Launch weather forecast
Posted: December 14, 2003

 Forecast for Monday, December 15

Issued: Sunday, December 14
Launch Weather Officer: Johnny Weems, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "Today will be a mostly cloudy, windy, warm day with a chance of showers and thunderstorms (slight chance of severe potential, mainly strong winds) 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: East-northeasterly from 070 degrees at 10 to 15 knots

Temperature: 55 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 60 percent

Weather: None

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: less than 10 percent

Concerns: Winds at 90-foot level

 

 Forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday

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

Wednesday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 40 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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