Falcon 9
NASA has identified the Falcon 9 vehicle not be launched under the following conditions. Some can be overridden if additional requirements are met.
- sustained wind at the 162 feet (49 m) foot level of the launch pad in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
- upper-level conditions containing wind shear that could lead to control problems for the launch vehicle.
- launch through a cloud layer greater than 4,500 feet (1,400 m) thick that extends into freezing temperatures
- launch within 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) of cumulus clouds with tops that extend into freezing temperatures,
- within 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) of the edge of a thunderstorm that is producing lightning within 30 minutes after the last lightning is observed.
- within 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) of an attached thunderstorm anvil cloud
- within 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) of disturbed weather clouds that extend into freezing temperatures
- within 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) nautical miles of a thunderstorm debris cloud,
- through cumulus clouds formed as the result of or directly attached to a smoke plume,
The following should delay launch:
- delay launch for 15 minutes if field mill instrument readings within 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) of the launch pad exceed +/- 1,500 volts per meter, or +/- 1,000 volts per meter
- delay launch for 30 minutes after lightning is observed within 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) of the launch pad or the flight path
Read more about this topic: Space Shuttle Launch Commit Criteria
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