Question: Why do the Delta IV GPS launches head east towards a 41 degree inc. orbit and then increase back to the required 55 deg. orbit, instead of launching northeast directly towards a 55 deg. orbit (as Atlas V GPS launches do)? The 1st stage shouldn't travel far enough to hit Europe when launching NE...
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/21/2014 03:56 pmQuestion: Why do the Delta IV GPS launches head east towards a 41 degree inc. orbit and then increase back to the required 55 deg. orbit, instead of launching northeast directly towards a 55 deg. orbit (as Atlas V GPS launches do)? The 1st stage shouldn't travel far enough to hit Europe when launching NE...There is no land mass to over fly during any portion of power flight.
Hmm....the satellite has still yet to be set to usable.