How does NASA know when the next "window of opportunity" is for launching the space shuttle?

Question

serious responses only please

Answer 1

What you're asking about is called a "launch window". There are many variables to it. One of which is the Weather. That's why sometimes you will hear that a launch had been canceled or postponed due to the weather. That because if there's a storm or allot of cloud cover or even rain there's a possibility that the launch will fail.
Another reason, and you don't hear this on as often, but it does happen, is equipment failure. You can't launch something is everything is working. It's to risky.
You can go to: http://www.nasa.gov for more info on NASA
Or you can go to: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Schedule.html to see video files of NASA
If you're interested in pictures and information on space, you can also go to: http://www.space.com
or you can go to: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html to see the Astronomy Picture of the Day.

I hope this helped.

Answer 2

It's actually called a Launch Window, and you can find out all about it HERE:

http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/rocket_sci/launch/launch_window.html

Other resources are available HERE

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=nasa+%22launch+window%22&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t&vst=0&vs=liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov

Short form is, in order to meet up with the Space Station (or whatever they are shooting for), they have to launch at a time when the trajectory can result in REACHING that target without excessive fuel expenditure.

Best wishes! :)

Answer 3

I guess, they will check the zodiac of the astronauts that are going to travel in the shuttle.

Answer 4

Weather forcasts

Answer 5

I think that they look at weather forecasts.