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  STS114 landing route

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Author Topic:   STS114 landing route
MCroft04
Member

Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 08-06-2005 04:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for MCroft04   Click Here to Email MCroft04     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I saw on TV that for safety reasons the shuttle will land at the Cape coming across the Carribean from the south, instead of of the normal route that takes it across the western US, Texas, La, and on into the Cape. I'm curious how the shuttle gets into this position. I assume that Discovery's orbit won't be changed, which means the shuttle would have to fly south after rentering the atmosphere. Is this correct? This is quite a large deviation in flight path. Can someone explain?

Mel

Ben
Member

Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000

posted 08-06-2005 07:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The route that comes across the US is only for flights of inclinations of 28 and 39 degrees, like that of Hubble servicing flights, or like Columbia's final flight which was 39 degrees inclined to the equator.

ISS flights always come in from the South, similar to this route, as they are inclined 51.6 deg and the length of their missions dictates they come in drom this direction (as opposed to from the North).

Edit: there have been a few other flights in the past that came in from the North, such as STS-99, which swooped in across the far northwest US, the Ohio valley and down into KSC. STS-99 was a very high, 57 degree inclination. Mission parameters allowed for a northerly landing.

[This message has been edited by Ben (edited August 06, 2005).]

MCroft04
Member

Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 08-06-2005 07:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for MCroft04   Click Here to Email MCroft04     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Ben.

All times are CT (US)

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