SMG and Space Program Mission, History, and Information

SMG Mission Statement The Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG) provides unique world-class weather support to the US Human Spaceflight effort by: 1) providing weather forecasts and briefings to NASA personnel; 2) providing pre and post spaceflight weather analyses and documentation; 3) advising the JSC community of adverse weather impacting the JSC complex; 4) serving as meteorological consultants to the JSC community for current and future spaceflight endeavors; 5) developing tools and techniques to enhance SMG's weather support and to improve the science of meteorology. SMG strives for quality, accuracy, timeliness, customer satisfaction, and safety.

SMG Weather Support Mission Summaries SMG pre-mission and post-mission summaries are written by the lead weather forecaster for each Space Shuttle mission. The pre-mission summary is normally published 3 to 4 weeks before a launch and will include the STS mission number, the expected launch and landing dates, the name of the orbiter, and the Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) sites that will be possible. The pre- mission summary may also include information about the crew, payloads (especially weather-sensitive payloads), any significant changes to weather Flight Rules, and use of new data or technology by SMG forecasters. The post-mission summary will briefly describe the launch/RTLS, TAL, and landing weather. It is usually available within 3 weeks after landing. Occasionally other NASA operations such as the X-38 project will also be included here as separate mission summaries. Read the latest on the next Space Shuttle Mission in our pre-mission summary Post-Mission Summary When & More Information STS-124 May/Jun 2008 STS-123 Mar 2008 STS-122 Feb 2008 STS-120 Oct/Nov 2007 STS-118 August 2007 STS-117 June 2007 STS-116 December 2006 STS-115 Sep 2006 STS-121 July 2006 STS-114 Jul/Aug 2005 STS-107 Jan/Feb 2003 STS-113 Nov/Dec 2002 STS-112 Oct 2002 STS-111 June 2002 STS-110 April 2002 STS-109 Feb/Mar 2002 STS-108 December 2001 STS-105 August 2001 STS-104 July 2001 STS-100 Apr/May 2001 STS-102 Mar 2001 STS-98 Feb 2001 STS-97 Dec. 2000 STS-92 Oct. 2000 STS-106 Sept. 2000 STS-101 May 2000 STS-99 Feb. 2000 STS-103 Dec. 1999 STS-93 July 1999 STS-96 May/Jun 1999 STS-88 Dec. 1998 STS-95 Oct./Nov. 1998 STS-91 June 1998 STS-90 Apr./May 1998 STS-89 Jan. 1998 STS-87 Nov./Dec. 1997 STS-86 Sep./Oct. 1997 STS-85 Aug. 1997 STS-94 July 1997 STS-84 May 1997 STS-83 Apr. 1997 STS-82 Feb. 1997 STS-81 Jan. 1997 STS-80 Nov./Dec. 1996 STS-79 Sep. 1996 Return to top of page

SMG History The National Weather Service (known as the Weather Bureau before 1970), has provided direct weather support to NASA for the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and other programs. When the Manned Space Center opened in Houston in 1962, a contingent of the Weather Bureau also came to Houston to provide spacecraft recovery weather support. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Spaceflight Meteorology "Branch" (SMB) of the Weather Bureau consisted of offices at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Cape Canaveral, Florida, and at Weather Bureau offices in Miami, Honolulu, and Washington DC. In the late 1970s, NASA allowed each center to select their weather support structures. At that time, KSC opted to use the USAF for weather support. JSC opted to retain the National Weather Service for weather support services. Read about weather support for: Mercury Gemini Apollo Space Shuttle See above