Celestial Event 4 Nov
 

On Thursday 4 Nov 2010, the Space Shuttle is expected to launch at 3:30 PM local time. Based upon the orbit of the ISS space station, I believe this launch will be an unusual northern launch. The Shuttle will never launch over land. This means it will fly up the US east coast. In a period of about 20 some minutes, the shuttle should be observed from land until its boosters flame out somewhere approaching NYC.

That means the shuttle should be observed in the east even as far inland as The Cellar.

Again this is speculation based upon the orbit of the ISS, the planned launch time, and only if the sky is clear in the east. Unfortunately, much of the east coast is expecting rain.

It'll be raining, probably won't see it.:(

Didn't go - Got postponed till Friday. I have friends and family that are nearby the launch site. Hoping for pics.

A Friday launch is scheduled for about 3 PM Daylight Cellar Time. Trajectory puts that launch farther out to sea. At best, east coast observers might see it low in the SE sky.

A second possible launch window might exist at about 1630 hours DCT. If so, this launch would be clearly observable on the east coast. Do not know if that launch Window is viable.

If launched on Saturday (6 Nov), then a 1520 DCT launch would be clearly observable by all east coasters.

Anyone can watch this stuff on NASA TV. Seeing it live is a challenge.

Seeing it live is weather dependent also. Not looking too good at this point.

A hydrogen leak probably will not be fixed in time. Never mind.

Always frustrating.

I almost got to see a rocket launch while in Japan, on a summer holiday in the southern parts where their rocket launch site is, which happily coincided with their launch schedule.

Alas, about a week before the launch, they noticed that one of the science gizmos in the satellite had been installed back-to-front and they had to postpone for a month or more.

So I'm still waiting to see a space launch, and I'm not in a good country for it!