The 45th Weather Squadron (45 WS), based at Patrick Space Force Base in Florida, is a U.S. Air Force unit that provides comprehensive weather data and specialized weather services for space operations. Their crucial role involves assessing weather conditions around Cape Canaveral, especially regarding lightning and wind, to determine whether launches are safe for NASA, the Space Force, and commercial partners. They deliver weather observations, forecasts, advisories, and warnings, ensuring the safety of personnel, resources, and equipment, and also provide long-term weather predictions to aid in scheduling launch windows. The 45 WS supports over 30 space launch countdowns per year.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The 45th Weather Squadron predicted an 80% chance of favorable weather conditions for the SLS Artemis II launch on April 1, 2026.
There is a 90% chance of 'go for launch' for the SpaceX and ULA launches, according to the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron.
The 45th Weather Squadron is forecasting a 90% to 85% chance of acceptable launch weather for the 2024-05-28 launch with the cumulus cloud rule identified as the only concern.
The 45th Weather Squadron forecast that a boundary will clear to the north, taking most mid-level moisture with it and producing excellent weather for the Thursday launch window.
The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron estimated an 80% chance of 'go for launch' weather for the backup 2024-01-20 opportunity.
The U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron projected an 80% chance of acceptable weather for launch on 2021-04-22 and a 90% chance of acceptable weather if the launch is delayed one day.