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Post by lukepemberton on Aug 11, 2011 21:28:18 GMT -4
To target a polar orbit you simply nudge the spacecraft at right angles to the orbital plane so that it flies over the lunar north or south pole. Then you do a lunar orbit insertion on the back side just like Apollo, and you're in a polar lunar orbit. Makes sense. Maybe I should have thought about it a bit more. Thinking and me don't do too well at this hour in the morning. Double ear infection, tinnitus and headaches have resulted in some bizarre sleeping patterns.
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Post by laurel on Aug 11, 2011 21:38:34 GMT -4
That sounds very unpleasant, I hope you feel better soon.
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Post by lukepemberton on Aug 11, 2011 21:49:34 GMT -4
That sounds very unpleasant, I hope you feel better soon. Thanks. Off topic, but I am prone to them. One turned into an abscess in my ear once. That was agonising. This is easily the worst one I have had in a long time. The side of my face has been very swollen and it led to toothache as the inflammation began pressing down on nerves. That was rather alarming as I have no tooth decay. ;D I think the dizziness a few days ago was worse though.
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Post by sts60 on Aug 12, 2011 2:24:14 GMT -4
Polar orbit launches for U.S. missions are also launched from Kodiak Island. There are other sites and one can also do air launches; one commercial system does this and I read that Israel is contemplating such a system to avoid overflight issues.
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Post by sts60 on Aug 12, 2011 2:25:12 GMT -4
P.S. - Luke, hope you're feeling better soon.
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Post by tedward on Aug 12, 2011 3:23:33 GMT -4
As an aside, one that is easy to see if it is over your area is Envisat. Heavens above has the times. Hoping to get that and the ISS criss crossing one night on camera.
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