[Scan-DC] Night shuttle launch may be seen on East Coast

[b_thom at juno.com]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35259167/ns/technology_and_science-space/

People in the eastern United States will get a great opportunity, weather
permitting, to see the space shuttle Endeavour launched into orbit early
on Sunday morning, Feb. 7. And it will also likely be the very last
opportunity ever to see a space shuttle blast off at night. 
....

To reach the space station, Endeavour must be launched when Earth's
rotation carries the launch pad into the plane of the station's orbit.
For mission STS-130, that will happen at 4:39:44 a.m. EST on Feb. 7,
resulting (if all goes as planned) in NASA's final nighttime launch of a
space shuttle (the most recent was last Aug. 28). 
....

The map shows who can see what during the first 8 minute (T+8) if the
night launch goes as planned on Sunday. The most dramatic view is from
inside the yellow circle. But within the red circle, skywatchers may see
very bright, pulsating, fast-moving object that resembles the brightest
stars in the sky from 3 to 8 minutes after launch. For viewers near the
edges of the circles, however, the shuttle will hug the horizon, so an
unobstructed view is needed. 

http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/100205-tech-shut
tle-night-flight.hmedium.jpg
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