Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!pyrdc!netxcom!hadron!klr
From: klr@hadron.UUCP (Kurt L. Reisler)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Shuttle *Launch*
Keywords: shuttle launch
Message-ID: <787@hadron.UUCP>
Date: 6 Oct 88 04:54:45 GMT
References: <1055@orion.cf.uci.edu>
Reply-To: klr@hadron.UUCP (Kurt L. Reisler)
Distribution: na
Organization: Hadron, Inc., Fairfax, VA
Lines: 14

In article <1055@orion.cf.uci.edu> dkrause@orion.cf.uci.edu (Doug Krause) writes:
>Okay, I have question.  Everybody's saying "that was a great launch"
>and "wasn't that launch beautiful" and "there goes another perfect
>launch".  Just what is the launch?  I imagine it starts at T0 (or
>T+0.0000001) but when does it end?  My roommate says when they reach
>orbit, I have no idea.  Any takers?

In my personal view, the launch was successful (and I was able to resume
"normal" breathing, at MECO (main engine cut off).  That that point they
are in space, although it still takes the OMS burn to complete orbital
transition.  

Although I am sure there is a "correct" answer (and I would love to hear
it), this is my opinion.