 | |||||
|
Mars Climate Orbiter Launch Windows
Launch period. The primary launch period is December 10-17, 1998, while a secondary period is open December 18-25. Launch during the primary period insures with greater probability that the orbiter will complete aerobraking before Mars Polar Lander lands. Launch during the secondary period results in a higher capture orbit upon Mars arrival, requiring more aerobraking to bring the spacecraft into a final science orbit. Launch past December 25 is possible, but would result in an even higher capture orbit.
Daily windows. Two nearly instantaneous launch opportunities occur each day during the launch period. On December 10, the first is at 1:56 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and the second is at 3:02 p.m. EST. The opportunities become earlier each day as the launch period progresses.
| Launch Date |
|
Time Between Launch Attempts (mm:ss) |
|||||||||||||||
| Dec 10, 1998 | 18:56:38 | 13:56:38 | 20:02:23 | 15:02:23 | 65:45 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 11, 1998 | 18:45:51 | 13:45:51 | 19:52:00 | 14:52:00 | 66:09 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 12, 1998 | 18:34:08 | 13:34:08 | 19:40:49 | 14:40:49 | 66:41 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 13, 1998 | 18:22:24 | 13:22:24 | 19:29:58 | 14:29:58 | 67:34 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 14, 1998 | 18:10:12 | 13:10:12 | 19:18:35 | 14:18:35 | 68:23 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 15, 1998 | 17:57:26 | 12:57:26 | 19:06:27 | 14:06:27 | 69:01 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 16, 1998 | 17:43:33 | 12:43:33 | 18:53:30 | 13:53:30 | 69:47 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 17, 1998 | 17:28:21 | 12:28:21 | 18:39:02 | 13:39:02 | 70:41 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 18, 1998 | 17:10:27 | 12:10:27 | 18:23:39 | 13:23:39 | 73:12 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 19, 1998 | 16:51:05 | 11:51:05 | 18:05:54 | 13:05:54 | 74:49 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 20, 1998 | 16:28:12 | 11:28:12 | 17:45:54 | 12:45:54 | 77:42 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 21, 1998 | 16:00:21 | 11:00:21 | 17:22:48 | 12:22:48 | 82:27 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 22, 1998 | 15:57:14 | 10:57:14 | 17:19:24 | 12:19:24 | 82:10 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 23, 1998 | 15:55:23 | 10:55:23 | 17:16:56 | 12:16:56 | 81:33 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 24, 1998 | 15:54:41 | 10:54:41 | 17:15:29 | 12:15:29 | 80:48 | ||||||||||||
| Dec 25, 1998 | 15:55:05 | 10:55:05 | 17:14:54 | 12:14:54 | 79:49 | ||||||||||||
| Home | Mars Climate Orbiter | Mars Polar Lander | Deep Space 2 Microprobes |
| Welcome | Mailing List | Links | Credits |
For questions or comments on this website please refer to our list of contacts.