Axiom-2 - L-1 Day
Falcon 9
Valid Period
May 21, 2023 21:32 - 21:43 UTC (17:32 - 17:43 ET)
Issued
Sat May 20, 2023 at 12:30 UTC (08:30 ET)
Forecast Discussion
A boundary will approach the Southeastern U.S. today, providing another day of only isolated showers and thunderstorms across Central Florida, which will mostly favor the western half of the peninsula. On Sunday, the boundary will be in North Florida, providing ingredients for an earlier start and greater coverage of convection. Luckily, the weak flow will allow the east coast sea breeze to move inland, keeping most storms away from the Spaceport by launch time. Upper-level winds will likely push anvils from the inland storms eastward however, making anvil clouds the primary launch weather concern with a slight concern for lingering cumulus clouds in the area. On Monday, long range guidance suggests a low pressure area will form somewhere on the boundary, creating messy pattern across Central Florida with widespread convection likely. The primary launch weather concerns for a Monday evening attempt include cumulus, debris, and anvil clouds associated with the thunderstorms. The low pressure area will deepen and move towards Bermuda on Tuesday, creating strong onshore flow at the Spaceport and high winds along the ascent corridor. The primary launch weather concerns for a Tuesday attempt are Flight Through Precipitation and the Cumulus Cloud Rule associated with the onshore flow showers.
Primary Launch Date
Primary Window
Primary Concerns
- Anvil Cloud Rules
- Cumulus Cloud Rule
Additional Risk Criteria
| Criteria | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| Upper-Level Wind Shear | Low |
| Ascent Corridor Recovery | Low |
| Solar Activity | Low |
Backup Opportunities
Backup Window
Primary Concerns
- Anvil Cloud Rules
- Cumulus Cloud Rule
- Debris Cloud Rule
Additional Risk Criteria
| Criteria | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| Upper-Level Wind Shear | Low |
| Ascent Corridor Recovery | Low-Mod |
| Solar Activity | Low |
Backup Window
Primary Concerns
- Flight Through Precipitation
- Cumulus Cloud Rule
- Anvil Cloud Rules
Additional Risk Criteria
| Criteria | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| Upper-Level Wind Shear | Low |
| Ascent Corridor Recovery | Mod-High |
| Solar Activity | Low |