Launch weather forecast
Posted: December 12, 2003

 Forecast for Monday, December 15

Issued: Friday, December 12
Launch Weather Officer: Johnny Weems, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "Winds will slowly weaken and shift to the northeast over the next two days in advance of cold front expected to pass through the area late Sunday. Increasing cloudiness Saturday with a chance of isolated showers Saturday night. Sunday will be a mostly cloudy, windy, warm day with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in advance of the front. Clearing conditions expected Monday with a moderate northwest wind and cool temperatures.

"The only launch weather concern Monday will be 90-foot winds.

"In the event of a 24 hour delay, concerns will be significantly higher as clouds and associated showers move back into the area in advance of yet another cold front."

Clouds: Scattered at 3,000 feet with 2-3/8ths sky coverage and tops at 5,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: North-westerly from 320 degrees at 10 to 18 knots

Temperature: 55 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 60 percent

Weather: None

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 10 percent

Concerns: Winds at 90-foot level

 

 Forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 40 percent
Concerns: Cloudiness and showers

Wednesday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 20 percent
Concerns: Cloudiness and showers

 

Flight data file
Vehicle: Atlas 3B (AC-203)
Payload: UHF Follow-On F11
Launch date: Dec. 17, 2003
Launch window: 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. EST (0230-0430 GMT on 18th)
Launch site: Complex 36B, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Satellite broadcast: Galaxy 3, Transponder 5, C-band

Pre-launch briefing
Launch preview - Our story looking at this Atlas 3 rocket launch of the UHF F11 satellite.

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.

Orbit insertion - Illustration of UHF F11's trek to geostationary orbit.

UHF satellites - Overview of the U.S. Navy's UHF Follow-On communications constellation.

Atlas 3B vehicle data - Description of rocket being used in this launch.

The RD-180 - Facts and figures about the Russian-built engine to power Atlas 3 and 5.

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

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