| 45th Weather Squadron | |
|---|---|
45th Weather Squadron Patch |
|
| Active | 1991--present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air Force Weather Agency |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Weather Surveilance |
| Part of | 45th Space Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Patrick Air Force Base, Florida |
45th Weather Squadron (45 WS), 45th Operations Group (45 OG), 45th Space Wing, at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida performs weather assessments for air and space operations; specifically, weather observations, forecasts, advisories and warnings. It specializes in the weather assessments for the Space Shuttle launches at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[1][2]
The 45 WS provides comprehensive weather data and specialized services for USAF and NASA personnel and flight safety, resource protection (i.e. ground building and equipment), pre-launch ground processing, day-of-launch for Shuttle and other rockets, post-launch, aviation and special operations. These services are provided for more than 30 to 40 space launch countdowns per year for the Department of Defense(DOD), NASA, USAF, and commercial launch customers.[3]
Contents |
"Exploit the Weather to Assure Access to Air and Space"[4]
Detachment 11 of the 2nd Weather Squadron became the 45th Weather Squadron under the 45th Operations Group when the 45th Space Wing was activated in November 1991. Under either designation, the unit monitored the collection and analysis of all weather data pertinent to Patrick AFB, Cape Canaveral AFS, and Kennedy Space Center operations. The weathermen provided briefings and forecasts, updated planning and program documents and evaluated new weather instrumentation for possible use on the Eastern Range. In December 2005, 45 WS had 7 officers, 18 enlisted people and 9 civilians.[5]
45 WS provides weather data to NASA's Lightning Launch Commit Criteria for Shuttle countdown procedures. For Shuttle landing criteria and site selection determination, the Shuttle’s in-flight weather support, including landing forecasts, is provided by the National Weather Service’s Spaceflight Meteorology Group at Johnson Space Center, Texas, in joint with the 45th Weather Squadron. The 45th’s area of operation encompasses over 15,000,000 square miles (39,000,000 km2) of air, land and sea that make up NASA's and the USAF's east coast flight range. The 45 SW provides data and decision criteria when a Shuttle has to be ferried back to KSC from Edwards Air Force Base, California. This is were the Orbiter is mated on top of a modified Boeing 747, known as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for the return flight to KSC. Edwards AFB' desert landing runway is the primary backup site for returning Orbiters when the weather is severe at KSC.[1]
Lightning at Kennedy Space Center is a major hazard for space flight. 45WS hopes to implement plan with a specific guideline for determining how long a lightning warning should be maintained after a particular discharge is observed prior to any space launches. The plan will include a joint research project with Florida State University and will be using KSC's Lightning Detection and Ranging (LDAR) network. The LDAR data collection will permit the study of intracloud and cloud-to-ground discharges within isolated thunderstorms over the KSC.[6]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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