STS-117 Launch Weather Forecast

Vehicle: STS-117, Atlantis

Issued: 7 June 2007/ 1100Z (0700EDT)

Valid: 8 June 2007/ 2332 - 2343Z (1932 - 1943EDT)

Launch Weather Team: 45th Space Wing, Patrick AFB, FL

Synoptic Discussion:

A high pressure ridge is now located over Central Florida. A sea breeze will develop this afternoon earlier than yesterday. Showers and thunderstorms will develop along the sea breeze on the west side of Kennedy Space Center. These storms should gradually move west along the sea breeze by late afternoon/early evening.

By Friday, the high pressure ridge will be north of the Central Florida area, allowing the sea breeze with associated weather to push inland more quickly by the late afternoon. Upper level winds will be from the east Friday, so anvils from inland thunderstorms should remain inland by launch time. There is a better chance the ridge will remain to the north Saturday; therefore, the 24-hour forecast deceased to 30%.

Our primary concern for launch day is cumulus clouds.

Clouds        Coverage        Bases (feet)   Tops (feet) 
Stratus       3/8 Scattered   3,000          6,000 
Altostratus   2/8 Scattered   10,000         12,000 
Cirrus        2/8 Scattered   25,000         28,000 
Weather: None 
Visibility: 7 miles 
Wind: 100 deg @ 8 KT Peak 12 KT (60 foot pad winds) 
Temperature: 77 F   RH: 85%   Dewpoint: 73 F 
Probability of KSC weather prohibiting launch: 20% 
Probability of KSC weather prohibiting tanking: 0% 
Primary concern(s): Cumulus clouds. 
Probability of KSC weather prohibiting launch for 24-hour delay 30% 
Probability of KSC weather prohibiting tanking: 5% 
Primary concern(s): Thunderstorms, flight through precipitation, cumulus 
clouds. 
Probability of KSC weather prohibiting launch for 48-hour delay 40% 
Probability of KSC weather prohibiting tanking: 5% 
Primary concern(s): Thunderstorms with associated anvils, cumulus clouds. 
Sunrise: 8/0624 EDT   Sunset: 8/2019 EDT 
         9/0624 EDT           9/2019 EDT 
        10/0624 EDT          10/2020 EDT 
Moonrise: 8/0132 EDT  Moonset: 8/1333 EDT  Illumination: 8 Jun: 56% 
          9/0204 EDT           9/1437 EDT                9 Jun: 44% 
         10/0236 EDT          10/1542 EDT               10 Jun: 33% 
Next forecast will be issued: As Needed 

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