Hi,
Does anyone know how far Atlantis travelled during STS-117. I've seen the approximate figure, but I'm looking for it to the nearest mile, as I have seen for several other missions.
If you want a precise number forget about it... the number the PAOs use is just a simple calculation based on average orbital altitude and the number of orbits (the orbiter doesn't have an odometer)... it's just a *ball park* number with little precision, and for that anyone can make the math....
Actually, Diller (KSC PAO) did read out the exact number after touchdown, down to the mile. However, I did not record it so I can't answer your question.
Ben - 23/8/2007 11:41 AM
Actually, Diller (KSC PAO) did read out the exact number after touchdown, down to the mile. However, I did not record it so I can't answer your question.
But was that a precise # down to an exact +/- 1 mile, or a rough overall # based on average orbit plots for the mission?
(edit to add) I don't see what use calculating a precise distance would be, other than being an additional interesting statistic.
MKremer - 23/8/2007 5:50 PM
Ben - 23/8/2007 11:41 AM
Actually, Diller (KSC PAO) did read out the exact number after touchdown, down to the mile. However, I did not record it so I can't answer your question.
But was that a precise # down to an exact +/- 1 mile, or a rough overall # based on average orbit plots for the mission?
(edit to add) I don't see what use calculating a precise distance would be, other than being an additional interesting statistic.
I think it's average orbital altitude and number of orbits. To come up with a precise figure you would have to really crunch the numbers (accelerations, times) and in the end you would come up with a figure that still isn't perfect and doesn't really have any use....
For statistics you should use time, not distance.