Blue Origin is gearing up for a historic spaceflight as it prepares to launch an all-woman crew aboard its New Shepard rocket on Monday. The company has scheduled the NS-31 mission to lift off from its Launch Site One in Van Horn, Texas. A live stream of the event will be available on the official Blue Origin website. Allowing viewers around the world to witness this landmark moment.
This mission marks New Shepard’s 11th human spaceflight, carrying a star-studded lineup of passengers. Including Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn, Gayle King, pop star Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez. The scheduled launch time is 9:30 AM EDT, though weather conditions and technical factors could lead to delays.
Weather Forecast for NS-31 Launch Day in Van Horn, Texas
Here’s what the latest weather reports from AccuWeather predict for Monday’s launch:
- Temperature: Expected to range between 70°F and 80°F at the time of launch. The forecast suggests it will be mostly cloudy, warm, and breezy by the afternoon.
- Cloud Cover: Cloud coverage is projected to be around 89%. While some cloud cover is manageable, heavy, thick clouds could pose a problem, as seen during the NS-29 launch delay earlier this year.
- Precipitation: There’s almost no chance of rain, ensuring dry conditions for liftoff.
- Wind: Winds are forecasted to be light, around 17 mph (NNE) — comfortably within safe launch parameters. While gusts over 44 mph could trigger safety concerns, current models indicate steady, calm conditions.
- Visibility: Visibility is expected to remain clear, with no significant fog or haze, providing excellent conditions for both ground teams and spectators.
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Potential Risk Factors to Watch
Although the weather looks mostly favorable, there are a few elements that Blue Origin will closely monitor:
- Cloud Cover: While scattered clouds are typically not a major issue, thick cloud layers could delay the launch, similar to what happened with NS-29 in January.
- Wind Shear: Upper-level winds can be tricky for suborbital flights. Thankfully, no severe weather systems are currently forecasted for West Texas on launch day.
- Launch Window Flexibility: Blue Origin has a flexible launch window, allowing minor adjustments in case of weather-related concerns or technical checks.
As anticipation builds, all eyes are on the skies of West Texas for what promises to be a groundbreaking and inspiring mission. Blue Origin will keep viewers updated on any schedule changes as liftoff approaches.
