Weather Factors Affecting Rocket Operations: A Review and Case History

Abstract

Many of the techniques employed for rocket meteorology-"rock-etcasting"-have been adapted from aviation. However, the unique characteristics and requirements of rocketry demand special meteorological procedures and instrumentation, which are only recently becoming satisfactorily defined. The influence of weather parameters on operational rocketry is examined, with special emphasis on the Tanegashima Space Center , Japan. It is concluded that the fundamental requirement for efficient launch operations is a highly sophisticated nowcasting facility, backed by an effective research and development program. On 13 August 1986, the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) launched from the Osaki rocket range in Tane-gashima three payloads on the inaugural flight of the H-1 launch vehicle. The launch weather was expected to be fine at the range. In the event, a thunderstorm commenced close to the launch area during the last few seconds before launch, which nevertheless proceeded successfully. This incident highlights the uncertainties of rocket operations, particularly in the critical area of the provision of reliable weather information and forecasts. The synoptic conditions at the time of the 13 August launch incident are examined, and a qualitative forecast checklist is suggested to assist in forecasting similar summertime early-morning maritime storms in the future.

Broadening Traditional Aviation Meteorology Education to Support Spaceflight Operations

“…Kingwell, Shimizu, Narita, Kawabata, and Shimizu (1991) provided an excellent and comprehensive review of the potential meteorological impacts to rocket operations. In their paper, they discussed four broad categories of weather impacts: lightning, wind, turbulence (vertical wind profiles), temperature and humidity.…”

“…Next, since traditional lightning impacts both space-launch operations as well was traditional operations, we focus instead on triggered lightning and triboelectrification. In addition, similar to Kingwell et al (1991) we also include vertical wind profile analysis. Lastly, we include a discussion of space-weather impacts on operations.…”

“…Likewise, there may be other wind constraints associated with returning reusable space-launch vehicles. In addition to landing, forecasters must also properly forecast near-surface winds to ensure the potentially toxic plumes created during the burning of solid rocket fuel do not violate air quality standards downwind (Kingwell et al, 1991). So, while winds affect both traditional aviation and space-launch operations, the unique sensitivities for space-launch operations requires support meteorologists to be acutely aware of acceptable observed and forecasted wind conditions over a much narrower window of thresholds.…”

“…Low visibility and ceilings often prevent launches because they could obscure the view of the vehicle from ground controllers (Kingwell et al, 1991). This would make it difficult for launch personnel to terminate the launch in a timely manner in the advent of a failed system (Support Systems, 2006).…”

“…During the flight phase, the sensitivities increase. Ice particles, for example, can seriously erode space vehicles during the reentry phase due to their high-speed impacts when compared to traditional aircraft (Kingwell et al, 1991). As another example, masses of high-altitude, mesospheric ice particles, known as noctilucent clouds, were considered a threat to the tiles on the Space Shuttle (Couvault, 1988;Kingwell et al, 1991).…”