Chinese rocket hit by lightning moments after launch, still successfully deploys satellite

A Chinese Changzheng 3B rocket carrying a communications relay satellite was struck by lightning approximately 30 seconds after its launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on June 23. The dramatic moment was captured on video and widely shared online, drawing significant attention.

Despite the strike, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced that the rocket successfully placed the satellite into its intended orbit as planned. While lightning strikes during ascent are rare, they are not unprecedented. Notably, the Apollo 12 mission's Saturn V rocket was hit by lightning twice shortly after liftoff in 1969. Although minor issues arose with the spacecraft's displays, the mission proceeded to a successful moon landing.

Similar incidents have occurred with other rockets, including a Russian Soyuz rocket in 2019, which was also struck by lightning after launch but completed its orbital mission without significant issues. The resilience of rockets against lightning is attributed to the "Faraday cage" effect and electrostatic protection designs. The rocket's outer shell, made from conductive materials like aluminum alloy or carbon fiber composites, allows lightning currents to flow externally, preventing them from penetrating the interior. Protective measures are also in place to bypass or block any internal current.

However, not all lightning strikes have been harmless. In 1987, a U.S. Atlas-Centaur rocket disintegrated after a lightning strike caused a malfunction in one of its onboard computers, despite protective measures. This incident prompted NASA to establish strict launch criteria for lightning-related risks, and no subsequent U.S. space launch vehicles have experienced similar lightning strike failures.