Why are the NASA shuttle launch windows so narrow?

Answer 1

As a previous poster correctly said, they have to launch at just the right time depending on where they are going. For the upcoming launch, the space shuttle is going to the International Space Station. The ISS orbits Earth (as all satellites do) so they have to launch the shuttle at the right time so that it's near the ISS when it (the shuttle) reaches orbit. The ISS orbits Earth about once every 90 minutes, and the part of Earth it passes over keeps changing as Earth rotates, thus leading to a narrow launch window for the shuttle.

By the way, when the shuttle is orbitting Earth (this goes for the ISS, too) it doesn't zoom around in space they way they do in Star Wars or anything. In fact, usually it doesn't have any rockets firing at all, it just orbits Earth, with the only force on it being the force of Earth's gravity. The shuttle does have little rockets on it to make small changes in its trajectory, and to allow it to dock smoothly with the ISS. My point is, if the shuttle were on the other side of Earth compared to the ISS, the shuttle wouldn't be able to dock with the ISS since the shuttle doesn't zoom around.

Answer 2

Since earth and the target location are in constant motion, folks at NASA have to use some pretty advanced calculus (See! It can too be useful!) to figure out which way to shoot something to get it to go the right way. Once launched, the rocket jets on a craft can be used to make corrections, but since there is so little "matter" to push against in space, these corrections are pretty limited, so they need to get the initial direction as accurate as they can. Since the trajectory of any object moving inspace will be affected by the gravitational pull of everything else, they need to go at just the right moment to ensure the best chance of success!

Excellent question!

Answer 3

well...its like directing traffic on a freeway...

the space in earths orbit contain about 2000 man made objects. currently, there are ground based radars that track this debris, satellites and other things. the space shuttle must be fired in a very narrow launch window, in order for it to miss some of the larger objects.

in actuality...for a mission to the space station..they deliberately fire and achieve orbit a little lower or higher than the ISS...this allows you to increase your speed to fly a little higher or decrease your speed to come lower to meet up with it.

Answer 4

Also, piggybacking on the last guy, the weather has to be absolutely PERFECT along with all other calculations, and as you can imagine, especially now in the Florida rainy season, that the perfect window doesnt come around too often.

Answer 5

because items in space are in motion.