GAI plans to develop, and offer for commercial sale, one or more lightning locating systems based on the LDAR technology. New LDAR display products will also be developed that improve the presentation of the collected data. The LDAR system was originally designed by NASA in order to help protect the Space Shuttle, workers, and equipment at Kennedy Space Center. NASA is responsible for handling, processing, launching, and recovery of the Shuttle and its associated payloads. KSC averages 75 thunderstorm days per year and lightning warnings are frequent, especially in summer.
Work stoppages can impact launch schedules.
In order to minimize unnecessary warnings, and thus maximize productivity without sacrificing safety, NASA developed its volumetric lightning mapping system. They include a broad array of industries, including the electric utility market, the aviation community, commercial rocket launches, recreation, construction, atmospheric research, and meteorology. NASA has benefited from LDAR's lightning mapping system. The 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Station has been employing LDAR to accurately inform NASA of possible flashes. For instance, the NWS used LDAR to assist weather forecasters during the World Olympic soccer tournaments held in Orlando, Florida during the summer of 1996.