Spaceflight Now



STS-126 Launch Windows
COMPILED BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: November 11, 2008

Changes and additions:
- September 24: Posting initial release
- September 30: Updating to reflect possible Nov. 14 launch
- October 29: Updating throughout
- November 8: Updating throughout
- November 11: Updating throughout

To reach the international space station, the shuttle must launch within about five minutes of the moment Earth's rotation carries the launch pad into the plane of the station's orbit.

To maximize performance, NASA targets launch for right around the moment the shuttle can launch directly into that plane. In the chart below, the target launch time is listed in the "in plane" column. All times in EST and subject to change.


DATE.......WINDOW OPEN...IN-PLANE......WINDOW CLOSE..DOCKING


11/14/08...07:50:34 PM...07:55:34 PM...08:00:34 PM...FD-3

11/15/08...07:24:52 PM...07:29:52 PM...07:34:52 PM...FD-3
...........07:27:59 PM...N/A...........07:38:06 PM...FD-4

11/16/08...07:02:20 PM...07:07:20 PM...07:12:20 PM...FD-3

11/17/08...06:36:38 PM...06:41:38 PM...06:46:38 PM...FD-3
...........06:39:44 PM...N/A...........06:49:52 PM...FD-4

11/18/08...06:14:06 PM...06:19:06 PM...06:24:06 PM...FD-3

11/19/08...05:48:24 PM...05:53:24 PM...05:58:24 PM...FD-3
...........05:51:33 PM...N/A...........06:01:37 PM...FD-4

11/20/08...05:25:52 PM...05:30:52 PM...05:35:52 PM...FD-3

11/21/08...05:03:23 PM...05:08:23 PM...05:13:23 PM...FD-4

11/22/08...04:37:38 PM...04:42:38 PM...04:47:38 PM...FD-3

11/23/08...04:15:09 PM...04:20:09 PM...04:25:09 PM...FD-4

11/24/08...03:49:24 PM...03:54:24 PM...03:59:24 PM...FD-3

11/25/08...03:26:55 PM...03:31:55 PM...03:36:55 PM...FD-4

11/26/08...03:01:10 PM...03:06:10 PM...03:11:10 PM...FD-3