strike. The variation in the induced voltages with lightning-strike distances as well as ground conductivities are studied and the results presented in the paper. It has been seen that the waveshape of the induced voltage depends on conductor height and striking distance, whereas the ground conductivity has negligible effect on the induced voltage.