After scrubbed attempt: How does weather impact space missions?

A mission to Jupiter successfully launched on Friday after lightning forced a postponement. Our weather plays a large role in determining which launches can go ahead.

The severity of what weather can cancel a launch depends on the launch vehicle. For SpaceX’s Falcon-9 there are 12 conditions that need to be met while Lockheed Martin’s Atlas-V sees 11.

Many of these are similar, just with slightly changed specifics. For example, Falcon-9 cannot be launched with sustained winds of 34.5 mph while Atlas-V can handle 37.9 mph.

Seven criteria relate to varying types of clouds, such as the need to avoid cumulus clouds with freezing tops, thunderstorm anvils, and lightning-producing storm clouds.

Thin clouds can be passed with ease, but guidance prevents a launch through clouds with a thickness greater than 4,500 feet.

Although lightning rods are typically installed at launch pads, rockets themselves are susceptible to strikes once airborne.

Some launches see rocket-boosters landing back on Earth aboard ocean-bound platforms meaning a need for still waters is also a must.

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission, known as JUICE, is a planned mission to observe Jupiter and its three moons.

The three moons, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa, feature underground oceans. The largest moon, Ganymede, holds more water in its ocean than all the water on Earth combined.

Nearby lightning scuppered the initially planned launch on Thursday, April 13th. The spacecraft which will orbit Jupiter launched a day later from the Guiana Space Centre in South America.