Paper presents a summary of basic lightning characteristics/criteria as applied to current and future operational NASA aerospace vehicles. Secondly, the paper helps answer the question as to what would be the estimated probability of occurrence of a 200 kA peak lightning return current, should lightning strike an aerospace vehicle while in its various operational phases. ie., from roll-out, to on-pad, to launch, to re-enter/land, and to return to launch site. The literature was searched and this paper presents results which summarize what has been previously done concerning occurrence and measurement of peak lighting currents, and in the modeling and estimating probabilities of launch vehicles/objects being hit by lightning. Paper summerizes natural and triggered lightning characteristics and the impact it has on the planning and operations of any aerospace launch vehicle.
The 8th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology