Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!lavaca.uh.edu!jetson.uh.edu!cheehh
From: cheehh@jetson.uh.edu
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Why STS-35 is being launched at night.
Message-ID: <6282.266023d3@jetson.uh.edu>
Date: 28 May 90 00:00:35 GMT
Organization: University of Houston
Lines: 22


  I was wondering why Columbia was being launched at night since the
payload is not a spy satellite bound for a 62 degree orbit to overfly
the USSR and nor is it an interplanetary probe requiring a precise
launch window available only at that particular time.  And I was going to
pose that question to the gurus of sci.space but the May 21 AW&ST gave the
answer and I though I'd post it here in case anyone else was interested.

  Apparently, the telescopes aboard Astro-1 will be at their best in
the "night" phases on the orbit.  Also, they will be unable to function
while the shuttle is in the North Atlantic Anomaly (NAA).  Hence, by
launching at that time of the night, they will get into an orbit where
most transitions through the NAA will be during the day.  Hence, they
will not have to waste valuable observation time.  Does anyone have
any comments/corrections about this?
-- 
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                .............                    |       Rikhit Arora
 And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod  |    cheehh@uhupvm1.bitnet
    The high untrespassed sanctity of space,	 |    cheehh@jane.uh.edu
  Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.  |    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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