Launch weather forecast
Posted: April 10, 2003

 Forecast for Friday, April 11

Issued: Thursday, April 10
Launch Weather Officer: Jim Sardonia, 45th Weather Squadron

Synoptic Discussion: "A deep low-pressure center over North Georgia has developed from the weather system that passed through the local area earlier on Thursday. This deep low has a broad area of low-level cloud cover associated with it and these clouds are extending as far west as Mississippi and as far south as Central Florida. Computer models indicate that the center of this low will shift to the northeast dragging the associated cloud cover with it. There may however be some low cumulus and stratocumulus clouds in the area again on Friday during the launch countdown and window (if this low does not move as fast as the models predict).

"Winds at the 90 ft level will remain gusty on Friday, however expected to be below the 25/28 knot launch constraint at the opening of the launch window.

"Winds aloft are again expected to exhibit poor persistence throughout the countdown due to the changing conditions with the upper-level low moving to the northeast.

"The main concerns for Friday will be the chance of peak winds at the 90ft level at SLC 36B greater than the 25/28 knot launch constraint and the chance of cumulus and stratocumulus clouds that approach limits of the triggered lightning LCC."

Clouds: Scattered cumulus at 3,000 feet with 2/8ths sky coverage and tops at 6,000 feet; Broken stratocumulus at 5,000 feet with 5/8ths sky coverage and tops at 8,000 feet

Visibility: 7 miles

Launch Pad Winds: Westerly from 280 degrees at 12 gusting to 24 knots (as measured at 90 foot tower)

Temperature: 64 to 66 degrees F

Relative Humidity: 75 percent

Weather: Slight chance of isolated rainshowers

Solar Activity: Low

Probability of Violating Weather Constraints: 20 percent

Concerns: Cumulus clouds, slight chance of winds greater than 25 knots

 

 24-hour Delay Forecast

Saturday's Probability of Violating Constraints: 10 percent
Concerns: Cumulus clouds

 

Flight data file
Vehicle: Atlas 3B (AC-205)
Payload: AsiaSat 4
Launch date: April 10, 2003
Launch window: 8:09 to 9:21 p.m. EDT (0009-0121 GMT on 11th)
Launch site: Complex 36B, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Satellite broadcast: Galaxy 3, Transponder 1, C-band

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