v.wales@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA (04/09/84)
From: Rich Wales <v.wales@UCLA-LOCUS.ARPA>
Group W Cable (Los Angeles, CA) is broadcasting NASA-generated coverage
of this shuttle flight, on one of their otherwise unused channels. I
plan to write then a letter commending them for this service.
I have two questions about the flight and its coverage:
(1) Why are the distances, speeds, etc. measured in terms of nautical
miles? Why not statute miles? For that matter, why not kilometers?
(2) The wall map showing the position of the shuttle shows part of each
orbit surrounded by square brackets. If I remember correctly, the
"left" bracket is always positioned at the southern extremity of the
orbit; the "right" bracket, on the other hand, is not at the nor-
thern extremity of the orbit, but rather is around 20 degrees north
latitude. What do these brackets mean?
-- Rich