Why is a precise launch window so important for space travel?

[TechnoPro]

I never did understand this concept. After reading this article, my ignorance on the topic is made very clear.

NASA has a window from May 15 to June 3 in which to launch the shuttle on a rendezvous trajectory with the international space station.

The window is limited because the agency has committed to daytime launches for the next two missions to provide ideal lighting conditions for upgraded cameras that will image the shuttle as it climbs into orbit.

If NASA does not launch in the window that closes June 3, it would have to wait until mid-July for conditions to be acceptable again.

I can understand the daytime part... But when it comes to the "rendezvous trajectory", is this simply so that the shuttle does not have to fly around the world to reach the ISS?

 

[zerocool1]

weather?

 

[Afrotech]

an orbit isn't flying, it's falling

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro
I never did understand this concept. After reading this article, my ignorance on the topic is made very clear.

NASA has a window from May 15 to June 3 in which to launch the shuttle on a rendezvous trajectory with the international space station.

The window is limited because the agency has committed to daytime launches for the next two missions to provide ideal lighting conditions for upgraded cameras that will image the shuttle as it climbs into orbit.

If NASA does not launch in the window that closes June 3, it would have to wait until mid-July for conditions to be acceptable again.

I can understand the daytime part... But when it comes to the "rendezvous trajectory", is this simply so that the shuttle does not have to fly around the world to reach the ISS?

yea pretty much

 

[FlyLice]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro
I never did understand this concept. After reading this article, my ignorance on the topic is made very clear.

NASA has a window from May 15 to June 3 in which to launch the shuttle on a rendezvous trajectory with the international space station.

The window is limited because the agency has committed to daytime launches for the next two missions to provide ideal lighting conditions for upgraded cameras that will image the shuttle as it climbs into orbit.

If NASA does not launch in the window that closes June 3, it would have to wait until mid-July for conditions to be acceptable again.

I can understand the daytime part... But when it comes to the "rendezvous trajectory", is this simply so that the shuttle does not have to fly around the world to reach the ISS?

 

[Tom]

Well, they launch from a particular spot on the surface of the Earth, and they want to reach a particular spot in space. And they want to be going a particular speed when they get there because that will determine how far above the Earth they will be orbiting.

 

[Connoisseur]

Yeah, one of the biggest objectives in any mission is to save as much fuel as possible. This is why when they launch satellites to the outer planets in the solar system, they usually take a winding course that allows the satellite to use the gravity of other planets as a slingshot to gain speed rather than a direct course to said planet. They just can't carry that much fuel.
Also, the launch window is affected by the weather conditions in the area. You generally don't want to launch your billion dollar equipment when there's a torrential rain or a hurricane directly above.

 

[shekondar]

Originally posted by: Tom
Well, they launch from a particular spot on the surface of the Earth, and they want to reach a particular spot in space. And they want to be going a particular speed when they get there because that will determine how far above the Earth they will be orbiting.

And they have to be able to do it without using an insane amount of fuel.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

Space travel is incredibly complex. If they don't launch soon, then they would have to wait for the orbit to be perfect again to launch.

Stuff doesn't fly in space. Stuff doesn't sit still. The reason stuff is still up there is because it's moving incredibly fast, but it's not just moving straight, it's constantly falling around the earth. Because it's moving so fast, it doesn't fall back into the atmosphere because it was lined up right. But conversley it doesn't escape because gravity is too strong.

Space flight isn't a cakewalk like sci fi stuff would have us believe.

 

[dornick]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro

I can understand the daytime part... But when it comes to the "rendezvous trajectory", is this simply so that the shuttle does not have to fly around the world to reach the ISS?

The ISS is also "flying aroung the world" so if the Shuttle came up in the wrong spot, they couldn't reach it.

 

[Afrotech]

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
Space flight isn't a cakewalk like sci fi stuff would have us believe.

<tangent>

warning: tangent

You know how things explode in any sci fi movie? They really shouldn't should they? ... there is no oxygen... wouldn't these explosions look very different from an explosion here on earth?

</tangent>

 

[TechnoPro]

Excelent answers everyone, thanks!

 

[Bootprint]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur
Yeah, one of the biggest objectives in any mission is to save as much fuel as possible. This is why when they launch satellites to the outer planets in the solar system, they usually take a winding course that allows the satellite to use the gravity of other planets as a slingshot to gain speed rather than a direct course to said planet. They just can't carry that much fuel.
Also, the launch window is affected by the weather conditions in the area. You generally don't want to launch your billion dollar equipment when there's a torrential rain or a hurricane directly above.

It's not just the weather in the local area, but also in the emergency landing locations like in africa.