Lagrange 5

waypoint to the past, present, and future of space

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Is May 15 shuttle launch date a setback?

At least two online articles characterize NASA's scheduled May 15 launch date as a setback.

One article gets the snappy title, "Jittery NASA sets back Discovery launch date."

Huh?

Another article claims that NASA "pushed back" its launch date.

Here's a news flash for everybody. The launch window begins on May 12, and lasts until June 3. The scheduled date, May 15, is the fourth day of the launch window. NASA slated May 12 as the first opportunity in the launch window, but never announced it as the official target launch date.

According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, May 15 was chosen in part because NASA wants to launch Discovery in the sunlight, so that the orbiter can be viewed and scrutinized in the best possible detail after it lifts off.

Jittery? Pushed back?

It isn't unnecessary hyperbole if it sells the story, right?

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