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Re: [TowerTalk] spider balls.. they work

To: Tom Rauch <w8ji@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] spider balls.. they work
From: david jordan <wa3gin@erols.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 11:45:20 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi Tom,

It all depends on how one defines "works"! One could ask the same question of tooth paste, chlorinated water, bacterial hand washing soap, vitamins, cancer treatments, and most other products.

How can lightning risk management be anything more than subjective views and marketing? My personal view is if mother nature wants to screw with anything man made mother nature will have her way with ease. Regarding NASA, they bought the devices. They must have thought they would work when they purchased the devices. Did NASA get snookered? Maybe! Maybe their expectations were marketed. Reducing the risk and eliminating the risk are two very different things.
Also I seem to remember NASA saying on numerous occasions that the space shuttle was safe, usually after each massive failure in safety. How does NASA define "safe"? How does NASA define "works"? I think the discussion is beating a dead horse at this point. It's not black or white in my view with regard to the effectiveness of methods designed to reduce the risk of occurrences that may lead to a direct lightning strike.


The spider balls concept is a fascinating one. I'm sure there are at least two strong opinions on whether they things "work" or not, depending on your definition.

Only the creator of the planet knows for sure, and he/she might decide that just to make it interesting the damn things will work some of the time but not all of the time!

73,
dave
wa3gin

Tom Ranch wrote:

NASA uses these devices extensively at it's launch


platforms in addition


to the more conventional means to manage lightning risk.



Dave,


I'm confused.

Why would NASA use them on their launch sites when they
published a paper saying they don't work? K1TTT published a
link to those papers.

If NASA does use them, why did they never put them on their
wind generator projects or mention them in the article link
I posted?

I know lightning makes some success claims, but they sell
the things. Relying on them for unbiased fact is like asking
the Pope what Bible is correct.

73 Tom





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