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The Mission




Rocket: Atlas 3B
(Atlas/Centaur-206)
Payload: NRO
Date: February 3, 2005
Time: 2:41 a.m. EST (0741 GMT)
Site: Complex 36B, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Broadcast: AMC 4, Transponder 17, C-band, 101° West

Mission Status Center

Pre-launch preview story

Launch events timeline

Ground track map

Launch hazard area

Atlas archive



Launch weather forecast
Posted: January 31, 2005

 Forecast for Thursday, February 3

Issued: Monday, January 31
Launch Weather Officer: F. Clay Flinn, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "The cold front that passed through the area yesterday will bring slightly cooler temperatures today with moderate temperature by mid-week. Winds will be from the North early in the week and become from the Northeast toward mid-week. A developing trough in the Gulf of Mexico will slowly migrate toward the peninsula near mid-week. With the approaching trough near the peninsula, winds will become from the Southwest on launch day. Expect isolated showers and increased cloudiness Wednesday afternoon through the launch window.

"The main concerns for launch day are thick clouds and disturbed weather.

"In the event of a 24-hour delay, conditions improve slightly as the low pressure system is expected to be East of the peninsula; however, thick clouds and isolated showers associated with the close proximity of the low are expected along with a tighter pressure gradient with gusty Northwest winds."

Clouds: Stratocumulus Broken at 2,000 feet with tops at 6,000 feet; Altocumulus Broken at 10,000 feet with tops at 14,000 feet; Cirrus Overcast at 24,000 feet with tops at 30,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Southwesterly from 220 degrees at 10 gusting to 15 knots

Temperature: 58 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 95 percent

Weather: Isolated Showers

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 80 percent

Concerns: Thick clouds, disturbed weather, Isolated showers

 

 Forecast for 24-hour delay

Friday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 60 percent
Concerns: Thick clouds, Isolated showers

 

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