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From: arg@warwick.UUCP (A Ruaraidh Gillies)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Why are there launch windows?
Message-ID: <1665@ubu.warwick.UUCP>
Date: 21 Mar 89 15:32:56 GMT
References: <36700005@hcx2> <256@cbnewsl.ATT.COM> <7230@thorin.cs.unc.edu>
Sender: news@warwick.UUCP
Reply-To: arg@opal.UUCP (Ruaraidh Gillies)
Organization: Loud Shirts Wearers Anonymous, Warwick University
Lines: 27

In article <7230@thorin.cs.unc.edu> leech@zeta.UUCP (Jonathan Leech) writes:
>In article <256@cbnewsl.ATT.COM> sw@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (Stuart Warmink) writes:
>>In article <36700005@hcx2> tom@hcx2.SSD.HARRIS.COM writes:
>>>Why do earth orbit missions have launch windows?
>>Crew fatigue is certainly a factor, lying on your back for a few hours can't
>>be all that good for the crew - pretty boring at best.
>
>    On NASA SELECT yesterday morning, the commentator said that the
>launch window began when the commander was strapped into his seat.

I'd always assumed that launch windows were to give margins of error for
'mating' of orbits, especially when rendezvous-ing with another satellite.
Critical, of course, for interplanetary flight. I guess it's not so important
for just putting a few machines up there and taking pictures. Then again,
you don't want to collide with OTHER satellites, so you have to make sure you
take off within set limits.
Fatigue can't play such an important part of it. Remember - the status
postings said "Launch window extends until 10:37 EST" or similar - you aren't
going to pull the crew in *dead on* 10:37 if they're feeling OK.
Maybe some of the crew sleep before lift-off ! :-)
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