Book 8, Question 87
Why Do Launches Pause for Weather Sometimes?
Launches pause for weather because lightning, strong winds, and clouds can endanger rockets and crews! Range safety teams wait for safer skies. Spaceflight still respects Earth's weather.
More fun facts
- Heavy rain, strong winds, very high or low temperatures and other extreme weather can all stop a launch.
- In August 2025, a crewed launch was called off one minute before liftoff because of clouds and a small thunderstorm nearby.
- One rule says do not launch if the flight path passes within 5 nautical miles of certain rain clouds that reach into freezing air.
- For NASA's Artemis II Moon rocket, liftoff was not allowed if peak winds were too strong, around 29 to 39 knots depending on height.
- At Florida's launch sites, a military weather team called the 45th Weather Squadron forecasts the weather for launches.
Questions kids ask
Can a rocket launch in the rain?
Sometimes, but heavy rain, storms and certain clouds can force a delay.