Lightning protection of SOYUZ and VEGA launching pads

In 2011, two experiments were carried out on the the SOYUZ and VEGA launching pads in Kourou, French Guyana, in order to verify the lightning protection of the installations, and give the elements needed for the certification of the sites. This paper presents the methodology of the tests and the expertise performed on the sites and which concluded to a good assessment of their lightning protection.