what is a "window " when talking about shuttle launches?

Answer 1

First you have to understand what it means to orbit the earth. This is done by accelerateing the shuttle to and increadiblally fast speed. As you know the earth is a sphere.

The shuttle flys so fast around the earth that gravity doesn't have enough time to pull the shuttle "down" or towards the center of the earth. The truth is the shuttle in constantly "falling" around the earth thats why it feels like there is no gravity.

Launch windows can be complex, it depends on when you want to go, if it's just to the space station then it's alot easier (clear weather etc). If your going to the moon or another planet then it can get very complex.

The earth spins, also it travels around the sun. So your takeing off from a moveing object. the moon orbits the earth.

since the moon moves around the earth in a constant orbit we can predict where it will be in the future, and thats the point the launch at, even though the moon is somewhere else it moves into the space where the craft will be sent to. if you shot right at the moon you would miss because it moves and it takes time to reach it.

if you don't launch at the exact right time you will miss your target. And the launch window is a peroid of time you have to launch and still be able to reach your target.

Answer 2

The term window means a window of opportunity. Which in itself simply means an opportunity for a successful launch of the shuttle. It is the optimum best of circumstances which could adversely affect the launch. I.E. Weather, wind, heat or cold, or any other factors wich could cause delays in the launch attempt. So when launching or returning the shuttle they always look for the best window or opening as it were to facilitate success.

Answer 3

The earth is spinning, the shuttle needs to launch at a specific time of day to hit the orbit the mission needs. There is a bit of leeway with this time though, the shuttle can adjust its orbit a bit when it is up there, but it can do that only so much.
So, there is a short time during which it must launch, this duration is called a launch window

Answer 4

A huge amount of energy is required to get a spacecraft into orbit. The result of that is a huge amount of inertia wanting to keep that spacecraft in exactly that orbit, and a huge amount of additional energy to substantially change that orbit once you get there. So once you get into space, you don't really do a lot of side trip driving around. No taking a little jaunt off to see the world's largest ball of string on your way to the grand canyon. you AIM for the grand canyon and you GO to the grand canyon.

And if you are trying to meet up with something already in orbit, you not only have to aim for that orbit, but you have to start at just the right time so that when you get there, the thing you are looking for (the space station in this case) is in the same place as you. Otherwise it might be in the same orbit, but on the other side of the planet, which doesn't do you any good.

I seem to recall seeing the word 'window' used to indicate a 'spot in the sky' that if you could launch your rocket through that spot, then you would get 'close enough' to the desired orbit, with the right timing, that the extra fuel you took with you would be enough to make small course corrections to succeed with your mission. That 'window' is a moving target of course, so much of your planning is to wait until it passes overhead, so to speak, though immediately after take off, you can see the space shuttle roll over and aim itself a little, so as to hit the orbit it wants.

You will notice that it does this almost immediately, which seems somehow dangerous, but again the sooner you get aimed in the right direction, the sooner you are burning fuel to meet your purpose, and the less fuel you waste, the less you have to carry, the lighter the ship, the less fuel it needs, etc. Every millisecond you spend off course early in the mission greatly increases the energy you will need to correct your course later.

Answer 5

A launch window is the time frame that weather conditions a favorable for a shuttle launch

Answer 6

Launch window is a term used in aerospace to describe a time period in which a particular rocket must be launched. For trips into Earth orbit almost any time will do, but if the spacecraft intends to rendezvous with another (or a planet, or other point in space) the launch must be carefully timed so that the orbits overlap at some point in the future. If the rocket does not launch in the "window", it has to wait for the next one before it can go.

Answer 7

It basically means "A Window of Time" between the launch site and the target of opportunity.

Answer 8

A place in the atmosphere where the shuttle can safely pass through into the outer without the effects of the weather disturbing it.

Answer 9

it means the amount of time they are no storms or space debris that will cause a problem for the shuttle

Answer 10

its an oppertunity. when they have an open window they have conditions that would be favorable to launch in.