Space Shuttle Landing Weather Criteria
Simplified Daylight End-of-Mission (EOM) Landing at the Kennedy Space Center
Weather Parameter and Their Limits
| Cloud ceiling height | >= 8,000 ft |
Visibility | >= 5 statute miles |
Crosswind | <= 15 knots |
Headwind | <= 25 knots |
Tailwind | <= 15 knots (peak)
<= 10 knots (2 minute average) |
Precipitation and thunderstorms | Not allowed within 30 nautical miles
of the landing runway. |
Turbulence | <= Moderate |
Additional Requirements
1. No detached non-transparent thunderstorm anvil clouds (less than 3 hours old) within 20 nautical miles of the
landing runway.
2. Peak winds may not exceed the average wind speed by more than 10 knots.
Notes: These guidelines are for a daytime landing at the Kennedy Space Center end-of-mission
landing. Shuttle weather flight rules will vary upon landing site, day or night, runway conditions,
mission duration, runway equipment, and landing type (e.g., abort or end-of-mission).
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www.nws.noaa.gov 
