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Moon and Mars at Kennedy
Lightning Tower Gets a Mast 
Image above: A crane places a 100-foot fiberglass mast atop the new lightning tower constructed on Launch Pad 39B. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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January 2009
A mammoth crane, or Manitowoc Model 2100 as it's called, can be seen towering over the skyline at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The 640-foot crane is being used to construct the new lightning protection system around Kennedy's Launch Pad 39B for the Constellation Program's Ares and Orion launches.
Three towers will stand 500 feet tall with an additional 100-foot fiberglass mast on top to support a catenary wire system. The improved lightning protection system is necessary for the taller height of the Ares I rocket, compared to the overall height of the space shuttle.
Construction of the lightning protection system is expected to wrap up by March 2010.
Kennedy's Launch Pad 39B will be the site of the Ares I-X test flight targeted for July 2009.
Image above: A crane places a 100-foot fiberglass mast atop the new lightning tower constructed on Launch Pad 39B. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett › View High-res Image
January 2009
A mammoth crane, or Manitowoc Model 2100 as it's called, can be seen towering over the skyline at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The 640-foot crane is being used to construct the new lightning protection system around Kennedy's Launch Pad 39B for the Constellation Program's Ares and Orion launches.
Three towers will stand 500 feet tall with an additional 100-foot fiberglass mast on top to support a catenary wire system. The improved lightning protection system is necessary for the taller height of the Ares I rocket, compared to the overall height of the space shuttle.
Construction of the lightning protection system is expected to wrap up by March 2010.
Kennedy's Launch Pad 39B will be the site of the Ares I-X test flight targeted for July 2009.
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 "An artist's rendition of a new lightning protection system")
 "Apollo Command Modules on display at Kennedy's Saturn V Center.")
