Spaceflight Now




STS-124 Launch Windows
COMPILED BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
Updated: May 26, 2008

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 EDT and subject to change.