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The Mission




Rocket: Atlas 5 (AV-007)
Payload: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Date: August 12, 2005
Window: 7:43-9:43 a.m. EDT (1143-1343 GMT)
Site: Complex 41, Cape Canaveral, Florida

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Launch weather forecast
Posted: August 10, 2005

 Forecast for Thursday, August 11

Issued: Wednesday, August 10
Launch Weather Officer: F. Clay Flinn, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "The Bermuda High ridge axis continues to be suppressed to the South resulting in southwesterly steering flow. This pattern persists through Thursday's launch attempt. Steering level flow will favor late afternoon and evening thunderstorms along the East Coast. Anvil level steering flow has an easterly component on launch day resulting in a slight risk of anvil blow-off from Gulf Stream Thunderstorms. The overall flow pattern is favorable for a morning launch and results in a slight risk of morning coastal showers for launch day.

"The primary concerns for launch day are thick clouds and cumulus clouds associated with isolated coastal showers and anvil clouds associated with Gulf Stream thunderstorms."

Clouds: Cumulus Scattered at 2,500 feet with tops at 4,500 feet; and Cirrus Scattered at 24,000 feet with tops at 26,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Southwesterly from 220 degrees at 8 gusting to 12 knots

Temperature: 78-81 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 85 percent

Weather: Isolated Coastal Showers

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 20 percent

Concerns: Thick clouds and cumulus clouds associated with Isolated Showers, Anvil Clouds associated with Gulf Stream thunderstorms

 

 Times of note

Thursday's launch window: 7:50-9:35 a.m. EDT (1150-1335 GMT)
Thursday's sunrise: 6:50 a.m. EDT (1050 GMT)

 

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