Re: STS 101 launch

From: Bruno Tilgner (Bruno_Tilgner@compuserve.com)
Date: Fri Apr 14 2000 - 15:19:07 PDT

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    Dale Ireland wrote:
    
     
    >I am pretty sure the shuttle launch is 20:15 UT (4:15pm EDT) and the
    >shuttle should pass over London about 20:30 UT, an hour after sunset and
    >5 minutes behind the ISS.
    
    OK for the Shuttle launch at 20:15 UT.
    Aren't 15 minutes a little short for the trajectory Florida-London ?
    
    Sunset in London on 24 April is at 19:12 UT (end of civil twilight
    is at 19:49).
    
    With TLEs of day 104 ISS passes over London on 24 April between
    20:01 and 20:07 UT (times are for 10 degrees elevation).
    
    It so happens that ISS enters the Earth's shadow at 20:07 UT.  
    I guess that the Shuttle in an orbit of the same inclination
    and *roughly* the same altitude will enter shadow at approximately
    the same time. In fact, the Shuttle will be at a lower altitude
    and should enter shadow somewhat earlier.
    
    In conclusion, if Atlantis flies over western Europe around 20:30
    as Dale suggests, it will be too late to be seen.
    
    Any comments ?
    
    Bruno Tilgner
    Saint-Cloud, France
     
    
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