After five delays, NASA's space shuttle Endeavour lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida yesterday evening.
The first two delays were due to fuel leaks, while delays this past Saturday, Sunday and again Monday were because of lightning strikes and bad weather,
When there is a scrub... for whatever reason... it is costly. The cost of each scrub costs varies... but usually costs between 1 and 1.3 million dollars.
With weather such an important factor in takeoff and flight... I found out some of the guidelines that have to be met in order for a space shuttle to take off.
Temperature:
At launch it can’t be greater than 99. Also… it can’t be equal to or lower than 35.
Surface wind speed:
The peak wind at launch level can’t be any great than 24 to 30 kts… depending on the wind direction.
NO precipitation can be falling at the launch site or in the shuttle path toward space.
Lightning can not be occurring within 10 miles of the launch site or launch path. Launch may not occur until 30 minutes has elapsed since the lightning flash within 10 miles... or the entire cloud has moved more than 10 nautical miles away.
There are also very complex rules for clouds and visibility as well.
All of these rules are in place to protect the astronauts and the shuttle from unsafe flying conditions.
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