STS-135 Landing Weather Thread

[shuttlefanatic]

Very likely the final formal SMG weather forecast for the shuttle program. 

NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SPACEFLIGHT METEOROLOGY GROUP / WS8
LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
HOUSTON TX               77058
1100 PM CDT WEDNESDAY JULY 20 2011

LANDING FORECAST FOR STS-135

EXPECTED LANDING DATE:      07/21/11
                 TIME:      0957Z
                 SITE:      KENNEDY SPACE CENTER...FL

U.S. LANDING SITES - EOM - THURSDAY 07/21/11

 SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FL
 FIRST OPPORTUNITY
 KSC  FEW050 SCT250                  7              24003P04
      WIND LGT VRB

 SECOND OPPORTUNITY
 KSC  FEW050 SCT250                  7              26002P03
      WIND LGT VRB

 EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA
 EDW  SKC                            7              22007P11


 NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
 NOR  FEW080 SCT250                  7              12006P09


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

U.S. LANDING SITES - EOM+1 - FRIDAY 07/22/11

 SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FL
 KSC  FEW030 SCT250                  7              21002P03


 EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE CA
 EDW  SKC                            7              22007P11


 NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
 NOR  SCT100 BKN250                  7              13006P09


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

THE NEXT SCHEDULED FORECAST WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED

 KSC...KENNEDY SPACE CENTER...FL
       ICAO ID IS KTTS
 EDW...EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE...CA
       ICAO ID IS KEDW
 NOR...NORTHRUP STRIP WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR...NM
       ICAO ID IS KE28 (KHMN IS NEARBY)

HOETH/WILEY/HOOD

[psloss]

Latest reported observation at the SLF:

METAR KTTS 210655Z VRB01KT 10SM CLR 24/22 A2995 RMK SLP144 N2901/02 C2601/02 S1601/03

Only thing that might be worth worrying about (maybe) is the dewpoint spread.  Not hearing that mentioned in what PAO Rob Navias is relaying in terms of weather conversations, so maybe not.

[psloss]

Weather brief/tagup for Entry FD in 44 minutes at four minutes after the hour.

(Edit: that's the schedule, but it may happen sooner.)

[psloss]

Latest from about 10 minutes ago:

SPECI KTTS 210710Z 26001KT 10SM CLR 24/23 A2995 RMK SLP142 N2601/02 C3301/02 S2802/03

[shuttlefanatic]

Up until the last observation, the temp/dewpoint spread was trending slightly better than yesterday, when it was 1C all night through sunrise.  An observation of shallow fog was recorded yesterday at the 1055Z observation (6:55A local).

If that's as bad as it gets this morning, it's probably not a problem.  Shallow fog is fog with a depth of less than 6 feet.  Given cockpit elevation, they may be able to see right down through it.

[psloss]

Landing time is well before that, too, so less likely to see anything until after.  Agreed that it's not likely to be an issue.

Edit: 725Z obs

SPECI KTTS 210725Z 30002KT 10SM CLR 24/23 A2995 RMK SLP142 N3002/02 C3401/02 S3102/02

[psloss]

METAR KTTS 210755Z 28002KT 10SM CLR 23/23 A2994 RMK SLP141 N2802/03 C3401/02 S2902/02

Weather briefing coming up for Entry FD; probably last one.  About 25 minutes from Go/No-Go on the burn.

[shuttlefanatic]

Noting the latest observation has temperature = dewpoint.

From PAO commentary, air is described as "dry" so perhaps no real concern for fog this morning.

[psloss]

Noting the latest observation has temperature = dewpoint.

From PAO commentary, air is described as "dry" so perhaps no real concern for fog this morning.

Yes, and the Wx briefing was so short, it sounds like they're going to go ahead and give the crew an early go for the deorbit burn.

[psloss]

About 13 minutes to the burn; latest obs:

SPECI KTTS 210825Z 31002KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A2995 RMK SLP142 N3102/03 C3402/02 S2902/02

[shuttlefanatic]

Less than 45 minutes to go.  Observations being reported every 15 minutes, but not much change.  The latest:

KTTS 210910Z 27002KT 10SM CLR 23/22 A2995 RMK SLP142 N2702/03 C3301/02 S2902/02

[shuttlefanatic]

For the record, the weather at landing:

KTTS 210957Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 23/23 A2995 RMK SLP142 N0000/02 C3501/02 S0301/02