Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!convex!killer!ames!scubed!nobody
From: nobody@scubed.UUCP (anonymous NFS user)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Built-in delays & 51-L meaning
Keywords: countdown delays, mission designations
Message-ID: <852@scubed.UUCP>
Date: 30 Sep 88 18:07:31 GMT
Reply-To: rankin@scubed.arpa (Tom Rankin)
Organization: S-CUBED (San Diego)
Lines: 23

Well, I recall seeing the question asked awhile back, but I don't
recall any explanations.  I tried a pattern search on "delay" on read
articles but didn't find any.  Apologies if I simply missed the
answer.  Anyhoo, I'll try posing the question again in the hope of a
knowledgable response.

What is the purpose of built-in delays in the countdown?  On the
surface, it seems to make the "countdown" kind of a silly formality.
Understood, we wouldn't want to deprive everyone of the chanting
ritual and all.  There are, no doubt, milestones along the timeline
and systems coordination considerations, but still it seems
realistic to think that they (NASA) could simply say, "...OK, any
objections?...everybody ready?...3-2-1 GO!!!"

Next question.  Can someone explain the significance of the mission
designation numbers?  By now, the Challenger flight is engrained in
all our memories as mission "51-L" and "STS-26" (26?...well, so much
for engrained).  I know that "STS" stands for "Space Transportation
System" or some such and that "26" designates the count of missions,
but what do "51" and "L" stand for?

Henry Spencer are you out there?  See what happens when you're so
knowledgable?