Sunday, July 02, 2006
I know that the weather was a conspirator, but scheduling Deep Impact to be just in time to make the July 4th newspapers last year, and now rescheduling the shuttle launch for July 4, really reminds me of the early 60s era where Russia would schedule a new space spectacular for political reasons.
- Except this is the US. After seeing Progress automated resupply spacecraft after Progress make it to the space station like clockwork for these past 3 years... I do have to wonder: Who really won the space race?
Launching from Cape Canaveral is proving to be a liability, at least with the Shuttle design.
In the winter, it's too cold. In the summer, we have hurricanes and thunderstorms.
Although the weather is generally perfect there, launching from Edwards AFB in California involves too much overflight over populated areas. Perhaps America should buy some serious land in Baja and launch from there. Or Kwaj.
Every time I see a launch window as narrow as the one we deal with for the ISS, I curse Clinton's decision to move the ISS to it's current orbital inclination - ensuring that we'd first - have to redesign the shuttle tank to save weight - and second - even with that - cutting the size of a shuttle payload by 2/3s.
sign me
grumpy would be shuttle launch watcher ¶ 12:57 PM
- Except this is the US. After seeing Progress automated resupply spacecraft after Progress make it to the space station like clockwork for these past 3 years... I do have to wonder: Who really won the space race?
Launching from Cape Canaveral is proving to be a liability, at least with the Shuttle design.
In the winter, it's too cold. In the summer, we have hurricanes and thunderstorms.
Although the weather is generally perfect there, launching from Edwards AFB in California involves too much overflight over populated areas. Perhaps America should buy some serious land in Baja and launch from there. Or Kwaj.
Every time I see a launch window as narrow as the one we deal with for the ISS, I curse Clinton's decision to move the ISS to it's current orbital inclination - ensuring that we'd first - have to redesign the shuttle tank to save weight - and second - even with that - cutting the size of a shuttle payload by 2/3s.
sign me
grumpy would be shuttle launch watcher ¶ 12:57 PM
