alb (03/04/83)
Work began today on repairing the Number 2 engine. The Number 3 engine will be fixed next, and a replacement for the Number 1 engine is due to arrive at KSC tomorrow. NASA is shooting for a launch by 31 March. Since the launch will come in the spring and not the winter, the launch time will be 1330 EST instead of 0900 EST and the launch window will be a mere 18 minutes. The change in time is due to the fact that the satellite Challenger will be launching relies on stars to find its position. After the vernal equinox, the stars that the satellite would have originally looked at will not be visible, so NASA had to pick a new set. The new launch time will permit the satellite to have a better view of those stars through critical stages in the flight. The launch window is so narrow this time because at 1330 EST, there will only be 18 minutes of daylight at the abort landing site in Dakar, Senegal.