On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:08:04 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm,
quickly quoth:

Whenever the launch is shown there is a shot of the exhaust coming out
of the rockets. And there is always in the shot a device that shoots
out sparks horizontally. What is the spark shower for?

That's the NASA version of a Bic lighter. It causes the volatile fuel
to ignite.

Remember hearing the countdown? Three, two, one, ignition, liftoff.

--
Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants,
is the liberty of appearing. -- Thomas Paine