STS-114 Launch Window/Plane

From: Jeff Umbarger (jumbarger2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Sat Jul 09 2005 - 16:57:33 EDT

  • Next message: Ted Molczan: "TJM obs of 2005 Jul 10 UTC"

    Hey All,
         Please check my reasoning: I've created a
    "Heavens-Above" bookmark/favorite for Kennedy Space
    Center - Launch Pad 39A:
    
    http://www.heavens-above.com/main.asp?lat=28.60768&lng=-80.60416&alt=0&loc=KSC+39A&TZ=EST
    
    Then I went to the above URL and clicked on the "Radio
    amateur satellites" passes. I chose this because I
    wanted to see *all* overflights of the ISS over KSC,
    not just the visible ones. 
         I've noticed that "bracketing" the launch time of
    3:51pm EDT on July 13 is that the ISS overflies KSC at
    3:11pm EDT on July 13 at 20 degrees elevation in the
    southeast and then overflies KSC at 4:46pm EDT on July
    13 at 18 degrees elevation in the northwest:
    
    http://www.heavens-above.com/amateursats.asp?lat=28.60768&lng=-80.60416&alt=0&loc=KSC+39A&TZ=EST&Date=38546.7708564816
    
         The launch time is not in the exact middle of
    bracketing times above, 3:11pm and 4:46pm. If it was,
    the shuttle would launch at 3:57:30pm EDT. It's a
    little early because the pass to the east is 2 degrees
    higher (20 degree in SE) than the pass in the west (18
    degrees in the NW). It also takes time to get to
    orbit, that is, the shuttle doesn't just start out in
    orbit. This time of launch would put the shuttle
    directly into the orbital plane of the ISS, with the
    ISS on exact backside of the earth from the shuttle at
    launch.
    
         Is this correct? If it is then there should not
    be any orbital plane maneuvers, correct?
    
    
         Regards,
             Jeff Umbarger
             Plano, TX USA
    
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