STS-120: Landing Weather

[psloss]

Latest forecast called up to the crew has slight winds change, downward: 350 at 12 knots peaking to 20.  The clouds at 5k may be just getting into the area as the vehicle gets there, but they were still observed and forecast go...

[rdale]

Interesting surge of clouds coming onshore north of DAB and moving south... Not sure what they're doing there, but it would not be good to have them continue south...

[psloss]

rdale - 7/11/2007  11:14 AM

Interesting surge of clouds coming onshore north of DAB and moving south... Not sure what they're doing there, but it would not be good to have them continue south...

Yeah, saw those on the loops that I'm sure SMG is looking at...looks like those have moved over Daytona, what is the observation there -- are they calling it scattered or broken at 5k?

[rdale]

They are quite over DAB yet, they report few 3000 and scattered 4700 to their northwest. They are over SGJ (north of DAB) and reporting broken at 3500. That would not be good.

Winds at SGJ went from northwest 10-13kts to northeast at 21kts gusting to 27. Definite no-go, and I'm trying to figure out why it's there and whether it'll keep coming...

[Chris Bergin]

Estimate now - info radioed up to STA -Rain will be 10mi north of slf at landing time
Sta confirming to make sure it won't be violation

[rdale]

Interesting - I don't see any rain threat. Looks like the line of clouds is thickest at its leading edge then thins out behind. Clouds should be entering the area maybe in an hour?

[rdale]

GOES satellite in rapid-scan mode now so updates every 5 minutes instead of every 15. Leading edge just passing over Daytona Beach airport.

[Kel]

Do the clouds coming in look like a quick pass through, or do you think they will stick around for both orbits (perhaps too early to tell)?

[rdale]

The thickest parts will pass through, but there are still a lot of clouds over the Atlantic and at least visually look like they'd be too thick (but no observing sites to be certain.)

[rdale]

Don't see any threat of rain in the area, so STA should stay go, but clouds continue their trek towards KSC.

[rdale]

With the "go" I'll use this time to run home for lunch - back around 1210pm ET.

[psloss]

Thanks, Rob.

[rdale]

I'm back. Winds are stronger but within limits at KSC - NW 12G18 kts with a few clouds at 4700ft. DAB reporting a broken ceiling at 3200ft with winds NE 14G22 knots.

[rdale]

Winds are more of a concern for me than clouds - behind the leading edge the clouds do thin, but winds are reported 15-30 mph out of the NE (crosswind) north of KSC.

[rdale]

Clouds moving into KSC's view - few at 3500, 4700 and 13000ft. Winds at the landing point NW at 9G19kts, center of runway NW 13G19kts.

[rdale]

Cut it close :> Headwinds on landing were 24kts, limit is 25kts. Winds just north of KSC are NE 19G29kts with a 3000ft ceiling!

[psloss]

rdale - 7/11/2007  1:10 PM

Cut it close :> Headwinds on landing were 24kts, limit is 25kts. Winds just north of KSC are NE 19G29kts with a 3000ft ceiling!

Watching the landing live, it sure looked like they were working the headwinds.