A new Doppler weather radar dome is being built in an area in Orange County Florida.

A new Doppler weather radar dome is being built in an area near S.R. 520 in Orange County, Florida. The new tower will replace one at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. The site will be used by NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the 45th Space Wing and their customers. The tower will be able to monitor weather conditions directly above the launch pads at Kennedy. The weather radar is essential in issuing lightning and other severe weather warnings and vital in evaluating lightning launch commit criteria. The new radar, replacing what was installed 25 years ago, includes Doppler capability to detect winds and identify the type, size and number of precipitation particles. The site is ideally distant from the launch pads and has unobstructed views of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett