Both Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg have weather stations where balloons are released. As the balloons rise through the atmosphere, instruments onboard measure wind speed, direction, atmospheric temperature, pressure, and other data. The balloons gradually expand in the thinning atmosphere and typically burst at about 100,000 feet. The weather balloon data is used to create a steering profile that minimizes structural loads on the rocket while maintaining controllability as it flies through the atmosphere.

The short video below explains winds and other weather-related analysis.

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