Author Topic: LIVE: STS-116 Landing Weather (Read 60370 times)

Oli4 · « **Reply #120 on:** 12/22/2006 03:14 pm »

Anyone caring to decipher the wheater codes for me or post a link where everything is translated in plain english? Thank you very much.

gordo · « **Reply #121 on:** 12/22/2006 03:37 pm »

I wonder if the Fla today story is based on the weather front getting close to NOR on the final attempt today. So get them home when it is Green.

cdhutch · « **Reply #122 on:** 12/22/2006 03:38 pm »

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Oli4 - 22/12/2006 10:57 AM

Anyone caring to decipher the wheater codes for me or post a link where everything is translated in plain english? Thank you very much.

For the forecasts, look here:
http://aviationweather.gov/static/help/taf-decode.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_Aerodrome_Forecast

For the observations, look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/METAR

landofgrey · « **Reply #123 on:** 12/22/2006 03:41 pm »

If the bad weather gets too close to NOR and the forecast changes from the solid go it was yesterday, then there's the option of opening up White Sands for an opportunity on the previous go-around, but that's just an if. Besides, Edwards looks good for tomorrow according to the latest forecast.

landofgrey · « **Reply #124 on:** 12/22/2006 03:42 pm »

FYI for anyone who doesn't have the link already. The Spaceflight Meteorology Group home: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/smg/default.html

psloss · « **Reply #125 on:** 12/22/2006 03:45 pm »

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gordo - 22/12/2006 11:20 AM

I wonder if the Fla today story is based on the weather front getting close to NOR on the final attempt today. So get them home when it is Green.

Looking at the NOR forecast from SMG, the conditions look OK for both revs, but the weather will deteriorate as the front that pushed through the West reaches there...

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NORTHRUP STRIP...WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR NM
FIRST OPPORTUNITY
NOR SCT150 BKN200 7 18005P08

SECOND OPPORTUNITY
NOR BKN150 BKN200 7 15003P06

rdale · « **Reply #126 on:** 12/22/2006 03:49 pm »

I guess I missed the part where they said they won't land at Northrup on the first opportunity... Florida Today says nothing about skipping the first NOR chance.

rdale · « **Reply #127 on:** 12/22/2006 03:55 pm »

Bad weather is not approaching NOR. The forecast is good, the observed is good.

The pictures from KSC by landofgrey are fine. A ceiling is acceptable, it's low clouds that are a concern. Currently TTS has a broken deck at 12,000 with overcast at 32,000 which is what Patrick AFB shows as well. Here are the criteria:

Cloud ceiling height >= 8,000 ft
Visibility >= 5 statute miles
Crosswind <= 15 knots
Headwind <= 25 knots
Tailwind <= 15 knots (peak)
<= 10 knots (2 minute average)
Precipitation and thunderstorms Not allowed within 30 nautical miles of the landing runway.
Turbulence <= Moderate

Right now KSC is green, the winds are headwinds and are 15G23.

psloss · « **Reply #128 on:** 12/22/2006 04:02 pm »

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rdale - 22/12/2006 11:38 AM

Bad weather is not approaching NOR. The forecast is good, the observed is good.

Sorry, meant tomorrow. I guess the issue with NOR on rev 203 is whether they can give up on EDW revs 204 and 205 that early. (I'm assuming by that point hypothetically KSC is done.)

landofgrey · « **Reply #129 on:** 12/22/2006 04:05 pm »

It's now completely overcast high up as rdale said. The broken deck, just from observation, it doesn't look like as high as 12K to me, but maybe I'm being deceived by the occasional low cloud moving through. Either way, it's going to be, soon. The call for bay doors is coming in 10 min or so after a wx report from Lindsey in the T-38.

rdale · « **Reply #130 on:** 12/22/2006 04:06 pm »

They have to give up Edwards 205 if they try KSC 202 due to suit time.

KSC reporting a few clouds at 2,400ft, COF (Patrick AFB) says a few at 2,500 and a few at 8,000.

landofgrey · « **Reply #131 on:** 12/22/2006 04:13 pm »

They're holding off on beginning the bay door closing procedures while the wx brief is finished.

psloss · « **Reply #132 on:** 12/22/2006 04:13 pm »

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rdale - 22/12/2006 11:49 AM

They have to give up Edwards 205 if they try KSC 202 due to suit time.

OK, but then the hypothetical question is still there with Edwards on rev 204. But given the forecasts, it may not be as tough to make the call on winds at Edwards early today.

landofgrey · « **Reply #133 on:** 12/22/2006 04:14 pm »

Norm Knight is polliing for closing the doors.

landofgrey · « **Reply #134 on:** 12/22/2006 04:20 pm »

"At this point we'd like to press on and see what we get" from CAPCOM Ken Ham. They're going to press on the timeline toward closing the doors and see what develops with the weather. It's developing as predicted.

DaveS · « **Reply #135 on:** 12/22/2006 04:21 pm »

CAPCOM Ken Ham just told Polansky that weather at KSC developing pretty much as forecast so it will be a timing decision for the de-orbit to KSC attempt 1.

landofgrey · « **Reply #136 on:** 12/22/2006 04:22 pm »

Lindsey says the lowest clouds he encountered are about 8K and 1K feet thick.

martynwilliams · « **Reply #137 on:** 12/22/2006 04:24 pm »

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landofgrey - 22/12/2006 5:03 PM

"At this point we'd like to press on and see what we get" from CAPCOM Chris Ferguson. They're going to press on the timeline toward closing the doors and see what develops with the weather. It's developing as predicted.

CAPCOM is Ken Ham....Chris Ferguson is the Weather CAPCOM...the link between the MCC and STA pilots at KSC, EDW and NOR.

rdale · « **Reply #138 on:** 12/22/2006 04:25 pm »

12pm obs:

KSC - few 2000, scattered 8000, broken 12000, overcast 32000
EDW - few 4500 and 9000, winds NW 19kts (no gusts last hour)
NOR - broken at 15000-20000, light southeast wind.

DaveS · « **Reply #139 on:** 12/22/2006 04:26 pm »

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landofgrey - 22/12/2006 6:03 PM

"At this point we'd like to press on and see what we get" from CAPCOM Chris Ferguson. They're going to press on the timeline toward closing the doors and see what develops with the weather. It's developing as predicted.

It's Ken Ham that' the CAPCOM. Not Chris Ferguson. I believe he's the weather CAPCOM who talks with the various weather recon aircrafts at KSC, EDW and NOR.