The 24-story rocket and its payload -- a Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite -- are slated to blast off from Launch Complex 37B during an hour-long window that will open at 6:19 p.m. Tuesday.
The weather forecast, however, is far from favorable. Meteorologists say there is an 80 percent chance conditions will be unacceptable for flight. A cold front is expected to sweep into the area on Tuesday, bringing with it strong surface winds, rain showers and a chance of thunderstorms in the area.
"There's a front coming through that day. The timing could not be worse," said Kennedy Space Center spokesman George Diller.The forecast does a complete about-face, though, in the event of a 24-hour delay. Meteorologists say there is an 80 percent chance the weather will be acceptable for flight on Wednesday. The launch window that day would extend from 6:18 p.m. to 7:18 p.m.
Check out the official forecast from the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing Weather Squadron HERE.
Check out the United Launch Alliance Mission Booklet HERE.
Check out the Official NASA Press Kit HERE.
The Boeing-built spacecraft was designed and developed under the oversight of NASA, and the nation's space agency will oversee orbital checkouts during the first several weeks of operations after launch.NASA then will turn the spacecraft over to its owner and operator, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The GOES satellite will join a series of spacecraft that play a key role in tracking hurricanes as they develop off the west coast of Africa and start making their way across the Atlantic Ocean.
The GOES 12 spacecraft captured the images above. The first shows Hurricane Alex in 2004. The next shows Tropical Storm Bonnie moving onto the Florida panhandle as Hurricane Charlie made its way over Cuba on its way to landfall in southwest Florida that same year.
3 comments:
MILK IT BABY MILK IT!
Milk those Tax Payers for all they are worth and for as long as you can!
Can anyone explain why there would be a launch window for a satellite going to a position directly above a fixed point on Earth? It would seem that whenever you launch, it would be able to achieve the same orbit. For anonymous: these are the people that aren't going anywhere. They'll still be here after the shuttle finishes, whenever that will be.
Hey Bruce, Did you ever study orbital mechanics? I thought not. If you don't know what your talking about, just be quiet. You won't look as dumb.
As far as Milking it - the same goes for you. Please get a clue as to what you are talking about. These satellites save peoples lives, assist commercial and military alike.
Post a Comment