I looked up the launch azimuth constraints for launches from KSC. They allow launch azimuths from 35 degrees to 120 degrees. A 35 degree launch azimuth (to the northeast) gives you a 57 degree inclination orbit. A 120 degree azimuth (to the southeast) results in an inclination of 39 degrees. Azimuths greater than 120 degrees to the southeast (i.e., inclinations greater than 39 degrees) are not allowed because they overfly the Bahamas just off the coast of Florida, not to mention the extreme eastern tip of Cuba and Haiti. Launches to the northeast into a 57 degree inclined orbit do "fly up the coast", going just off of Cape Hatteras, Cape Cod, and Nova Scotia and over Newfoundland (unless they perform a "dogleg" trajectory shaping maneuver during ascent). I verfied all the above statements with a quick simulation using Satellite Tool Kit. I think it is safe to say that 57 degree inclined orbits launch to the northeast from KSC and that all ISS missions will also launch that way. Daryl Bahls "Orbitologist in Residence" 47.14N 122.20W 167M In a message dated 00-01-14 19:18:06 EST, direland@drdale.com writes: << I am pretty sure sts79 went SE into a 51 degree orbit to MIR, that's the only one I saw in person, some other missions to MIR went thata way too I believe Dale Ireland 47.7N 122.7W Astronomy Page http://www.drdale.com Comets, Satellites, Eclipses, Photography, Fabrications ----- Original Message ----- From: <BahlsD@aol.com> To: <direland@drdale.com>; <SeeSat-L@blackadder.lmsal.com> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2000 3:51 PM Subject: Re: sts99 launch > I'm not sure I've ever heard of a high inclination orbit being launched into > from the Cape by heading southeast, so I'd have to say it will be launched on > a northeasterly azimuth. > > Daryl Bahls > "Orbitologist in Residence" > 47.14N 122.20W 167M > > > In a message dated 00-01-14 17:59:29 EST, direland@drdale.com writes: > > << Does anyone know the azimuth for the scheduled launch of STS99, > tentatively > Jan. 31, 2000 at 12:47 p.m. EST, inclination 57 degrees > I mean is it being launched on an ascending path up the east coast or > descending to the southeast? > Dale Ireland > 47.7N 122.7W > Astronomy Page http://www.drdale.com > Comets, Satellites, Eclipses, Photography, Fabrications >> > >> ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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