Author Topic: LIVE: STS-116 Landing Weather (Read 60367 times)

landofgrey · « **Reply #140 on:** 12/22/2006 04:30 pm »

Yeh, I caught myself on that. Trying to copy/paste from my list of names and I pasted the wrong one.

Mission Control just gave the GO for payload bay door closing.

DaveS · « **Reply #141 on:** 12/22/2006 04:33 pm »

Quote

landofgrey - 22/12/2006 6:13 PM

Yeh, I caught myself on that. Trying to copy/paste from my list of names and I pasted the wrong one.

Mission Control just gave the GO for payload bay door closing.

General mission updates go into FD14 thread. Updates on the weather goes in here.

marsguy · « **Reply #142 on:** 12/22/2006 04:59 pm »

What exactly are the weather constraints for the landing at KSC?

I don't personally know the exact requirements, but looking at the skies above the SLF, it seems to me that they would be in violation.

lsullivan411 · « **Reply #143 on:** 12/22/2006 05:05 pm »

Quote

marsguy - 22/12/2006 12:42 PM What exactly are the weather constraints for the landing at KSC? I don't personally know the exact requirements, but looking at the skies above the SLF, it seems to me that they would be in violation.

This is from a January 2003 PAO release - may not be exact, but should give you an idea.

KSC END OF MISSION LANDING WEATHER FLIGHT RULES

The end of mission landing weather forecast is prepared by the NOAA National Weather Service Space Flight Meteorology Group in Houston for the astronauts, Flight Director and Mission Management Team. All criteria refer to observed and forecast weather conditions. Decision time for the de-orbit burn is 70 - 90 minutes before landing. The weather criteria are:

- Cloud coverage of 4/8 or less below 8,000 feet and a visibility of 5 miles or greater required.

- The peak cross wind cannot exceed 15 knots, 12 knots at night. If the mission duration is greater than 20 days the limit is 12 knots, day and night.

- Headwind cannot exceed 25 knots.

- Tailwind cannot exceed 10 knots average, 15 knots peak.

- No thunderstorm, lightning, or precipitation activity is within 30 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.

- Detached opaque thunderstorm anvils less than three hours old must not be within 20 nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility, or within 10 nautical miles of the flight path when the orbiter is within 30 nautical miles of the runway.

- Turbulence must be less than or equal to moderate intensity.

- Consideration may be given for landing with a "no go" observation and a "go" forecast if at decision time analysis clearly indicates a continuing trend of improving weather conditions, and the forecast states that all weather criteria will be met at landing time.

RDale also posted these earlier in this thread - sorry, I should have looked harder!

kevwalsh · « **Reply #144 on:** 12/22/2006 05:12 pm »

How many orbits are left in the window today, does anybody know?

rdale · « **Reply #145 on:** 12/22/2006 05:15 pm »

If they try 202, 204 is the last. If they wait til 203 for the first, 205 is the last.

psloss · « **Reply #146 on:** 12/22/2006 05:20 pm »

Might be moot point if they can get into KSC, but did anyone hear whether they were able to conserve to get a seventh opportunity or not? I believe Phil Engelauf talked about a standard of 3 + 3 opportunities on Friday and Saturday, but that they might be able to do 3 + 4 or 4 + 3.

DwightM · « **Reply #147 on:** 12/22/2006 05:25 pm »

Quote

psloss - 22/12/2006 9:03 AM

Might be moot point if they can get into KSC, but did anyone hear whether they were able to conserve to get a seventh opportunity or not? I believe Phil Engelauf talked about a standard of 3 + 3 opportunities on Friday and Saturday, but that they might be able to do 3 + 4 or 4 + 3.

I didn't hear, but they did tell Mark yesterday that they would only have to be suited up for 3 attempts today (Friday).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #148 on:** 12/22/2006 05:25 pm »

One more time. This is the weather ONLY thread. Anything MISSION related goes into the relevant live update threads. This has been made clear, so I'll simply delete posts if this carries on.

STA will taking off soon.

CAPCOM to Steve: "Watch some stuff beginning to build 60 NM SW of SLF which is heading to SLF"

rdale · « **Reply #149 on:** 12/22/2006 05:29 pm »

1pm
TTS: SE 16G26, few 2000 sct 8000 sct 12000 ovc 32000 (similar at COF)
EDW: NW13kts (not gusts again this hour)
NOR: Broken 150000, winds calm

KSC rapidly looking worse - lots of showers developing east and west of Vero Beach and moving north. Not very heavy, but pockets of rain everywhere and they'll be in the area about an hour from now.

MTAS · « **Reply #150 on:** 12/22/2006 05:31 pm »

I live in Plant City FL, about 1hr west of Orlando. Any chance I'd be able to see it as it streaks toward KSC?

rdale · « **Reply #151 on:** 12/22/2006 05:35 pm »

MTAS: No, too high and you're cloudy. Remember this is a WEATHER thread only.

Strip is under the 'v' in Titusville. Junk around KMLB is ground clutter.

"Radar

http://radioweather.us/ksc.png" width="800" border="0" />

MTAS · « **Reply #152 on:** 12/22/2006 05:37 pm »

Ah well - I was looking for an excuse to leave work early

Thanks for the reply.

lsullivan411 · « **Reply #153 on:** 12/22/2006 05:38 pm »

EDW: NW13kts (not gusts again this hour)

Seems lighter than forecast - however it is only 10:18AM out there - would the winds tend to kick up more in the afternoon closer to landing time?

rdale · « **Reply #154 on:** 12/22/2006 05:39 pm »

Not really, they were strong earlier because of the cold front, I'm not sure if they'll pick up because of heating since there won't be too much...

landofgrey · « **Reply #155 on:** 12/22/2006 05:47 pm »

wx briefing going on now, look for some word in 5-10 min. it still looks about the same to me at KSC but there's worse weather "just" west of here which will move in sometime today.

rdale · « **Reply #156 on:** 12/22/2006 05:49 pm »

The bad weather "just" west is about 200 miles west so no bearing. However the showers from the south will be within the 30mi radius before 2pm, and there's more behind. I have an obbligation with my "real" job for about an hour - psloss can you post the current obs while I'm away?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #157 on:** 12/22/2006 05:55 pm »

Linsdey's STA is having tech issues and can't get good cloud readings.

psloss · « **Reply #158 on:** 12/22/2006 05:58 pm »

Quote

rdale - 22/12/2006 1:32 PM

The bad weather "just" west is about 200 miles west so no bearing. However the showers from the south will be within the 30mi radius before 2pm, and there's more behind. I have an obbligation with my "real" job for about an hour - psloss can you post the current obs while I'm away?

I'm stuck with work obligations, too.

landofgrey · « **Reply #159 on:** 12/22/2006 05:58 pm »

CAPCOM: "New word for Florida is unstable"... large area of scattered showers in southern half of the state. will be w/in 30 mi by landing time. The "chance" of showers has been struck, it now calls for showers. Holding off on fluid loading but not officially waving off yet. northrup still good forecast, EDW still windy.

I had to put "just" inside quotes, because it's hard to tell the distance of the clouds, but they're definitely thicker west, and now south.

psloss or anyone else... anyone have a current observation, the numbers that is, on the clouds and rain?