Author Topic: Why doesn't Vandenberg SFB weather Delta publish forecasts?  (Read 11068 times)

Online zubenelgenubi

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I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.
« Last Edit: 01/09/2023 06:09 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Vahe231991

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I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.
Very good question. The US Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 unit covers Vandenberg SFB, it does not have a weather tracking unit.
« Last Edit: 01/26/2023 07:18 pm by Vahe231991 »

Offline Jim

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I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.
Very good question. Although the US Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 squadron covers Vandenberg SFB, it does not have a weather squadron.

Space Launch Delta 30 is the major unit at Vandenberg, it is a delta and not a squadron.

It has a weather flight.

Offline Jim

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I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.

Just an anomaly.  The weather doesn't change that much.

Offline Vahe231991

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I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.
Very good question. Although the US Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 squadron covers Vandenberg SFB, it does not have a weather squadron.

Space Launch Delta 30 is the major unit at Vandenberg, it is a delta and not a squadron.

It has a weather flight.
I just corrected my post to reflect that Space Launch Delta 30 is a delta unit and not a squadron. Can you provide a source showing that this unit has a weather flight?

Offline catdlr

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I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.

Just an anomaly.  The weather doesn't change that much.

Bump from a year ago

Jim,
The weather has affected SpaceX launches now since early December and the launch cadence is gearing up with launches during seasonal disruptions.  So the question stands, is Space Force Delta publishing public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?  These are useful for NSF to determine our staffing for coverage of launches. Jack has to drive from Santa Monica and would be convenient to know if this could be a waste of time, before taking that 2-3 hour drive. Or, is SpaceX getting weather info through a third-party vendor?

Tony (from Marina del Rey).

Tony
« Last Edit: 02/16/2024 03:38 am by catdlr »
It's Tony De La Rosa, ...I don't create this stuff, I just report it.

Offline Jim

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I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.

Just an anomaly.  The weather doesn't change that much.

Bump from a year ago

Jim,
The weather has affected SpaceX launches now since early December and the launch cadence is gearing up with launches during seasonal disruptions.  So the question stands, is Space Force Delta publishing public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?  These are useful for NSF to determine our staffing for coverage of launches. Jack has to drive from Santa Monica and would be convenient to know if this could be a waste of time, before taking that 2-3 hour drive. Or, is SpaceX getting weather info through a third-party vendor?


I know SpaceX at the Cape has its own weatherperson (and so does Blue BTW).  They likely have one for VSFB.  The SF/AF still make the final call on the safety related Wx constraints.

Vandenberg has never been a public friendly base.  I suppose it is due to supporting KSC too.

Offline AmigaClone

I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.

Just an anomaly.  The weather doesn't change that much.

Bump from a year ago

Jim,
The weather has affected SpaceX launches now since early December and the launch cadence is gearing up with launches during seasonal disruptions.  So the question stands, is Space Force Delta publishing public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?  These are useful for NSF to determine our staffing for coverage of launches. Jack has to drive from Santa Monica and would be convenient to know if this could be a waste of time, before taking that 2-3 hour drive. Or, is SpaceX getting weather info through a third-party vendor?


I know SpaceX at the Cape has its own weatherperson (and so does Blue BTW).  They likely have one for VSFB.  The SF/AF still make the final call on the safety related Wx constraints.

Vandenberg has never been a public friendly base.  I suppose it is due to supporting KSC too.

Could at least part of the reason Vandenberg is not a "public friendly base" involve the fact that it's a missile test site?

Offline catdlr

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I meant to ask this many times before...
Why doesn't the Space Force weather forecasting Delta at Vandenberg publish public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?
This one got bumped a day due to the series of storms along coastal California.  The break after the formerly-scheduled Sunday launch now is looking like it's not going to happen.  Sunday's storm is looking like a morning event, as they're moving faster than before.  And Monday might get even more rainy than Sunday.

Don't be surprised if this one delays again.

Just an anomaly.  The weather doesn't change that much.

Bump from a year ago

Jim,
The weather has affected SpaceX launches now since early December and the launch cadence is gearing up with launches during seasonal disruptions.  So the question stands, is Space Force Delta publishing public weather forecasts as the Cape unit does?  These are useful for NSF to determine our staffing for coverage of launches. Jack has to drive from Santa Monica and would be convenient to know if this could be a waste of time, before taking that 2-3 hour drive. Or, is SpaceX getting weather info through a third-party vendor?


I know SpaceX at the Cape has its own weatherperson (and so does Blue BTW).  They likely have one for VSFB.  The SF/AF still make the final call on the safety related Wx constraints.

Vandenberg has never been a public friendly base.  I suppose it is due to supporting KSC too.

Could at least part of the reason Vandenberg is not a "public friendly base" involve the fact that it's a missile test site?

Over time the entire base was a "Missile test Site" or better yet, a "missile test site" and an "orbital launch site" for the National Reconnaissance Office and other defense department organizations.  But over time with the retirement of some launch vehicles, the base has kinda separated into two areas, Missile testing at the "North Base" (everything north of the runway) and Commercial launch at the "South Base" including the pads adjacent to the runway.  VSFB could become more  "Public Friendly" if they wanted to but I haven't seen any indication that they want to head in that direction, although the need for polar and retro-grade commercial launch may change that.  Jim can provide a better history and opinion on this.
It's Tony De La Rosa, ...I don't create this stuff, I just report it.

Offline Jim

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the base has kinda separated into two areas, Missile testing at the "North Base" (everything north of the runway) and Commercial launch at the "South Base" including the pads adjacent to the runway.

It was originally two bases, split by the Santa Ynes RIver.  The north was Cooke AFB, a missile training base with some orbital pads and the south was Naval Missile Facility, Point Aguello for orbital launches.  The south was combined into the north Vandenberg AFB in 1963.  The north still supports orbital launches via SLC-2, Astrotech, NRO facilities, etc
« Last Edit: 02/16/2024 05:43 pm by Jim »

Tags: vsfb weather Delta 
 

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