Clouds Will Decide on Ares 1-X Launch Time

Can anyone elaborate on why this isn't a concern on STS, other than "shuttle was designed for this"?

@bassplayinben:

The article cites the need to mitigate a sudden loss of data flow to and from the vehicle. Since this will be an unmanned flight, the controllers need to ensure that a good command path exists between the vehicle and the controllers. Also, this could point to a lack of redundancy in Ares that exists in the shuttle. Since Ares is working with less fire power, it has a degraded lift capability when compared to two SRBs and three SSMEs on the shuttle stack. Redundancy = weight. Also, this is a test article; it doesn't have everything built into it the real vehicle would (if it actually gets built).

All of this is just an educated guess, of course...

They probably don't want anything to spoil the view.

If this is the only Ares to ever launch then getting everything right becomes that much more important.

Ive explained how I feel on " launch window" concerning this launch on a previous post.. HELLO ITS ONLY GOING UP 40 k (24 miles)! that's not even suborbital which is 96.5 k ( 60 miles). so why would they have to wait.. I understand shuttles having to wait for a new window orbital positioning and where they put satellites and rendezvous with ISS..Whats the point of a launch window other than weather it really doesn't matter when it goes up does it? People say they need to get permission...From who? its gonna be the quickest flight in recent NASA history. Lets light this candle and quit making excuses.

Fred: you clearly do not understand the electrical issues that confront this rocket as it flies through clouds - nor do you seem to understand that NASA wants to be able to visually track and record imagery of the flight. The weather most certainly does mater and that is the prime constraint right now. There are also other rockets that are in line to launch and the range needs to schedule these launches in a logical, safe fashion.

I explained other than weather, and I quote "Whats the point of a launch window other than weather it really doesn't matter when it goes up does it?" weather I completely understand..

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html

There's your schedule.. Why would they have to wait so long like months? When the weather clears you launch I was speaking in respect to the so called " launch window" not in respect to weather .. I live in Florida and I do understand . I have seen almost every shuttle launch and proud to say so..

@Fred Sanford:

That schedule you're linking to is not complete. A better schedule is here:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

There's an Atlas V launch on Nov. 14, STS-129 on Nov. 16, a Delta IV on Nov. 18/19, and Falcon 9 is scheduled for Nov. 29. The Eastern Range is going to be pretty busy in November. Only one launch can be managed at a time, and I think they need at least a day to get the range set up for the next launch. The range has to be kept clear of unauthorized aircraft and watercraft. Having a specific launch window seems necessary for managing the restricted areas. You also need a window to make sure all the assets required for a launch are scheduled and available.

A lot of scheduling and coordination is necessary for a launch. It wouldn't be safe to just launch whenever. I don't know why the window is limited to 4 hours, though. Falcon 9 also has a 4 hour window, so there might be some rule limiting windows to 4 hours, maybe to have adequate time to prepare the range and to stand down on either side of the launch window.

Further to Keith's reply, as Ares-I-X is a test rocket, optical tracking is as important as good telemetry. You will notice that Ares-I-X's hull is covered with bold black markings. This is to assist image analysts to extract data about how the rocket is performing during different aspects of the flight from video and still images. At the very least, I imagine they will be using optical tracking to determine the effectiveness of the TVC system and to double-check the trajectory.

Fred,

Obviously you don't understand launch ops.
The launch window exists for
a. Crew fatigue
b. Avionics over heating
c. range coordination and scheduling.

C involves making sure the sea and airspace stay clear, the range assets are working and available (also another crew fatigue constraint).

Also, yes, NASA does need to get permission to launch from the range.

OK listen ,that schedule is for the whole world I'm talking about Florida unless some how a launch in russia or Kourou, French Guiana will adversely affect a launch in Florida.:| I do understand..I understand constraints with weather.. I understand it cant be cloudy. I understand they have to clear the airspace. I UNDERSTAND they have to do it in the daytime I UNDERSTAND geezz..All this being moot considering the rescheduled today. Wow look at that only 24 hrs.. not next month.. I guess someone at NASA thinks the way I do. By crew fatigue you must mean the flight crew in mission control.Lamont and I will work tirelessly to provide NASA with used SRB motor parts. Ty for your replies.