A lightning bolt struck the Changzheng-3B carrier rocket during the launch of a satellite from the Xichang space center in southwestern China. The incident was captured on video, which was posted by users on Chinese social media platforms.
The rocket lifted off from Launch Pad No. 2 on July 23. At the 35th second of the flight, lightning hit the nose cone at an altitude of several kilometers. The electrical discharge traveled through the rocket’s fuselage and the jets of its functioning engines. The strike did not disrupt the rocket’s operation. The Changzheng-3B continued its flight and successfully delivered the sixth Tianlian-2 satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit.
The launch took place under conditions of low cloud cover, rain, and thunderstorm activity. Despite the weather, spectators watched the event from an observation platform.
This flight marked the 658th orbital launch for the Changzheng rocket family and the 117th for the Changzheng-3B model. Since 2008, China has placed 11 relay satellites of this series into space: five Tianlian-1 spacecraft and six Tianlian-2 satellites. These craft transmit data and telemetry from crewed and cargo vessels, orbital stations, rockets, and upper stages. Developers protect onboard equipment from electrical discharges and isolate electronics from the rocket’s fuselage.
About the Author
