As of July 1st, the discovery rocket will launch into space at 3:49 exactly of pers. Floridian time. Why is it not rounded time? Couldn't they have launched the rocket at 3:50pm, or waited until 4:00? For many months, the time was set, for July 1st, 2006-- to be launched at exactly 3:49. Why isn't time rounded? AND, the same with Yahoo! Weather. The current weather is renewed at 53 minutes past the hour every hour. Why not rounded? What's upwith that? Please explain and define.
2006-07-01 05:52:54 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The reason that launch times occur a funky times (like 3:49) is because they have somewhere to be. They need to be at point 'A' at a certain time, and exactly at point 'A' at that time because that is the time that the international Space station will be at point 'A'. They cannot just go up into space and say 'Well, I think its over there somewhere, so lets head over in that direction and see if we can see it. Well, its not here, so let's head over there, and maybe we can see it.'
The majority of the fuel that is used to get the shuttle into orbit is used simply to get the all the fuel they need up there. This is why they have the big tanks that they drop. Once in orbit, they don't have much fuel at all. Everything must be so carefully planned so that the shuttle gets to the right place at the right time. If they do not get to where they need to be when they need to be there, they miss the mark, and it is a wasted mission.
This same situation occurs if they have to rendevous with the Hubble telescope, or some millitary satelite for repairs or what not. If they are going up for just some scientific experiments, then their window is larger, and usually based on weather, sunlight, jet streams, and many other things I am not mentioning.
They will have more than one window for any given launch. This is why if they don't launch at 3:49 on Day 1 , they will launch at 7:22 on Day 2, or 9:07 on Day 3.
Lots more to say, not enough motivation to keep typing.
2006-07-01 18:32:00 · answer #1 · answered by Another DIY Guy 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
They have a funny launch time because that's when the weather will be at it's best also they usually give themselves a short window to wait in case anything goes wrong. All launches depend on weather conditions.
2006-07-01 13:01:58 · answer #2 · answered by tpurtygrl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im sure the discovery time is set by astronomers for the best window of oppurtinity to get thru the ozone layer usually that why launch times are so wierd.and yahoo weather is just a time when the programmers set it too
2006-07-01 12:59:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they just make up any time
like 4:24
2006-07-01 13:16:53 · answer #4 · answered by jredfearn08 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there is some kind of window to get into space. Not sure.
2006-07-01 12:56:50 · answer #5 · answered by Grandma of six 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does anything the government funds make any sense?
2006-07-01 12:56:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's easy. Because that's just the way it is. Get used to it.
2006-07-01 12:56:24 · answer #7 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good question
2006-07-01 13:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by agh78 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋