The Development, Deployment, and Operation of an On-Line Lightning Monitoring System (OLMS) for Spacecraft Launch Support 2001-01-2901

The On-Line Lightning Monitoring System (OLMS) is designed to continuously detect and characterize the effects of lightning-induced electromagnetic transients at a number of spacecraft launch sites in the United States. The OLMS uses broadband sensors, installed at a number of preselected locations at the launch site, to simultaneously measure incident electromagnetic fields, as well as energy coupled to conductors, using a unique combination of analog and digital subsystems. The system allows users to assess the electromagnetic threat to sensitive electronic systems aboard spacecraft, thereby retesting systems only if necessary. All data from OLMS is available in real time and can be accessed by authorized users via the Internet using a standard web browser interface.

At the International Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity in 1999 (ICOLSE ‘99), we described the ongoing design and development of OLMS. The system is now installed and fully operational at five launch sites. This follow-up paper describes the technical features of OLMS, its deployment and use, and examples of data collected to date.