The Space Shuttle Discovery is proceeding toward a liftoff tonight at 8:47 p.m. EDT.
STS-116 still has a high probability of unfavorable weather. Hard to believe that as you looked at the video from the Cape this afternoon with brilliant blue skies, much like those here in Birmingham.
But crosswinds greater than 15 knots are one of the parameters that can lead to a scrubbing of the launch, and forecasters will be monitoring conditions carefully this evening.
The good news is that the weather is acceptable at all three of the overseas landing sites in Frnace and Spain.
All crew members are just about on board and the countdown continues.
HERE IS A LATE UPDATE AT 4:52 PM FROM THE NASA SHUTTLE BLOG…
5:52 p.m. – Kathy Winters, launch weather officer, has given Launch Director Mike Leinbach the latest weather briefing. Her observations indicate that crosswinds seem to be improving, and astronaut Steve Lindsey in the Shuttle Training Aircraft is not reporting any cloud ceilings so far.
The sun is nearly gone, and Space Shuttle Discovery is illuminated against the darkening sky by the powerful xenon lights at Launch Pad 39B.
Here is the latest METAR from the Shuttle Landing Facility in Titusville, Florida…
KTTS 092255Z 03007KT 10SM FEW040 BKN200 16/09 A3038 RMK SLP288 1SC /0/ 6CI /2/ N0505/08 C0606/09 S0307/13
Winds are 7 knots
The METARS for other Shuttle Abort Landing Facilities include…
Zaragoza, Spain
LEZG 092230Z 28007KT 9999 FEW030 SCT045 06/04 Q1024
Moron, Spain
LEMO 092200Z 00000KT CAVOK 05/05 Q1026 NOSIG
Istres, France
LFMI 092300Z 31008KT CAVOK 05/03 Q1022
Hollman AFB, New Mexico
KHMN 092255Z 14003KT 45SM FEW035 11/01 A3014 RMK SLPNO LAST
Edwards AFB, California
KEDW 092255Z 24017G20KT 20SM FEW060 15/04 A2994 RMK AO2A SLP129 T01540038
Here is a link to the NWS Shuttle Mission Group webpage.
Here is a link to a pdf document containing all of the NASA weather commit to launch and landing criteria.
