Spaceflight Now Home



Mission Briefing




Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of events to occur during the launch.

Weather forecast - The latest forecast for launch day conditions.

Launch hazard area - The restricted area during liftoff.

Ground track - See the trajectory the rocket will follow during its flight.

Atlas 2AS vehicle data - Description of rocket being used in this launch.

Launch record - Chart of the past Atlas 2AS missions.

Atlas directory - See our coverage of previous Atlas rocket flights.





NewsAlert



Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop.

Enter your e-mail address:

Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.



Launch weather forecast
Posted: August 26, 2004

 Forecast for Friday, August 27

Issued: Thursday, August 26
Launch Weather Officers: F. Clay Flinn, Johnny Weems, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "A trough of lower pressure will likely suppress the high pressure ridge axis over South Florida. This will result in Southerly surface winds becoming Southeasterly as the sea breeze sets up in the early afternoon. Initial thunderstorm development along the seabreeze is expected around the noon hour near the coast and will push slowly toward the West. The seabreeze should not migrate very far inland with thunderstorm activity remaining closer to the coast. Thunderstorms are also expected to form inland during the afternoon hours. Steering level winds throughout the column have become less favorable and will act to steer thunderstorm activity back toward the coast in the mid to late afternoon time period.

"The main concern for the launch will be isolated thunderstorms within 10 nm of the complex and associated clouds (anvil, debris)."

Clouds: Scattered at 3,000 feet with 1-2/8ths sky coverage and tops at 5,000 feet, Scattered at 10,000 feet with 1-2/8ths sky coverage and tops at 14,000 feet; Scattered at 25,000 feet with 3-4/8ths sky coverage and tops at 28,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Southeasterly from 130 degrees at 12 to 15 knots

Temperature: 83 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 80 percent

Weather: Isolated Thunderstorms

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 70 percent

Concerns: Isolated showers/thunderstorms, anvil clouds, debris clouds

 

 Times of note

Launch period: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. EDT (2200-0000 GMT)
Moonrise: 6:30 p.m. EDT (2230 GMT)
Sunset: 7:49 p.m. EDT (2349 GMT)

 

 Forecast for 24- and 48-hour delays

Saturday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 70 percent
Concerns: Isolated showers/thunderstorms, anvil clouds, debris clouds

Sunday's Probability of Violating Constraints: N/A
Concerns: N/A

 

Apollo 11 special patch
Special collectors' patch marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing is now available.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Inside Apollo mission control
An insider's view of how Apollo flight controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial.
 Choose your store:
U.S.

The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD
This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Next ISS crew
Own a little piece of history with this official patch for the International Space Station's Expedition 11 crew. We'll ship yours today!
 Choose your store:
U.S.
MISSION STATUS CENTER

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE

© 2009 Spaceflight Now Inc.