Re: SpaceX CREW 2 estimated elset

From: skywayinc--- via Seesat-l <seesat-l_at_satobs.org>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2021 17:34:36 +0000 (UTC)
  In a message dated 4/18/2021 8:13:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, seesat-l_at_satobs.org writes: "The eastern US will have dawn twilight sighting opportunities directly afterlaunch. The southwestern US will have dawn twilight sighting opportunities atthe end of the first revolution, near 11:45 UT. Europe has daylight." ------------------------------------------------------------- The one-day delay in the launch should actually improve possible visibility of the launch along much of the Atlantic Seaboard, keeping the Sun below the horizon as far north as southern New England, allowing for a darker sky background.   Since the Falcon-9 is the same rocket engine that powers the Starlink satellites to orbit, I would assume that a predawn contrail for East Coast skywatchers similar to whatwas widely observed with the March 14 Starlink launch would be in the offering. I do have a bit of frustration in that Space-X does not provide altitude data for the  second stage engine cutoff (8 minutes 47 seconds after launch).  With Space Shuttle launches, visibility continued until MECO, at which time the orbiter was approximately 70miles high.  So at SECO, is the Dragon capsule at a similar distance or higher?  And relative to the East Coast where would SECO occur?  From NYC, Shuttles never got more than 10-degrees above the horizon . . . but the Starlink launch of March 14 placed the rocket burn-out three times higher. It would be good to know just how high up Friday morning's launch might get. -- joe rao 
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Received on Wed Apr 21 2021 - 12:35:45 UTC

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