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STS-125: Launch Weather
by
rdale
on 04 May, 2009 19:07
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#1
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 04 May, 2009 19:14
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What about Moron, Spain... our only TAL site? Is it too early for a first look at that site?
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#2
by
rdale
on 04 May, 2009 19:21
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#3
by
robertross
on 04 May, 2009 22:46
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AWEsome. Thanks!
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#4
by
rdale
on 07 May, 2009 03:17
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Can't find any reason for concern still in the weatherworld... High pressure overhead, light winds, and HOT temps. I still can't rule out a little shower popping up, but the first half of the week looks very dry to me. USAF has a 30% chance of rain Monday afternoon with a 20% chance of lightning, but even that seems too high for me to agree with.
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#5
by
rdale
on 08 May, 2009 13:34
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Morning check looks good - nothing really changes for my Monday outlook. USAF dropped their rain chance from 30 to 20% so that shouldn't be a concern. The only thing might be a little more cloudiness as a result of the sea breeze, but it's not something they could wait out.
SMG has a chance of showers at Moron, but no other forecasting source has that threat (and again that's not something I have the slightest clue about so I won't add my thoughts.)
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#6
by
orbiterfan
on 08 May, 2009 14:59
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Will the forecasted weather conditions cause the launch noise to be loud or muted?
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#7
by
mixologist07
on 08 May, 2009 18:54
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it's hard to say; the biggest things that will affect sound are temperature and humidity. the more dense the air, the better the sound will travel, but it's not a huge difference either way.
the more important thing is wind. STS-123 was very calm, and the sound was unbelievable from the press site; STS-124 was fairly windy, and the sound was a less loud
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#8
by
rdale
on 09 May, 2009 13:32
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Still good at KSC, and SMG has reduced the rain threat at Moron to "slight chance of shower" vs "chance of shower" yesterday.
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#9
by
SgtBulldog
on 09 May, 2009 23:12
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What kind of weather in Spain would cause a scrub? Cumulus clouds over the landing site?
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#10
by
rdale
on 09 May, 2009 23:14
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CONTINGENCY FLIGHT RULES
Weather criteria for an emergency landing must be considered along with launch criteria since the possibility exists for a Return To Launch Site abort (RTLS), landings at the Trans-Oceanic Abort Landing Sites (TAL), the Abort Once Around (AOA) sites and the first day Primary Landing Site (PLS). These forecasts are prepared by the NOAA National Weather Service Spaceflight Meteorology Group in Houston and briefed by them to the astronauts, Flight Director and Mission Management Team. All criteria refer to observed and forecast weather conditions except for the first day PLS which is forecast weather only.
* For RTLS with redundant Microwave Landing System (MLS) capability and a weather reconnaissance aircraft, cloud coverage 4/8 or less below 5,000 feet and a visibility of 4 statute miles or greater are required. For AOA and PLS sites, cloud coverage 4/8 or less below 8,000 feet and a visibility of 5 statute miles or greater is required. For TAL sites, cloud coverage 4/8 or less below 5,000 feet and a visibility of 5 statute miles or greater are required.
* For landing on a hard surface runway without redundant Microwave Landing System (MLS) capability all sites require a ceiling not less than 10,000 feet and a visibility of at least 7 statute miles. Landing at night on a lake bed runway may occur if the ceiling is not lower than 15,000 feet and the visibility is 7 miles or greater with at least non-redundant MLS capability .
* For the RTLS site and TAL sites, no thunderstorms, lightning, or precipitation within 20 nautical miles of the runway, or within 10 nautical miles of the final approach path extending outward to 30 nautical miles from the end of the runway.
* An RTLS rule exception may be made for light precipitation within 20 nautical miles of the runway if the specific criteria listed below are met:
a.) The tops of the clouds containing precipitation do not extend into temperature regions colder than 41 (F.); they have not been colder than 14 (F. ) within 2.5 hours prior to launch; the radar reflectivity is less than 30 dbz at all levels within and below the clouds.
b.) Precipitation covers less than 10% of the area within 20 nautical miles of the runway, or multiple heading alignment circles are clear of showers.
c.) The movement of the showers is observed to be consistent and no additional convective development is forecast.
d.) Touchdown/rollout criteria and associated navigational aids meet the specified prelaunch go/no go requirements.
If showers exceed either parameter of part a.) above, an RTLS landing may still occur if a 2 nautical mile vertical clearance can be maintained from the top of any shower within 10 nautical miles of the approach paths.
* For RTLS and TAL sites, no detached opaque thunderstorm anvils less than three hours old within 15 nautical miles of the runway, or within 5 nautical miles of the final approach path extending outward to 30 nautical miles from the end of the runway.
* For AOA and PLS sites, no thunderstorms, lightning or precipitation within 30 nautical miles of the runway, or within 20 nautical miles of the final approach path extending to 30 nautical miles from the end of the runway.
* For RTLS and the TAL sites, no detached opaque thunderstorm anvil cloud less than 3 hours old within 15 nautical miles of the runway or within 5 nautical miles of the final approach path extending outward to 30 nautical miles from the end of the runway.
* For AOA and PLS sites, no detached opaque thunderstorm anvil cloud less than 3 hours old within 20 nautical miles of the runway or within 10 nautical miles of the final approach path extending to 30 nautical miles from the end of the runway.
* The RTLS crosswind component may not exceed 15 knots. If the astronaut flying weather reconnaissance in the Shuttle Training Aircraft executes the approach and considers the landing conditions to be acceptable, this limit may be increased to 17 knots. For the TAL, AOA and PLS sites there is a night-time crosswind limit of 12 knots.
* Headwind: not to exceed 25 knots.
* Tailwind: not to exceed 10 knots average, 15 knots peak.
* Turbulence: conditions must be less than or equal to moderate intensity.
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#11
by
SgtBulldog
on 09 May, 2009 23:22
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Wow, thanks!
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#12
by
bigboy_99
on 10 May, 2009 13:33
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Weather has been updated!! There is now a 90% chance of good weather for launch. Only concern is cumulus clouds in the area. Lets pray they stay out of the area!!
Here is the link to the updated forecast from Patrick AFB.
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#13
by
psloss
on 10 May, 2009 13:44
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#14
by
psloss
on 11 May, 2009 10:14
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#15
by
elmarko
on 11 May, 2009 10:17
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Slight concern for showers at Moron? What about other things? Clouds/wind? How likely is a TAL-related scrub today (this is going to decide whether I go home early for the launch...)
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#16
by
psloss
on 11 May, 2009 10:26
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Slight concern for showers at Moron? What about other things? Clouds/wind? How likely is a TAL-related scrub today (this is going to decide whether I go home early for the launch...)
That's the only concern noted in the link; the current forecast is:
MORON...SPAIN
MRN SCT035 BKN250 7 26009P14
SLGT CHC SHRA WI 20 NM
Check back later on (closer to T-0), but given the circumstances, this weather forecast still seems favorable.
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#17
by
rdale
on 11 May, 2009 11:10
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#18
by
rdale
on 11 May, 2009 11:22
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#19
by
psloss
on 11 May, 2009 11:47
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SMG out with updated forecast; no significant changes.
