Andrew Yee
April 28th 05, 11:37 PM
Air Force Space Command News Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2005
Story ID 05-111
Weather squadron protects shuttle, crews
Tech. Sgt Lisa Luse, 45th SW Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Predicting snowfall or blinding
sandstorms are not on the checklist for the 45th Space Wing Weather
Squadron who methodically calculate and determine if the weather will
threaten a future shuttle launch. However, rain, lightning, wind and
cloud coverage are at the top of the "be on the look-out list" for any
shuttle, missile or rocket that is destined for space.
Weather forecasting is one of the most significant tools used to
calculate ideal conditions for a safe launch for both the crew and the
shuttle. The 45th Weather Squadron spends countless hours planning and
predicting the "hot spots," because bad weather can instantly delay or
"scrub" the launch.
The typical weather restrictions for a launch include wind, rain, high or
low temperatures, and lightning. "We have temperature, wind and rain
constraints due to the height of a vehicle," said Capt. Mike McAleenan,
launch weather officer. "All launches have the same constraints."
High or low temperatures can cause a delay in a launch. Temperatures that
go as high as 99 degrees Fahrenheit for more than thirty consecutive
minutes are considered too high to launch a vehicle. On the other hand,
very low temperatures that are 48 degrees Fahrenheit or lower also
require an evaluation of the wind as a combined concern for the vehicle.
Sometimes, the experts are looking for more than one condition that could
cause problems for the launch. "More complicated is the combined effect
of the temperatures that involve wind, temperature and rain that have to
be determined," said Kathy Winters, shuttle launch weather officer. "We
use a table to evaluate these conditions and average the results."
Natural and triggered lightning restrictions include evaluating clouds
and weather inside ten nautical miles of the launch pad. Along with
lightning, rain can damage the shuttle as it increases in speed through
the atmosphere. As rain hits the outside of the spacecraft, beads of
water can hit like small rocks pelting the side. As rain freezes, ice
forms on the craftÕs surface. In the event the spacecraftÕs surface is
damaged or changed, the difference in the surface could affect the
structure enough to dangerously change direction and turn it off course.
"Any cloud within 10 nautical miles is closely monitored," Ms. Winters
said. "We have all of these different measurements of miles to
standardize all launches. The main focus is within the 10 mile range. The
peak wind constraint is 23-34 knots, depending upon the direction of the
wind."
Heavy cloud coverage can adversely affect the visibility of the cameras
that are designed to keep an "eye" on various parts of the shuttle. Space
shuttle Discovery has new cameras that can be affected by bad weather,
Captain McAleenan said. The cameras are used to view and detect any
debris that falls off or around the shuttle during flight. There is a new
external tank design for Discovery that officials will watch closely.
Abysmal weather would prevent them from making those observations.
Officials have also added more ground cameras to watch the shuttle as it
lifts off. Cameras are set up along the coast, just north and south of
the launch pad. In addition, two aircraft will fly to 55,000 feet to take
photos from their perspective.
After a shuttle launch, the external tank of the orbiter is released into
the ocean. Once it is retrieved, it travels on a barge up and down the
Banana River to and from the Vehicle Assembly River Basin. The tank is
offloaded and transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Recovery
operations include the External Tank Transports from Michoud, Mississippi
to port. "We also do post-launch work, such as the arrival of the
external tank," Ms. Winters said. "We give them an idea of what kind of
weather to expect."
It is critical to have the weather forecast and to understand the current
conditions of the ocean during a external tank recovery. "The sea state,
wind and other effects of the weather are faxed to the ship that is to
recover the external tank," Captain McAleenan said.
If the shuttle does not land at Kennedy Space Center, a "ferry flight" is
scheduled to bring the shuttle back.
To transport the shuttle, the "ferry flight," a modified Boeing 747, also
known as the Shuttle Carrying Aircraft, is flown back to KSC with the
shuttle on top. Weather conditions for this flight are also critical.
"We also have a Department of Defense Manned Spaceflight coordinator
providing weather information to DDMS concerning the possibility of using
the Transoceanic Abort Landing site," the captain said. There are three
TAL sites where weather forecasters take complete surface and upper-air
observations and forward the information to DDMS. The three sites are
located at Istres, France; and Zaragoza and Moron, Spain.
Air balloons are frequently used to gather weather updates. "Observation
of the upper air with balloons will check the wind, temperature and rain
of the area," Ms. Winters said. We also provide weather updates to the
DDMS to coordinate any search and rescue that may be necessary."
Before they pass their forecast to officials, the weather team gathers
bits of information from many sources to develop their idea of a picture
perfect successful launch. "Whenever any spacecraft is exposed to the
elements, we will make sure the weather is compatible for the flight,"
Ms. Winters said. "We provide 24/7 weather resource protection."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2005
Story ID 05-111
Weather squadron protects shuttle, crews
Tech. Sgt Lisa Luse, 45th SW Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Predicting snowfall or blinding
sandstorms are not on the checklist for the 45th Space Wing Weather
Squadron who methodically calculate and determine if the weather will
threaten a future shuttle launch. However, rain, lightning, wind and
cloud coverage are at the top of the "be on the look-out list" for any
shuttle, missile or rocket that is destined for space.
Weather forecasting is one of the most significant tools used to
calculate ideal conditions for a safe launch for both the crew and the
shuttle. The 45th Weather Squadron spends countless hours planning and
predicting the "hot spots," because bad weather can instantly delay or
"scrub" the launch.
The typical weather restrictions for a launch include wind, rain, high or
low temperatures, and lightning. "We have temperature, wind and rain
constraints due to the height of a vehicle," said Capt. Mike McAleenan,
launch weather officer. "All launches have the same constraints."
High or low temperatures can cause a delay in a launch. Temperatures that
go as high as 99 degrees Fahrenheit for more than thirty consecutive
minutes are considered too high to launch a vehicle. On the other hand,
very low temperatures that are 48 degrees Fahrenheit or lower also
require an evaluation of the wind as a combined concern for the vehicle.
Sometimes, the experts are looking for more than one condition that could
cause problems for the launch. "More complicated is the combined effect
of the temperatures that involve wind, temperature and rain that have to
be determined," said Kathy Winters, shuttle launch weather officer. "We
use a table to evaluate these conditions and average the results."
Natural and triggered lightning restrictions include evaluating clouds
and weather inside ten nautical miles of the launch pad. Along with
lightning, rain can damage the shuttle as it increases in speed through
the atmosphere. As rain hits the outside of the spacecraft, beads of
water can hit like small rocks pelting the side. As rain freezes, ice
forms on the craftÕs surface. In the event the spacecraftÕs surface is
damaged or changed, the difference in the surface could affect the
structure enough to dangerously change direction and turn it off course.
"Any cloud within 10 nautical miles is closely monitored," Ms. Winters
said. "We have all of these different measurements of miles to
standardize all launches. The main focus is within the 10 mile range. The
peak wind constraint is 23-34 knots, depending upon the direction of the
wind."
Heavy cloud coverage can adversely affect the visibility of the cameras
that are designed to keep an "eye" on various parts of the shuttle. Space
shuttle Discovery has new cameras that can be affected by bad weather,
Captain McAleenan said. The cameras are used to view and detect any
debris that falls off or around the shuttle during flight. There is a new
external tank design for Discovery that officials will watch closely.
Abysmal weather would prevent them from making those observations.
Officials have also added more ground cameras to watch the shuttle as it
lifts off. Cameras are set up along the coast, just north and south of
the launch pad. In addition, two aircraft will fly to 55,000 feet to take
photos from their perspective.
After a shuttle launch, the external tank of the orbiter is released into
the ocean. Once it is retrieved, it travels on a barge up and down the
Banana River to and from the Vehicle Assembly River Basin. The tank is
offloaded and transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Recovery
operations include the External Tank Transports from Michoud, Mississippi
to port. "We also do post-launch work, such as the arrival of the
external tank," Ms. Winters said. "We give them an idea of what kind of
weather to expect."
It is critical to have the weather forecast and to understand the current
conditions of the ocean during a external tank recovery. "The sea state,
wind and other effects of the weather are faxed to the ship that is to
recover the external tank," Captain McAleenan said.
If the shuttle does not land at Kennedy Space Center, a "ferry flight" is
scheduled to bring the shuttle back.
To transport the shuttle, the "ferry flight," a modified Boeing 747, also
known as the Shuttle Carrying Aircraft, is flown back to KSC with the
shuttle on top. Weather conditions for this flight are also critical.
"We also have a Department of Defense Manned Spaceflight coordinator
providing weather information to DDMS concerning the possibility of using
the Transoceanic Abort Landing site," the captain said. There are three
TAL sites where weather forecasters take complete surface and upper-air
observations and forward the information to DDMS. The three sites are
located at Istres, France; and Zaragoza and Moron, Spain.
Air balloons are frequently used to gather weather updates. "Observation
of the upper air with balloons will check the wind, temperature and rain
of the area," Ms. Winters said. We also provide weather updates to the
DDMS to coordinate any search and rescue that may be necessary."
Before they pass their forecast to officials, the weather team gathers
bits of information from many sources to develop their idea of a picture
perfect successful launch. "Whenever any spacecraft is exposed to the
elements, we will make sure the weather is compatible for the flight,"
Ms. Winters said. "We provide 24/7 weather resource protection."