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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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