nasa has to wait for a window before sending a rocket into space why is this and what is a window?

Answer 1

A "window" in aerospace terminology comes from the way trajectories are caculated. As others here have already pointed out, for fuel efficiency, the precise trajectory that must be followed depends on the position of the planets which are in constant motion. But not only there's only just a certain leeway in time in which to do this, there's a certain leeway in space as well, both in the x and y direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, so that forms a kind of a imaginary window in which the spacecraft must thread through, or else "Plan B" better be excuted because the original trajectory plan has just failed.

Answer 2

This is how I think it works:

Nasa uses the gravity field of other planets and the sun to increase the speed of their space exploration 'rockets'. So when a deep space explorer is launched the different planets and the sun have to be in the right positions for this method to work.
Usually this gives Nasa a time window of a couple of months to launch there rockets.

I don't think there are time windows for example sattelite and space shuttle launches because they only orbit earth.

Answer 3

I don't like any of the preceding responses, so will weigh in with the straight dope. If you are attempting to rendezvous with an orbiting spacecraft, there will only be a certain time that you can launch and have the orbiter be in a place where you can get to it by spending a limited amount of energy. The same thing applies if you are sending a mission to another planet: you have to launch at a time when the alignment of the planets is right, lest the delta-v required to make the transition orbit be too high.

Answer 4

Technically a window opportunity is defined as the period of time when we can launch a spacecraft "directly" into a specific orbit, also we could launch it to a parking orbit and then manoeuvre the spacecraft to the final desired orbit however this uses fuel which is precious in spacecrafts, this is why if they can, they launch it directly. Also for space enthusiasts I recommend the following book ("Understanding Space an Introduction to Astronautics" third edition by Jerry Jon Sellers )

Answer 5

It has to do with the optimal time to launch. It could be weather related, sometimes it is related to where the target of the launch is headed. For example, there is a 'window' to launch to Mars. The earth and Mars come close to each other at certain times in their orbits, where it would take a couple of months to reach Mars. If the window is missed, it would take years to reach Mars.

Answer 6

A window is a date and time when conditions for launch are suitable, referred to as a "launch window". Wind conditions are one factor, visibility is another. Anything that could jeapordize the safety of the launch would close the window.

Answer 7

Timing is of the essence. As nothing is stationary, a "window" is the gap where the planets or their satellites are in the optimum position for a space craft to travel the shortest distance.

Answer 8

well, for one, this "window" could be a time at which, for example, the weather is good and "clear", or, if they're trying to launch a rocket in hopes of it or its cargo aiming to land or orbit a distant planet, the rocket would have to be launched at a specific time in order to reach the planet in the shortest amount of time, or something to that effect.

Answer 9

A window would be the name for the correct period of time, i don't know why in this case they are waiting for one, perhaps the orbits of asteriods or other spacecraft are in the way so they wait for the appropriate 'window' when it is clear for them to travel.

Answer 10

A window is a time when there are no other forms of aircraft in the sky and when the weather conditions are right.