DAYTON — Weather is a very important feature NASA considers when deciding whether or not a rocket can be launched. Hey it’s Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Ryan Marando.
There are four main categories where weather can affect a launch: temperatures, wind, lightning, and clouds.
There are three main criteria for a do not launch regarding temperatures at the launch site. They all have to do with temperatures at 132.5 and 257.5 feet in the air. They generally cannot be too hot or cold, needing to be greater than 41 and less than 95 degrees.
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NASA also only lists three wind criteria for a launch to happen. They all regard the winds speeds not exceeding a certain threshold, generally over 40 m.p.h. Although, it also lists upper level wind issues that could lead to control problems.
Lightning is also quite important to watch for a rocket launch. Florida is the stormiest state in the country too. NASA generally states that launches cannot happen near lightning, unsurprisingly. If there is lightning within 10 nautical miles of a launch site, that is a sign for a do not launch.
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Clouds have the most criteria for a launch to happen. Of course, we can’t launch through precipitation, but even clouds close to a launch site can delay launches. If clouds are less than three miles away, too thick, and or reach into freezing temperatures, that can all be enough to slow down a launch.
Weather is still looking rather good for launch with an 80% chance of favorable conditions. The launch is scheduled for 6:24 p.m. April 1.
Here’s a quick graphic breaking down the key points.