scope:

Abstract:

The Ground Lightning Monitoring System (GLMS) was sold to the Shuttle Program as a go/no-go indicator for the overall health of the Space Shuttle vehicle following a lightning event. The system, recently developed by the Navy for submarine applications, was selected because of its ability to detect and measure magnetic fields. Because GLMS was a new system involving unique technology, its implementation as a lightning monitoring system at KSC essentially became a research and development project. This called the validity and accuracy of the data into question and prevented the use of GLMS as a fully critical system.