[TriLUG] OT -- NASA Shuttle Launch Today

[Neil L. Little]

There are several reasons for the 2 day period. (During Gemini missions 
the did it in one day) One, the craft has to catch up with the ISS. 
There is also a limit to fuel (Soyuz and Progress take 3 days). There is 
Space Adaptation Syndrome. Not all astronauts get it but its best to get 
over that period before docking as time on ISS is packed. The next 
reason is there are a lot of things to be done on the shuttle. Equipment 
to be configured and such. There is also the TPS inspection routine that 
takes a whole day. So you see 2 days is a good amount of time to get 
there for a reason.

73,
Neil, WA4AZL

Brian Daniels wrote:
> On 07/08/2011 12:40 PM, Joseph Mack NA3T wrote:
>> On Fri, 8 Jul 2011, William Chandler wrote:
>>
>>> Just a friendly reminder that the Shuttle launch is today at 11:25am.
>>
>> Thanks, watching it on the internet is better than being there.
>>
>> Anyone know why it takes 2days for the shuttle to reach the ISS? Why
>> can't they launch the shuttle to arrive right at the ISS?
>>
>> Joe
>>
> The ISS orbits in a plane that is not optimal for launches from 
> Kennedy to reach, but is instead a compromise to allow Soyuz launches 
> from Baikonur. It takes time for the small OMS thrusters on the 
> Shuttle to make the needed changes to the orbit.
>
> --Brian
>