2007-06-12 01:03:12 · 9 answers · asked by federalistcapers 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
This site
http://www.csgnetwork.com/satorbdatacalc.html
has a calculator that figures the numbers for various altitudes, 6.1 minutes for 100 miles for example.
Notice that the viewing angle is a half angle (straight up to the horizon) doubling the 100 mile altitude number of 12.7 gives 25.4. Since there are 360 degrees all the way around, this is one-fourteenth of the orbit of 87 minutes which calculates to 6.2 minutes. Also be aware that you can't actually see the orbiter for that long - you can only see it when you are in darkness and it is in sunlight - if it is in darkness it is not visible and if you are in sunlight it is washed out.
2007-06-12 01:35:14 · answer #1 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Currently the Shuttle is docked to the International Space Station with both clipping by at about 17,000mph. There are numerous sites that show the viewing times and information concerning the ISS. Most flybys that are of high altitude in the viewers skies have durations of approx 5 minutes.
However, this duration of about 5 minutes is for visible flyby, which does not include the minute or two that the station is in the viewers sky but invisible because of being in the shadow of the Earth. So the answer to the enquirers question is about 6 or 7 minutes (assuming the shuttle is passing through the viewers zenith).
2007-06-12 09:01:39 · answer #2 · answered by screaming monk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
assuming you mean that you were to view it from inside the space shuttle itself. about every 1.5 hours (it takes that long to orbit the earth, traveling at 23 times the speed of sound). IF you were a ground observer, it depends on where you are and the current angle of elevation of the space shuttle/station from the horizon. it would take anywhere from less than 1 minute to 7 or 10 minutes.
2007-06-12 22:54:14 · answer #3 · answered by mcdonaldcj 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 45 minutes
2007-06-15 22:18:57 · answer #4 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the speed of the space shuttle and it's height from the ground.
2007-06-12 08:10:20 · answer #5 · answered by nivik 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so fast you wont even see it...you'll hear the whine of the space shuttles proton powered jet engines and feel the shock waves as it goes past you at 1.5 million miles per second using only 1.5 gallons of fuel to get to the moon and back....technology's amazing i tells ya
2007-06-12 09:17:37 · answer #6 · answered by Ahhhh 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The same amount of time it would take to go if you couldn't see it.
2007-06-12 09:56:00 · answer #7 · answered by Lettie D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can see it with binoculars and sometimes with the naked eye if it's reflecting the sun.
2007-06-12 08:57:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
6.5 minutes
2007-06-12 08:11:45 · answer #9 · answered by DonnieB 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋