RE: Launch Time Question

From: Ted Molczan (ssl3molcz@rogers.com)
Date: Fri Jul 24 2009 - 12:55:43 UTC

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    Brian Webb asked:
    
    > What would be the time for a launch based on the following set of parameters?
    > 
    > 	Launch Site: California central coast
    > 	Date: 2009 October 6
    > 	Launch Vehicle: Delta II with 9 solid fuel strap-on motors
    > 	Payload: Commercial imaging satellite
    > 	Orbital Altitude: 770 km
    > 	Orbit Type: Sun synchronous
    > 	Ascending Node: 10:30 a.m.
    > 	Orbital Period: 100 minutes
    
    This is the Worldview 2 satellite, and according to the owner's web site, its
    orbit will have its descending node at 10:30 AM (local standard time), not its
    ascending node:
    
    http://www.digitalglobe.com/index.php/88/WorldView-2
    
    To launch from VAFB directly into a sun-synchronous, 10:30 AM descending node
    orbit, requires a late morning launch. Worldview 1 also entered a 10:30 AM
    descending node orbit, and it launched at 11:35 AM PDT (18:35 UTC), which was
    the start of a 14 min launch window. Expect about the same for Worldview 2.
    
    Ted Molczan
    
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