NASA Selects Lightning Protection System Contractor

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA has selected Ivey’s Construction Inc. of Merritt Island, Fla., to build a new lightning protection system for Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. The system will support launches of the Constellation Program’s Ares I rockets.

The lightning protection system is designed to reduce the probability of a direct lightning strike to the Ares I and associated launch equipment during processing and other activities prior to flight.

Under the contract, the company will provide all labor and materials to fabricate and construct three 600-foot, self-supporting structural steel towers and an overhead wire system with associated conductors.

Ivey’s Construction Inc. will receive a fixed-price contract for $27,915,000. The system is expected to be complete by March 2010.

For more on NASA’s Constellation Program, including an image and animation of the lightning protection system, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/constellation