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redfishieA reminder that the Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled for a 7:43 pm lift-off tonight Sunday March 15th !! Its mission includes delivery and installation of the final set of solar arrays to power the facilities aboard the International Space Station.
When rendezvousing with the INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION {ISS}, the space shuttle launch trajectory takes it northward up the East Coast. Sunset is at 6:52 this evening. From the greater Boston area, Night-time launches are EASILY VISIBLE to the UNAIDED EYE and the view through binoculars is great -all you'll need is a good view low to the southern and southeastern horizons)
When launched at night to meet up with the ISS, the Shuttle appears as a moving yellow-orange star about 15 degrees above the southern horizon. It attains maximum elevation 20 degrees above the southeastern horizon: continuing to travel eastward until finally becoming lost to view in the Earth's shadow.
In binoculaurs, the bright orange exhaust plumes from the Shuttle's three main engines are easily visible from about 8 to 9 1/2 minutes after launch. Main engine cut-off is followed 10 seconds later by release of the main fuel tank: signaled by a bright flash. This is all followed by short bursts of the Onboard Maneuvering System engines as the Shuttle is propelled away from the released fuel tank into the desired orbit for rendezvous with the International Space Station.
For updates and more info, check http://spaceflight. nasa.gov/ shuttle
When rendezvousing with the INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION {ISS}, the space shuttle launch trajectory takes it northward up the East Coast. Sunset is at 6:52 this evening. From the greater Boston area, Night-time launches are EASILY VISIBLE to the UNAIDED EYE and the view through binoculars is great -all you'll need is a good view low to the southern and southeastern horizons)
When launched at night to meet up with the ISS, the Shuttle appears as a moving yellow-orange star about 15 degrees above the southern horizon. It attains maximum elevation 20 degrees above the southeastern horizon: continuing to travel eastward until finally becoming lost to view in the Earth's shadow.
In binoculaurs, the bright orange exhaust plumes from the Shuttle's three main engines are easily visible from about 8 to 9 1/2 minutes after launch. Main engine cut-off is followed 10 seconds later by release of the main fuel tank: signaled by a bright flash. This is all followed by short bursts of the Onboard Maneuvering System engines as the Shuttle is propelled away from the released fuel tank into the desired orbit for rendezvous with the International Space Station.
For updates and more info, check http://spaceflight. nasa.gov/ shuttle
