Author Topic: Launch window for STS-120 (Read 9643 times)

gfagley · « **on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

How long is the launch window for STS-120 (23rd until when)?
just trying too plan to go see my first launch, so I'm trying to figure out how long of a vacation I may be taking.

Jim · « **Reply #1 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

10 min

launch period is another thing.

It is too early to tell. There may be schedule implications from the tile damage

psloss · « **Reply #2 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

I think he means the period (i.e., are there any beta angle cutouts in the near term?)...if that's the case, haven't seen recent documentation (maybe Jim knows) about when those would be...there was one in early/mid December, but again that was from something on L2 earlier in the year...

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #3 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Beta cutout is Dec. 13 to 30.

gfagley · « **Reply #4 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

the launch period was what I was looking for..
I was planning to get down there before Oct 20th but now it looks like the 23rd so I'll delay driving down there until then. I just want to let them know at work that I may not be back until what time in November.
I can find the launch dates but no period dates.

dsmillman · « **Reply #5 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Don't make any plans yet. See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/delay081407.xml&headline=NASA%20May%20Delay%20Next%20Shuttle%20Flight%20&channel=space

William Graham · « **Reply #6 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

Ben - 14/8/2007 6:57 PM

Beta cutout is Dec. 13 to 30.

If that's to do with the Yearo, I think they eliminated that after STS-116.

psloss · « **Reply #7 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

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GW_Simulations - 14/8/2007 5:28 PM

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Ben - 14/8/2007 6:57 PM

Beta cutout is Dec. 13 to 30.

If that's to do with the Yearo, I think they eliminated that after STS-116.

Nope, just asked on the Q & A thread...I'll double post the link to one of Jorge's posts:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6215&posts=6#M103920

gfagley · « **Reply #8 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

thanks for all the info!!!
I was planing to give my self a two-three week window to see the launch.
Plan was to drive down to VA (sisters house) from MA, hang out there until just before the launch and then make the final drive down to FL.
spend the needed time there (waiting for the launch) then drive back to VA to spend out my remaining vacation, then drive home.
(no scheduling flights, keeping driving times to 12 hours or so)
I was down there for a landing once but this is my first change to see a launch.

psloss · « **Reply #9 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

FYI, Bill Harwood has posted daily launch windows for late October into November for ISS rendezvous:
http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/currentglance.html#WINDOWS

AstroRJY · « **Reply #10 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

I've read today that the launch time for October 23 is 11:38:01 a.m. Does anyone have any links to the chart showing all the launch TIMES on the different days of the windows? Usually SFN has one but it's not posted there yet. I'm glad we're back to morninh launches after the last 3 being all in the evening.

...Never mind... just saw the link to Harwood's launch windows chart right above my post. No delete button.

dsmillman · « **Reply #11 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

The current launch windows are given on Bill Harwood's site at:

http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/currentglance.html#WINDOWS

DaveS · « **Reply #12 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

AstroRJY - 7/9/2007 4:52 PM

I've read today that the launch time for October 23 is 11:38:01 a.m. Does anyone have any links to the chart showing all the launch TIMES on the different days of the windows? Usually SFN has one but it's not posted there yet. I'm glad we're back to morninh launches after the last 3 being all in the evening.

Check psloss' link above. It lists all window opening, in-plane and window closing times for the entire launch period.

shuttlefan · « **Reply #13 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

AstroRJY - 7/9/2007 9:52 AM

I've read today that the launch time for October 23 is 11:38:01 a.m. Does anyone have any links to the chart showing all the launch TIMES on the different days of the windows? Usually SFN has one but it's not posted there yet. I'm glad we're back to morninh launches after the last 3 being all in the evening.

...Never mind... just saw the link to Harwood's launch windows chart right above my post. No delete button.

That's the same time 51-L launched.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #14 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

AstroRJY - 7/9/2007 9:52 AM

I've read today that the launch time for October 23 is 11:38:01 a.m. Does anyone have any links to the chart showing all the launch TIMES on the different days of the windows? Usually SFN has one but it's not posted there yet. I'm glad we're back to morninh launches after the last 3 being all in the evening.

...Never mind... just saw the link to Harwood's launch windows chart right above my post. No delete button.

Launch times slip about 23 minutes with each passing day.

AstroRJY · « **Reply #15 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Thanks, IO did see all the times in Harwood's chart, yes it gets 22-26 minutes earleir each day. And yes apparently there IS a chart of the windows also posted on SFN too. Also, if you want your post deleted, click the alert button and tell the moderators, it will be taken care of. That cover eveyrthing?

Also yes 51-L launched at 11:38 a.m. but then STS-26 launched at 11:37 am!! Couldn't possibly have planned that ( STS-26 originally was going to be 9:59 am) And incredibly, as you said, STS-107 launched at 10:39 a.m. and STS-114 amazingly launched at the same moment 2-1/2 years alter, the first flight following that tragedy. Really amazing how these little coincidences just happen to work out this way.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #16 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

AstroRJY - 7/9/2007 2:28 PM

Thanks, IO did see all the times in Harwood's chart, yes it gets 22-26 minutes earleir each day. And yes apparently there IS a chart of the windows also posted on SFN too. Also, if you want your post deleted, click the alert button and tell the moderators, it will be taken care of. That cover eveyrthing?

Also yes 51-L launched at 11:38 a.m. but then STS-26 launched at 11:37 am!! Couldn't possibly have planned that ( STS-26 originally was going to be 9:59 am) And incredibly, as you said, STS-107 launched at 10:39 a.m. and STS-114 amazingly launched at the same moment 2-1/2 years alter, the first flight following that tragedy. Really amazing how these little coincidences just happen to work out this way.

Way OT, but thought it was interesting. The RTF flights were basically one mission split into two separate parts. STS-114, the first of the flights, launched at 10:39 am ET, same as Columbia. STS-121, the second of the flights, landed at 9:15 am ET, just one minute shy of Columbia's landing time of 9:16 am ET. Odd, eh?

psloss · « **Reply #17 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

dsl - 7/9/2007 7:16 PM

51L and 107 launched during daylight saving time. 26R and 114 did not.

I think superstition is in the eye of the beholder. Who uses UTC, anyway?

DaveS · « **Reply #18 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

dsl - 8/9/2007 1:16 AM
51L and 107 launched during daylight saving time. 26R and 114 did not.

Nope. January is standard time. September and July is DST.

Avron · « **Reply #19 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

nathan.moeller - 7/9/2007 12:11 PM

Quote
AstroRJY - 7/9/2007 9:52 AM

I've read today that the launch time for October 23 is 11:38:01 a.m. Does anyone have any links to the chart showing all the launch TIMES on the different days of the windows? Usually SFN has one but it's not posted there yet. I'm glad we're back to morninh launches after the last 3 being all in the evening.

...Never mind... just saw the link to Harwood's launch windows chart right above my post. No delete button.

Launch times slip about 23 minutes with each passing day.

is that not advance 23 mins a day?

oops.. missed the post above.. my bad

AstroRJY · « **Reply #20 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Quote

dsl - 7/9/2007 7:16 PM

51L and 107 launched during daylight saving time. 26R and 114 did not.

You've got that backwards...51-L and STS-107 were in January on Eastern Standard Time..Daylight Savings Time is the spring and summer. (April-October or now, November) which was the case for 9/29/88 and 7/26/05..wither way it doesn't make a difference.

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #21 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

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Avron - 7/9/2007 6:46 PM

Quote
nathan.moeller - 7/9/2007 12:11 PM

Quote
AstroRJY - 7/9/2007 9:52 AM

I've read today that the launch time for October 23 is 11:38:01 a.m. Does anyone have any links to the chart showing all the launch TIMES on the different days of the windows? Usually SFN has one but it's not posted there yet. I'm glad we're back to morninh launches after the last 3 being all in the evening.

...Never mind... just saw the link to Harwood's launch windows chart right above my post. No delete button.

Launch times slip about 23 minutes with each passing day.

is that not advance 23 mins a day?

oops.. missed the post above.. my bad

Just to clarify - I mean they occur 23 minutes earlier with each passing day. So, a 12:00 pm launch window on one day would be an 11:37 am launch window the next (approximately, of course). It's not exact, but it's a close estimate.

culp1961 · « **Reply #22 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Hello

What happened to the Oct 20th launch. That was perfect for our trip to Disney. Any chance that the date could jump back to the 20th?
Bill

dsmillman · « **Reply #23 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

The Soyuz carrying the Expedition 15 crew does not undock until Oct. 21. So it was decided not to launch STS-120 until Oct. 23. Given the processing delays in STS-120, I doubt if it could have launched much before Oct. 23.

culp1961 · « **Reply #24 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

Thanks for the quick reply. I was at KSC in the mid 80s when a shuttle fired for a few seconds. I was hoping this was going to be my chance to see one again. We might take the tour on Monday. At least we might get to see it on the pad.

Thanks again...

Bill

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #25 on:** 09/28/2007 07:02 pm »

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culp1961 - 27/9/2007 6:12 PM

Any chance that the date could jump back to the 20th?
Bill

No chance at all. Oct 23 is the absolute earliest Discovery can launch..and it might eventually be a few days later, depending on how the pad flow goes.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #26 on:** 09/28/2007 07:01 pm »

Oops, ingore this. I messed up a post move....