Science & Technology

Caught on video: Russia's Soyuz rocket HIT BY LIGHTNING during launch - still completed mission

RT
Mon, 27 May 2019 16:14 UTC

Russia's Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket was struck by lightning just 10 seconds after take-off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome... but it still weathered the tough hit.

The thunderstorm began shortly before launch of the device which is carrying the Glonass-M navigation satellite. Yet, the strike was no obstacle for the cosmodrome team, and the space journey continued as planned.

The stunning video was later published by chief of the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin.

"The weather is not a hindrance, we are an all-weather troop," General Major Nikolai Nesterchuk proudly said. For the Soyuz-2.1b, this is the first flight from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome this year and 37th since the first test launch in 2004.

Reader Comments

Mandatory Intellectomy · 2019-05-28T13:26:39Z

Nothing will stop the Russians. Take note.

Rowan Cocoan · 2019-06-02T04:08:18Z

And yet, here, even the risk of lightning, including upper-level (not grounded into earth/'heat' lightning) routinely scrubs launches.

Hmm.

R.C.

P..s., You do know that the only way the US can get astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) is by the good graces of Russia, (and Kazakhstan), right? The US has had no astronaut carrying vehicles since the end of the Space Shuttle. (STS)

RC