Lightning has hit a Russian Soyuz rocket moments after the launch for its trip into space, shocking video has revealed. The dramatic electrical discharge struck the Soyuz both on its nose and third-stage booster segment, according the spacecraft’s on-board telemetry. Fortunately the strike was unimpeded by the unexpected strike, and carrier rocket continued into its planned path into low-earth orbit, where it delivered its payload of a radio-based navigation satellite. The Roscosmos Soyuz 2-1b rocket had blasted-off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome near Mirny, northern Russia, at 7.23am BST on Sunday, May 27.
The Soyuz 2 carrier launch was the first of the year from the cosmodrome, and was taking a replacement GLONASS-M (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellite into space.
However, only 10 seconds into its journey, the ascending rocket was struck by a bolt of lightning.
Russian space agency director Dmitry Rogozin tweeted a video of the launch, showing the electrifying moment the lightning struck.
Mr Rogozin also took to social media to congratulate the Russian space forces and scientists, adding “lightning is no hindrance for you”.
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The rocket continued its three and a half hour flight into a low-Earth orbit, where it proceeded to deliver its satellite cargo exactly on schedule.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence issued this statement after the shock incident: “A stable telemetric connection was established and maintained with the spacecraft.
“The on-board systems of the GLONASS-M spacecraft are functioning normally.”
Soyuz rocket instrumentation recorded data on the lightning strike, transmitting the information with its regular telemetry to the control centre at the cosmodrome on the ground.
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An unidentified Russian space industry source added: “During the liftoff, lightning struck the nose fairing and the third stage of the carrier rocket.
“The incident did not affect the operation of the carrier rocket’s systems, as Soyuz spacecraft are equipped with the protection mechanism against such phenomena.”
UCL physicist Professor Alan Smith explained that airborne rockets are often immune to the powerful electrical discharge.
He said: “While rather spectacular, being struck by lightning is not particularly threatening to a rocket launch.
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“It is a known hazard, of course, and the outer shell of the rocket can cope with the electrical surge without affecting the interior.
“Aircraft are often struck by lightning with no serious effect.
“The metal rocket skin creates a Faraday Cage around its interior, protecting it from harm.
“Of course there is always a chance that some critical sensor on the outside might be affected, but this has been considered.”