During a thunderstorm on August 29, 1990, multiple lightning bolts struck an historic test stand used for the Saturn V, the Space Shuttle, and current propulsion systems development. Formerly the S-IC Static Test Stand, at the Marshall Space Flight Center. This stand was constructed in the 1960s to develop and test the first stage of the Saturn V rocket, which consisted of five F-1 engines, each of which produced 1.5 million pounds of thrust. The stand contains 12 million pounds of concrete in its base legs and was modified in 1974 to allow testing of Space Shuttle external tanks. The stand was modified again to accommodate a new technology test-bed engine and is currently being used for a Space Launch System testing.
Image credit: NASA/Dennis Olive
