From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!karn
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Title: STS-4 Visibility
Article-I.D.: eagle.402
Posted: Sun Jun 27 15:19:32 1982
Received: Tue Jun 29 06:55:52 1982

I've just come up with a sketchy orbit model for STS-4.  Because of
the very low inclination (28.5 degrees, equal to the latitude of
Cape Canaveral), the maximum elevation above the horizon for STS-4
in New Jersey (latitude approximately 41 degrees) is about 3 to 4 degrees.
It will come above our horizon only during the morning passes after
the sun has already come up; therefore, optical sighting will be impossible
this far north.

I guess we'll have to wait for the polar launches from Vandenburg before
we can see anything.

Phil