NASA Honors Spaceflight Meteorology Group for Support
of STS-121 Mission

(Standing: L to R) -- Lead Forecaster Dan Bellue, MIC Frank Brody, Lead Forecaster Karl Silverman, ASA Tammi Barreras, Lead Forecaster Tim Oram, Techniques Development Meteorologist Doris Hood and Lead Forecaster Richard Lafosse. (Sitting: L to R) -- Lead Forecaster Wayne Baggett, Techniques Development Meteorologist Brian Hoeth and Lead Forecasters Steve Sokol and Tim Garner (Photo: Courtesy Johnson Space Center)

(August 17, 2006) - NASA presented the National Weather Service Southern Region's Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG) with a group achievement award for its support of the STS-121 mission. The award recognizes the SMG team for excellent meteorological skill and judgment leading to an extremely safe launch and landing of Space Shuttle Discovery -- in spite of dynamic weather conditions.

Following two "scrub" days, where thunderstorms and anvil clouds created difficult weather issues, Discovery finally launched into a clear blue sky on July 4. Rain showers also presented complications when the shuttle landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral on July 17. Controllers note the landing risk is too great unless thunderstorms are at least 30 nautical miles away from the Shuttle's glide path. There is approximately one hour between the time a shuttle fires its retro rockets to slow descent and the actual landing. The "go" or "no go" decision has to be made before the shuttle commits.

"We knew that launching and landing in summertime in Florida would be a big challenge -- and it was," said SMG Chief Frank Brody. "Lead Forecaster Richard Lafosse and the entire team performed well and gave NASA top-gun support during difficult weather scenarios for the launch and landing of Discovery."

Under the command of Astronaut Steve Lindsey, the Discovery's crew of seven astronauts completed a highly successful 13 day mission to the International Space Station. They tested new equipment and procedures designed to increase the safety of space shuttles during future missions. They also performed maintenance on the space station and delivered supplies, equipment and a new station crew member. STS-121 is the 115th space shuttle flight, and the 32nd flight of Discovery.

NASA's next mission is STS-115, in which Space Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch in late August. Atlantis' six crew members will install a second set of solar arrays on the space station, doubling its ability to generate power from sunlight and adding 17.5 tons to its mass. Atlantis' mission will include all the safety features tested on the past two shuttle flights: improved imagery during launch, heat shield inspections in orbit and a shuttle back flip as it approaches the station. But the mainstay of Atlantis' flight will require robotics operations, three spacewalks and multiple ground-controlled checkouts.

The launch date for Space Shuttle Atlantis' 11 day mission is August 27. Of course, it all depends on the weather.