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The Space Shuttle's ascent trajectory was calculated on the day of launch based on measured winds to avoid structural load exceedances. The winds continued to be measured until shortly before launch in order to run simulations that continued to check for load exceedances.

How were the winds measured?

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  • $\begingroup$ I was just thinking "is OrganicMarble" really asking actually a question. Ha ha. Thanks for clarifying all of this for us peons :D $\endgroup$
    – user39728
    May 24, 2021 at 3:03

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The winds were measured by balloon. Two types were commonly used and a third was being introduced towards the end of the program.

The Jimsphere, named after its inventor James Scoggins,

is a two meter Radar reflective sphere with 396 cones on the surface to stabilize the balloon during ascent. This balloon is tracked by one to two Radars near the Cape. 1 The balloon takes about 65 minutes to rise to altitude with wind data reported in 100 ft intervals. Pressure relief valves on the balloon allow it to equalize pressure and maintain a constant volume and therefore a constant rise rate of about 1000 feet per second.

(as noted by Bret Copeland in a comment the actual rise rate is ~ 1000 feet per minute)

1 the same C-band radars used to track the shuttle stack during ascent

enter image description here

The Jimsphere was to be replaced by

The Automated Meteorological Profiling System (AMPS) High-Resolution balloon system measures wind speed and direction up to about 56,000 ft. Meant to replace the aging Jimsphere system, it is similar in most aspects. This balloon is not Radar tracked, rather, it has a small Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled flight element to obtain wind components. The additional weight of the flight element is responsible for the slight decrease in average altitude.

It looks like a Jimsphere with an instrument package dangling from it.

Other required atmospheric properties and high-altitude winds were measured by Low Resolution Flight Elements:

The AMPS Low-Resolution balloon system is used to measure thermodynamic data as well as wind data. Temperature, humidity, density, wind speed, and wind direction are reported for Space Shuttle use at 1000 ft intervals. This balloon system utilizes a two meter latex balloon with a GPS enabled flight element hanging 70 ft below. The Low-Resolution balloon system rises to about 100,000 ft in about 100 minutes.

It looks like a standard weather balloon. This photo shows its high-tech launching system.

enter image description here

(Personal photo)

A radar Doppler Wind Profiler was being tested at Kennedy Space Center but was not certified for use, at least when I left the job.

The 50 MHz Doppler Radar Wind Profiler (DRWP) is a ground Radar placed on a five acre octagon shaped field located near the launch site. Wind data is derived using Radar reflections from background particulates in the atmosphere and is measured in 476 ft (145 meter) intervals from 8,700 ft to 61,000 ft (2.67 to 18.6 kilometers). The entire wind profile is measured every five minutes. Supplementary, 9.15 MHz Doppler Radar Wind Profilers can be utilized to measure the wind every fifteen minutes from the surface to about 6,500 ft.

enter image description here

(Personal photo of the DRWP at Vandenberg)

And remember kids, be careful out there.

enter image description here

(Personal photo)

Sources

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  • $\begingroup$ "May contain a flammable gas." So the Shuttle was supported by Hindenberg-era technology? ;^O $\endgroup$
    – DrSheldon
    May 26, 2021 at 3:22
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    $\begingroup$ Afaik it was helium. I guess it was a generic tag, or they were out of MAY MAKE YOUR VOICE SQUEAKY IF BREATHED $\endgroup$ May 26, 2021 at 3:25
  • $\begingroup$ "a constant rise rate of about 1000 feet per second", I'm assuming that's a typo since that's Mach 0.89 (at sea level)! 1000 feet per minute maybe? That would match the other balloon's claim of "rises to about 100,000 ft in about 100 minutes." $\endgroup$ May 27, 2021 at 11:27
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    $\begingroup$ @BretCopeland You're right! Good eye. Confirmed the error is in the original paper i.imgur.com/UIE1iJR.png $\endgroup$ May 27, 2021 at 12:05

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