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Starlink 4-5 - L-3 Days

Falcon 9

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Valid Period

Jan 6, 2022 21:49 - 23:47 UTC (16:49 - 18:47 ET)

Issued

Mon Jan 3, 2022 at 13:30 UTC (08:30 ET)

Forecast Discussion

Space Launch Delta 45

A frontal boundary moved through Central Florida this morning, leaving behind gusty northwesterly winds and a brief period of cooler, drier air. By Tuesday, winds will become onshore, moderating the temperature at the Spaceport and bringing a slight chance for a short-lived, coastal shower. On Wednesday the boundary pushes back north over the Space Coast, increasing cloud coverage and rain chances late. Through the day Thursday, the unsettled weather is pulled away as a low pressure system moves north along the Atlantic Coast. This will make way for another area of high pressure to build in, slowly clearing the cloud cover and instability over the Spaceport. The primary weather concern for a Thursday launch attempt is the Cumulus Cloud Rule associated with the boundary in the area. On Friday, the high pressure area moves into the Northeast U.S., creating northeasterly winds at the Spaceport. The primary weather concerns for a Friday launch attempt remains the Cumulus Cloud Rule with the addition the Thick Cloud Layer Rule associated with mid-level instability.

Primary Launch Date

Launch Day

Primary Window

80%
PGO

Primary Concerns

  • Cumulus Cloud Rule

Additional Risk Criteria

CriteriaRisk Level
Upper-Level Wind ShearLow
Booster Recovery WeatherLow
Solar ActivityLow

Backup Opportunities

24-Hour Delay

Backup Window

70%
PGO

Primary Concerns

  • Cumulus Cloud Rule
  • Thick Cloud Layer Rule

Additional Risk Criteria

CriteriaRisk Level
Upper-Level Wind ShearLow
Booster Recovery WeatherLow
Solar ActivityLow