Space Shuttle's window of opportunity to return to Earth?

Question

When the Space Shuttle returns do they have only one window? If so, when it closes , what do they do? Do they have a specific time to land?

Answer 1

There are many windows but each window opens and closes. The window is the allotted time which is given for the shuttle to enter the atmosphere and glide in for the landing. If it enters too early or late it has no way to adjust its trajectory being its a glider and at the mercy of gravity.
If they miss the window they must wait for the next window of opportunity to come back around. so they continue to orbit the earth.

If you have seen Space Balls its kind of like that gate that opens to let the space ships in and out but not physical.

Answer 2

The shuttle has a primary landing site, usually at Kennedy Space Center, and it also has a backup site in case the runway at Kennedy is unusable or the shuttle needs a little extra time to wrap things up. The backup site is often one of the Air Force bases in the southwest US, such as Edwards or White Sands. Each site has at least one window, often more depending on mission parameters. If both windows are missed, the shuttle remains in orbit for several hours until the opportunity returns.

In case of an emergency, especially during launch and ascent, the shuttle has several contingency landing sites on the east coast and in Europe and Africa. This list is constantly being reviewed and revised due to changing concerns such as security and operational parameters. Fortunately, these abort landing sites have never been used.

Answer 3

Once a de orbit manuver is done, the shuttle heads home. It is not a flying craft as much as it is a brick with a tail. A one shot deal. Its landing area is determined, florida or edwards, and the go is given. She continues her fall, only now not at the same rate as the earth curve. So technically she begins her landing approach once the go ahead is given. Through many circles and s curves on the downward glide to loose speed she follows the glideslope to the chosen runway. No room for error, with only the best of the best pilots.

Answer 4

The de-orbit burn has to be done when the shuttle is approximately the other side of the earth from the intended landing site. Some fiddling with the path can be done on the descent, so there is a small window of suitable time.