Author Topic: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread  (Read 18106 times)

Offline rdale

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STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« on: 05/30/2011 01:48 pm »
A strong area of high pressure will keep Florida fairly cloud-free and dry for the coming week... The only concern will be winds out of the east which could approach crosswind limits, but as we know the official forecasts are always on the "conservative" side so 1) it'll be a last second decision most likely and 2) I'm optimistic to KSC on try #1.

USAF Weather Links: http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070606-012.pdf

Spaceflight Meteorology Group: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/smg/SMG_prod.php?pil=OAV&sid=JSC

National Weather Service: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Titusville&state=FL&site=MLB&textField1=28.5888&textField2=-80.8202&e=0

NWS Forecast Discsussion: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/MLB/AFDMLB

Offline stuart_wildcat

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #1 on: 05/30/2011 06:43 pm »
2) I'm optimistic to KSC on try #1.


So would you say an 80% chance of a 90% chance of acceptable landing weather? :)

Offline rdale

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #2 on: 05/30/2011 06:44 pm »
Sounds reasonable ;)

Offline ras391

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #3 on: 05/30/2011 11:55 pm »
The landing weather will also apply to the shuttle rollout weather?

Offline rdale

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #4 on: 05/31/2011 07:50 pm »
I'm out chasing tornadoes today so won't be updating any forecasts, but I don't see any concerns with either ship tonight.

Feel free to chase with me ;) Check http://weather.wdtinc.com/popout/index.php?M=13192&C=20643&O=10330 shortly.

Offline Sarah

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #5 on: 05/31/2011 08:09 pm »
I'm out chasing tornadoes today so won't be updating any forecasts, but I don't see any concerns with either ship tonight.

Feel free to chase with me ;) Check http://weather.wdtinc.com/popout/index.php?M=13192&C=20643&O=10330 shortly.

I guess I'm too late. It says video unavailable. I've always wanted to chase one. I thought about doing one of those tornado chase tours. A couple years ago I had a tornado visit my house. It liked my house so much it took it.  :-\
Photo Album
Launches: 51L, 133, 134, 135
Scrubs: 70
Landings: 135

Offline rdale

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #6 on: 05/31/2011 08:16 pm »
Shortly means in about a half hour ;)

Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #7 on: 05/31/2011 09:48 pm »

Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #8 on: 05/31/2011 09:48 pm »

Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #9 on: 05/31/2011 09:54 pm »
Here is the forecast from this morning covering EOM (early Wed.) and EOM+1 (early Thurs.); KSC forecast to be acceptable (looks more than acceptable).
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/smg/SMG_prod.php?pil=OAV&sid=JSC&version=0

Quote
NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SPACEFLIGHT METEOROLOGY GROUP / WS8
LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
HOUSTON TX               77058
600 AM CDT TUESDAY MAY 31 2011

LANDING FORECAST FOR STS-134

EXPECTED LANDING DATE:      06/01/11
                 TIME:      0635Z
                 SITE:      KENNEDY SPACE CENTER...FL

U.S. LANDING SITES - EOM - WEDNESDAY 06/01/11

 SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FL
 KSC  SCT025                         7              08006P10


 EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA
 EDW  SCT200                         7              22012P18


 NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
 NOR  FEW100 BKN250                  7              15010P15


 FLIGHT RULE VIOLATIONS:
 KSC ... NONE
 EDW ... NONE
 NOR ... NONE

U.S. LANDING SITES - EOM+1 - THURSDAY 06/02/11

 SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FL
 KSC  SCT020 BKN250                  7              09008P12


 EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA
 EDW  SCT250                         7              24015P23


 NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
 NOR  FEW100 BKN250                  7              20012P18
      CHC TSRA WI 30NM WITH GUSTS 30KT

 FLIGHT RULE VIOLATIONS:
 KSC ... NONE
 EDW ... NONE
 NOR ... GUST/TS

Next forecast will be in a few hours when the Entry team is on console.

Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #10 on: 05/31/2011 09:57 pm »
Orbit 3 PAO Pat Ryan noted a few minutes back that Rick Sturckow is the KSC weather recon pilot tonight.
« Last Edit: 05/31/2011 09:57 pm by psloss »

Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #11 on: 06/01/2011 02:02 am »
Initial forecast for the Entry team tonight; no big changes, KSC still looking good.

Quote
NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SPACEFLIGHT METEOROLOGY GROUP / WS8
LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
HOUSTON TX               77058
735 PM CDT TUESDAY MAY 31 2011

LANDING FORECAST FOR STS-134

EXPECTED LANDING DATE:      06/01/11
                 TIME:      0635Z
                 SITE:      KENNEDY SPACE CENTER...FL

U.S. LANDING SITES - EOM - WEDNESDAY 06/01/11

 SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FL
 KSC  SCT025 SCT250                  7              08006P10


 EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA
 EDW  SCT200                         7              22012P18


 NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
 NOR  FEW100 BKN250                  7              15005P08


 FLIGHT RULE VIOLATIONS:
 KSC ... NONE
 EDW ... NONE
 NOR ... NONE


Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #12 on: 06/01/2011 02:06 am »
PAO Kelly Humphries repeating a note from earlier about a low pressure system in the Atlantic off the Carolinas...there's a line of precip that's moving towards Florida and the Space Coast, but they should be landed on the 1st rev/opportunity before that even reaches the 30 n.mi. circle.
« Last Edit: 06/01/2011 02:08 am by psloss »

Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #13 on: 06/01/2011 02:10 am »
Winds at the SLF have calmed down from earlier in the day.  Forecast is for them to stay more or less as is...last posted observation only 5 knots:
Quote
METAR KTTS 311955Z 05009G15KT 010V070 10SM SCT029 30/22 A3014 RMK SLP206 4CU /4/
METAR KTTS 312055Z 04009G16KT 10SM FEW029 28/21 A3013 RMK SLP203 2CU /2/ 56010
METAR KTTS 312155Z 05011KT 10SM FEW029 28/22 A3014 RMK SLP206 2CU /2/
METAR KTTS 312255Z 04008KT 010V070 10SM FEW029 27/21 A3013 RMK SLP203 1CU /1/
METAR KTTS 312355Z 04005KT 10SM FEW029 27/21 A3014 RMK MDT CU E SE SLP206 1CU /1/ 52003
METAR KTTS 010155Z 06005KT 10SM FEW029 24/21 A3014 RMK SLP206 1CU /1/

Offline cd-slam

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #14 on: 06/01/2011 02:14 am »
PAO Kelly Humphries repeating a note from earlier about a low pressure system in the Atlantic off the Carolinas...there's a line of precip that's moving towards Florida and the Space Coast, but they should be landed on the 1st rev/opportunity before that even reaches the 30 n.mi. circle.

Sorry, is that rain only or thunderstorm activity? Would this have potential impact to Endeavour's post-landing flow and/or Atlantis' rollout?

Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #15 on: 06/01/2011 02:21 am »
PAO Kelly Humphries repeating a note from earlier about a low pressure system in the Atlantic off the Carolinas...there's a line of precip that's moving towards Florida and the Space Coast, but they should be landed on the 1st rev/opportunity before that even reaches the 30 n.mi. circle.

Sorry, is that rain only or thunderstorm activity? Would this have potential impact to Endeavour's post-landing flow and/or Atlantis' rollout?
Looks like rain, probably light.  Unlikely to impact either if it remains that way.

Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #16 on: 06/01/2011 02:47 am »
CapCom Butch Wilmore noted in a recent call to the crew that Rick Sturckow was just finishing his T-38 weather recon flight.  He'll be going out in one of the STAs a little later (about an hour, if I heard PAO correctly).

Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #17 on: 06/01/2011 03:44 am »
Winds still very light.

Quote
SPECI KTTS 010325Z 05002KT 10SM FEW026 23/21 A3015 RMK SLP210 1CU /0/ N0502/03 C0602/04 S0804/06
SPECI KTTS 010340Z 06003KT 10SM FEW028 23/21 A3015 RMK SLP210 1SC /1/ N0603/03 C0502/04 S0803/07
« Last Edit: 06/01/2011 03:46 am by psloss »

Offline psloss

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #18 on: 06/01/2011 03:53 am »
The showers referred to earlier that are way off to the NE of the area don't appear to be growing and still don't look like they'll get to the area for a landing on the first rev.

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Re: STS-134 Landing Weather Thread
« Reply #19 on: 06/01/2011 03:56 am »
He'll be going out in one of the STAs a little later (about an hour, if I heard PAO correctly).
As seen in the NTV video, Rick Sturckow now wheels up in a STA to do more weather recon.  He'll be talking to Weather CapCom Terry Virts.

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