In In an area in Orange County Florida a crane is used to position a radome on concrete blocks.

In In an area near S.R. 520 in Orange County, Florida, a crane is used to position a radome on concrete blocks. The radome will be lifted onto a steel tower constructed for a Doppler weather radar for the 45th Weather Squadron. The new site replaces one at Patrick Air Force Base and will be used by NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing and their customers. The facility will be able to monitor weather conditions directly above and surrounding 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. Replacing what was installed 25 years ago at Patrick Air Force Base, the new radar 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. The radar will be used by forecasters at the USAF 45th Weather Squadron. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann