Spaceflight Now STS-100

Launch Weather Forecast
COMPILED BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Updated: 5:45 a.m. EDT, April 19, 2001

Synopsis: A large high pressure system will push southeast over Florida by Thursday. The high will be centered over the southeast US at launch time causing northeasterly wind near the crosswind limit. While a broad area of low pressure will cover the western landing sites, crosswind violations are expected at Edwards and White Sands due to strong winds off the surface mixing down to the surface during the day. Conditions at KSC remain favorable Friday and Saturday. At the overseas landing strips, broad upper level trof of low pressure will affect TAL site weather through Saturday. Impulses rotating around the trof will cause occasional periods of low clouds and showers each day. Strong winds are a concern at Zaragoza on Thursday and Friday.

Launch probabilities:
Thursday: 90 percent go
Friday: 90 percent go
Saturday: 90 percent go


Latest launch weather forecast

Source: Spaceflight Meteorology Group, Johnson Space Center; and 45th Space Wing Weather Squadron

ISSUED: April 19, 2001
VALID: April 19, 2001

 Forecast for Thursday, April 19


Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Winds: From 060 degrees at 9 knots with gusts to 14 knots
Clouds: Few at 4,000 feet; Scattered at 25,000 feet
Visibility: 7 miles
Temperature: 72 degrees F
Dewpoint: 48 degrees F
Relative Humidity: 43 percent
CONCERNS: Slight worry of crosswinds above limit at KSC's runway, which would be used in the event of a Return to Launch Site abort

Edwards Air Force Base, California
Winds: From 240 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 30 knots
Clouds: Few at 5,000 feet; Broken at 12,000 feet; Broken at 20,000 feet
Rain: None
Visibility: 7 miles
CONCERNS: Headwind

Northrup Strip/White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico
Winds: From 230 degrees at 16 knots with gusts to 26 knots
Clouds: Scattered at 20,000 feet; Broken at 20,000 feet
Rain: None
Visibility: 7 miles
CONCERNS: None

Zaragoza, Spain
Winds: From 310 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 30 knots
Clouds: Scattered at 4,000; Broken at 8,000 feet
Rain: None
Visibility: 7 miles
CONCERNS: Headwind

Moron, Spain
Winds: From 250 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 14 knots
Clouds: Few at 5,000 feet; Scattered at 10,000 feet
Rain: None
Visibility: 7 miles
CONCERNS: None

Ben Guerir, Morocco
Winds: From 330 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots
Clouds: Scattered at 3,000 feet; Broken at 20,000 feet
Rain: None within 20 miles
Visibility: 7 miles
CONCERNS: None
 

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