Why does NASA roll the space shuttle out to the launch pad so early before a launch? I think it would be safer for them to wait until maybe a week before launch to protect it from the elements, not the 3 or so weeks that they do.
2007-02-27 08:30:36 · 3 answers · asked by bentoro2001 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
They roll it out early to perform a ton of pre-launch tests. If any of those tests show something funky they might have time to fix it and still make the original launch window.
2007-02-28 01:42:39 · answer #1 · answered by J.J. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are full capable of moving the shuttle back to Vehicle Assembly Building in just a few hours if necessary. In fact, they did exactly that one or two launches ago when a hurricane threatened Florida. They moved it back to the pad just a day or two before it actually launched.
Considering the "elements" that the shuttle is exposed to during launch, orbit, and reentry, I sincerely doubt that 3 weeks of typical coastal weather is a big deal.
2007-02-27 08:49:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To see how everything works tougher.
http://groups.google.com/group/neat-astronomy?hl=en
2007-02-27 08:38:06 · answer #3 · answered by chase 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋