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Meteorological Support for Space Operations Review and Recommendations (1988) / Chapter Skim
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APPENDIX D: Proposed Weather Factors Governing Launch Commit Criteria and Flight Rules
Pages 62-79

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From page 62...
... Appendix D Proposed Weather Factors Governing Launch Commit Criteria and Flight Rules 62
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From page 63...
... ICE ACCUMULATES IN ZERO-ICE OR RESTRICTED THICKNESS AREAS ON THE ET. Rationale: Thermal Tile Protection LCC RULE: SURFACE WIND LIMITS FOR LIFT-OFF (MEASURED AT 60' LEVEL)
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From page 69...
... This requirement exists because current forecasting capability cannot accurately ensure that a NO-GO condition to one of the backup runways would not result in a NO-GO condition at the prime runway by landing time. Surface wind limits are not required to be met at the backup runways, since the backup runway would only be required if an energy problem occurred dictating a runway redesignation.
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From page 70...
... Specific weather criteria are provided for decisions involving abort gap closure or main engine limits management during ascent phase. As documented in Rule 5-TBD and its rationale, in some case following SSME failure, main engine limits will be enabled at the earliest single-engine capability to reach a prime TAL or augmented contingency landing site (ACLS)
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From page 71...
... Crosswind limits are based upon Orbiter lateral control and tire wear. The limit of 12 KT peak cross wind corresponds to the point where the vehicle handling qualities becomes marginal based on Ames VMS simulations.
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From page 75...
... WIND AND ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS MUST NOT REQUIRE USE OF CLOSE-IN AIMPOINT, EXCEPT WHERE CLOSE-IN AIMPOINT PAPI's ARE AVAILABLE. Because the aimpoint markings and normal geographic visual cues are not visible at night, light attenuation of the landing aids and touchdown region area should be minimal This evaluation of the light attenuation will primarily depend on the weather then visibility will be constrained by ground observations following the daylight visibility limits.
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From page 76...
... EXTENSION DAY REQUIREMENTS; 2-81 A, EXTENSION DAY GUIDELINES; 3-41 A, LANDING SITE WEATHER CRITERIA; 4-2, LANDING SITE CONDITIONS; 4-26. PERFORMANCE BOUNDARIES; 4-62B, LANDING SITE SELECTION PRIORITIES; 4-65, DEORBIT PRIORITY FOR EOM WEATHER; 5-27, LIMIT SHUTDOWN CONTROL; and 8-60, GNC GO/NO-GO CRITERIA, reference this rule.
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Key Terms

  • flight rules
  • weather criteria
  • site weather
  • johnson space
  • space center

  • mission rev
  • rev date
  • date section
  • section page
  • triggered lightning

  • planned flight
  • flight path
  • surface wind
  • wind limits
  • landing aids

  • landing sites
  • weather reconnaissance
  • surface visibility
  • landing time
  • operational flight

  • visibility limits
  • thunderstorm proximity
  • sts operational
  • backup runways
  • approach path

  • reconnaissance flight
  • flight day
  • launch site
  • average wind
  • peak wind


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