Launch weather forecast
Posted: December 17, 2003

 Forecast for Wednesday, December 17

Issued: Wednesday, December 17
Launch Weather Officer: Johnny Weems, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "Cold front passed through the local area ushering in cooler temperatures and strong gusty northwest winds. Cloudiness will decrease through the day with northwest winds remaining blustery through early evening; low 40s and upper 30s will be common across Central Florida on both Thursday and Friday mornings.

"The chief concern for Wednesday night will be gusty northwest winds; winds will decrease slowly through the evening but remain above 20-22 knots."

Clouds: Scattered-to-Broken at 3,000 feet with 3-5/8ths sky coverage and tops at 5,000 feet; Scattered at 28,000 feet with 1-2/8ths sky coverage and tops at 32,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Northwesterly from 310 degrees at 17 to 23 knots

Temperature: 52 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 60 percent

Weather: None

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 40 percent

Concerns: Winds at 90-foot level greater than 25 knots

 

 Forecast for Thursday and Friday

Thursday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 20 percent
Concerns: Winds at 90-foot level

Friday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 10 percent
Concerns: Winds at 90-foot level

 

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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